Although disappointed with our 1-2 defeat against Accrington Stanley on the weekend he do have some positive news about the return to Plough Lane with the new stadium pictures showing considerable work nearing completion and it's really looking like a stadium now. Our CEO Joe Palmer had this to say recently about the stadium work and a confirmed date for the first game. "To begin, I would like to confirm that our first historic match back at our spiritual home is now planned for November 3rd – a midweek league game against Doncaster Rovers. Our last game at our temporary home – QPR’s Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium – is therefore likely to be against Blackpool on October 27th. I would like to relay our gratitude to QPR, who have been very professional and attentive towards us and who have gone out of their way to accommodate our needs."
If all goes to plan, the Doncaster game will mark a real milestone. Not only will we be opening the doors on our brand-new home, we will also be witnessing the start of a brand-new era for our club.
The stadium itself is still largely due to be completed on October 25. Whilst there are a number of things that need to happen before then, such as connecting the electricity, erecting the floodlights and holding a test event for a behind-closed-doors match, we have no reason to think the stadium won’t be ready to host behind-close-door matches from then onwards. The test event will include a dry run of a behind-closed-doors match during the week following completion, when we will have all our essential backroom staff at the ground and the team will arrive as if it is getting ready to play a game. If that all goes smoothly, then we hope to be issued our final safety certificates to stage matches behind closed doors.
- The rail seating won’t be installed until early December. This was held up by the FSIF approval process as we were unwilling to risk placing an order until we knew that our grants would not be compromised by safe standing. So, we’re agreeing a handover date in December with Buckingham, our contractor. There will be various other bits and pieces to be completed by then, including finalising the utility connections, and testing and commissioning activities and some minor decorations
- The perimeter wall behind the east and north stands is going to be erected over the coming months. The design of the wall has been the subject of some negotiation with our neighbours, as we need to get it right for the phase one stadium we are building now, rather than the eventual 20,000 stadium. The wall should be finished by the spring, and we’ll be negotiating arrangements with the relevant authorities so that we can accommodate fans (when permitted) even if it isn’t finished. We’re intending to install a 5-a-side pitch in the north-west corner. That will be carried out as a separate project over the coming months. This will be funded from grants, so isn’t adding to the financial pressures on the project.
AFC Wimbledon, re-writing the history, an truly unbelievable story and journey, and proof that with the will of the fans anything is possible.
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