Call Sign July 2011
Page 17
Saturday 21 May 2011 was a day that
DaC's Simon coaches
Wimbledon football fans will never for-
get. In front of a crowd of 18,195 at the
City of Manchester stadium, their team
achieved the impossible. Barely nine
AFC Wimbledon back into
years after forming in a pub following
what many supporters had considered
the treachery of the original Wimbledon
team when they moved out of south
the League!
London to become the MK Dons, their
team AFC Wimbledon beat Luton
Town in the Blue Square play-off final to
Simon has coached AFC
reach the hallowed grounds of the
Wimbledon into the football
Football League. In the penalty shoot-out
League
at the end of a scoreless game, skipper
Danny Kedwell smashed the ball past
Luton `keeper Mark Tyler and the impos-
Alambritis has now officially
sible became reality!
apologised for allowing the old
Of course, most hard-core AFC
Wimbledon FC to leave the bor-
Wimbledon fans don't actually recognise
ough 20 years ago for Milton
the Dons as being part of the team's his-
Keynes, which then led to the
tory and refer to the promotion as regain-
old club's demise and reincar-
ing their FL status. Either way, the
nation. He says the council
achievement is nothing short of amazing.
would welcome back AFC
Ironically, the original Wimbledon team
Wimbledon to the borough. It
were elected to the Football League in
wouldn't be to the Plough Lane
1977 and nine years later reached the old
ground, but it would be an
first division. Their most famous day
amazing story probably the
came in the 1988 FA Cup Final when they
most amazing comeback in soc-
defeated the mighty Liverpool, who were
cer history and we'd bet that
League Champions, by 1 0 at the old
the old "Crazy Gang" of Dave
Wembley to become only the second
Bassett and co would be
team in football history to win both the
thrilled.
FA Cup and the FA Amateur Cup behind
As for Simon, he's looking
Old Carthusians.
forward to the future with AFC
Simon had to give up playing for the
So what does all that incredible as it
Wimbledon and their first league match
team when his knee gave way following
is have to do with Dial-a-Cab? Well the
against Bristol Rovers, but insists that
a diagnosed cruciate ligament injury. He
first team coach is none other than DaC
those Crazy Gang days won't be return-
moved into coaching, taking on the club's
driver Simon Bassey (C79)! Known to
ing. Vinnie Jones and co used to enjoy
reserve team before being pushed up to
all at their Kingsmeadow Fan's Stadium
the occasional `tanking' up in the boozer,
first team coach following Terry Brown's
at Kingston as Bass, Simon had been a
but the promoted batch are mainly non-
appointment as manager. But he still
trainee at the old Wimbledon and can
drinkers who prefer the quiet life. Mind
works in his DaC taxi whenever he gets
claim to have been with the club since
you, we're not sure how quiet Dial-a-Cab
the chance.
day one, having also been at Charlton,
would be if the new team emulated the
"I've got no choice," he told us, "no one
Aldershot, Carshalton and Tooting FC.
old one to shoot through the leagues and
at AFC Wimbledon is suddenly getting
Simon's playing days were at full back
in just three or so of them end up playing
rich, so even though we went full-time
and central midfielder. He also has some-
Brian Rice's QPR in the Premier League.
last year, we all have jobs to do. But if we
thing in common with DaC Board mem-
Now that would be something! Perhaps
do well, then who knows!"
ber Allen Togwell in that he doesn't like
Call Sign would be the official program!
Merton Council leader Stephen
players to turn up looking as though they
have just climbed out of bed!
Second only to manager Terry Brown
"we work very well together" Simon
confirmed his feelings to Call Sign that
AFCW had regained their rightful place
after having their original position
"stolen" from them!
"Wimbledon is in my blood," he said, I
was there at Wembley in 1988 as a kid
when we won the cup and amazingly the
team we beat in the semi-final were Luton
Town who were then in the first divi-
sion!" Luton were actually riding on a
wave of success having earlier that sea-
son defeated Arsenal 3 2 at Wembley to
take the Carling Cup Final!
So how did the 2011 team react back in
the dressing room after defeating Luton
and gaining the promotion? "It was just
brilliant," Simon told Call Sign. "Former
goalkeeper and now club President,
Dickie Guy was there and whilst he
doesn't say much, you could see the pride
in his face a look that said we're back!"
