Our long-standing sponsors were joined by club staff and Johnnie Jackson to celebrate a valued relationship that stretches back to the year we reformed.
Last night had been marked in the diary of our sponsors for a long time, pitching together Sports Interactive versus a Wimbledon XI (consisting of our other sponsors) at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The annual match was the 21st time that this game had been played, marking our long-running association with Football Manager creators Sports Interactive.
Though the Wimbledon XI (pictured above) were strengthened by the addition of Johnnie Jackson, SI took the lead through a goal by Jemal Wiseman, who pounced after the Dons failed to clear a corner by Tom Hardy.
There would be no way back for the hosts as Sports Interactive earned a 5-3 victory, but the result came secondary to the main priority of celebrating one of the longest running partnerships in football.
Ivor Heller, who was manager of the Wimbledon XI, said: “It is not just about the game, it’s about the sheer fun of this match for Sports Interactive and other long-standing sponsors. People here tonight are having a great time, it’s competitive on the pitch, but we’re all having a laugh and that carries on into the bar afterwards.
“This match is a tradition that we want to keep going. I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise that we’re still going strong after 21 years because the bond was so strong in the early years - I always thought that this could go on and on. In life you can never take anything for granted though and to have had 21 years of it is miraculous. Relationships don’t last like this in modern day society.
“I played in this game every year until two years ago – and that was two days before my knee completely collapsed! My highlight was when I headed the ball right into the path of Marcus Gayle, who took one touch before smashing it into the top corner – I should have retired after that!”
Alex Bell, Operations Manager at Sports Interactive, said: “We’ve got a few new recruits this year, including a professional goalkeeper coach who has played at a high level, but we’ve also got a few old stagers who think they’ve still got it! I’ve moved into the background a bit more now – pointing and shouting rather than playing.
“There are familiar faces at the Club and they always give us a really friendly welcome. Ivor’s interview with BBC Radio Five Live back in 2002 was the reason we first got involved with the Club and we’re still very grateful to be a part of this remarkable story.
"There were a few of us here that were at Sutton and we had no idea what we were getting involved with back then. We knew there was a great wrong that needed to be righted, but we didn’t know how far AFC Wimbledon were going to progress - to see the Club here back at Plough Lane is fantastic.”