Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
Milton Keynes Dons have built a reputation for youth development,[4] run 16 disability teams and their football trust engages around 60,000 people; between 2012 and 2013 the club produced 11 young players who have been called into age group national teams and between 2004 and 2014 the club also gave first-team debuts to 14 local academy graduates, including the England international midfielder Dele Alli.[9] Charlton Athletic briefly mooted moving to "a progressive Midlands borough" during a planning dispute with their local council in 1973,[10] and the relocation of nearby Luton Town to Milton Keynes was repeatedly suggested from the 1980s onwards.[13] Despite Wimbledon's new prominence, the club's modest home stadium at Plough Lane remained largely unchanged from its non-league days.Sam Hammam, who then owned Wimbledon, said the club could not afford to redevelop Plough Lane and that the groundshare was a temporary arrangement while a new ground was sourced in south-west London.[13] Frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of support from Merton Council, Hammam began to look further afield and by 1996 was pursuing a move to Dublin, an idea that most Wimbledon fans strongly opposed.[17] Starting in 1997,[18] a consortium led by music promoter Pete Winkelman and supported by Asda (a Walmart subsidiary) and IKEA proposed a large retail development in Milton Keynes including a Football League-standard stadium.[21] The consortium proposed that an established league club move to use this site;[19][20] it approached Luton, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Barnet, and Queens Park Rangers.[26] The original Wimbledon intended to move to Milton Keynes immediately but were unable to do so until a temporary home in the town meeting Football League criteria could be found.[33] Murdoch was sacked in November[34] and replaced by Danny Wilson, who kept Milton Keynes Dons in the division on the final day of the season — largely due to Wrexham's 10-point deduction for going into administration.Milton Keynes Dons were in contention for automatic promotion right up to the last game of the season, but eventually finished fourth and had to settle for a play-off place.[43] On 3 May the club secured promotion to the Football League Championship for the first time, beating Yeovil Town 5–1 and leapfrogging Preston North End (who lost 1–0 at Colchester United) on the final day of the season.Following a run of poor results with only three wins in sixteen matches in charge, Micciche left the club on 22 April 2018, with assistant manager Keith Millen taking over as a caretaker.The Dons lost 2–0[62] which led to a "winner takes all" game against 3rd placed Mansfield Town, who were separated by goal difference, to determine who was promoted.They comfortably beat Plymouth Argyle 5–0,[69] but both Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United won their games against Shrewsbury Town and Gillingham, respectively, to claim the two automatic promotion berths.Liam Manning was replaced as manager in December 2022,[74] but successor Mark Jackson registered just six wins in 25 games and was sacked after the side were relegated following a final day 0–0 draw at Burton Albion.[81] After four losses in the opening six games, including a 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals AFC Wimbledon,[82] Mike Williamson was appointed as the manager of Carlisle United on 19 September, with the Cumbrians meeting the release clause in his contract.[102] On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred ownership of all Wimbledon Football Club trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.[108] Two months later, in the Football League Trophy Southern section second round, AFC Wimbledon defeated MK Dons 3–2 with a winning goal by Adebayo Akinfenwa.[111] In 2017, AFC Wimbledon, in the club's programme for their home game against the Dons, played on 22 September, failed to recognise their opponents by their full name for the second successive season.[118] Former MK Dons Supporters' Association Chairman John Brockwell had stated that the fans were looking forward to hosting Northampton Town, the club that, geographically at least, are their nearest rivals.[128] Striker Sam Baldock was the first notable academy graduate who, after making 102 appearances, moved on to West Ham United for a seven-figure sum.As of February 2015[update], Daniel Powell, Tom Flanagan and George Baldock, brother of Sam, all played regularly for the MK Dons first team.On 2 February 2015, Milton Keynes Dons academy graduate and first team midfielder Dele Alli was sold to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for a fee in the region of £5 million.Jon Otsemobor made 44 appearances for the club and scored the winning goal in the first match against AFC Wimbledon with a back-heel that was later dubbed the "Heel of God".[139] Former Ireland international Clinton Morrison[140] and former Premiership players Paul Rachubka and James Tavernier also had short loan spells with the club.Other international players who have worn the Dons shirt include Tore André Flo, Ali Gerba, Michel Pensée, Cristian Benavente, Richard Pacquette, Keith Andrews, Russell Martin, Tom Flanagan, Drissa Diallo, Pelé and Ousseynou Cissé.Joe Walsh, Brendan Galloway, Jordan Houghton, Connor Furlong, Gboly Ariyibi, Gareth Edds all represented their countries at youth level.
Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Women21 June 2004Stadium MKScott LindseyEFL League Two2023–24Home coloursAway coloursThird coloursCurrent seasonassociation footballMilton KeynesBuckinghamshireEnglish football league systemWimbledon F.C.relocation to Milton KeynesNational Hockey Stadium2004–052007–08Football League TrophyChampionshipKarl Robinsondisability teamsEngland internationalDele AlliMilton Keynes Dons WomenRelocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton KeynesPlough LaneSelhurst Parknew townnon-leagueFootball LeaguerelocateconurbationsCharlton AthleticLuton TownWimbledon Football ClubRon NoadesMilton Keynes Development CorporationMilton Keynes CityTaylor ReportgroundshareCrystal PalaceSam HammamMerton CouncilDublinKjell Inge RøkkeBjørn Rune GjelstenSafewayrelegatedPremier League1999–2000Pete WinkelmanWalmartBarnetQueens Park Rangersrelocate to Milton KeynesFootball AssociationAFC WimbledonKingstonianKingston upon ThamesadministrationList of Milton Keynes Dons F.C. seasonsBlackpoolformer England National Hockey StadiumFootball League OneStuart MurdochBarnsleyIzale McLeodDanny WilsonWrexham'sThe following seasonLeague Two2006–07Martin AllenBrentfordFootball League ChampionshipShrewsbury TownLeicester CityEnglandcaptainPaul Incethe finalGrimsby TownWembleyLeague OneBlackburn RoversChelseaRoberto Di Matteo2008–09Peterborough UnitedScunthorpe Unitedpenalty shootoutWest Bromwich Albion2009–10John Gorman2010–11 League One2011–12 League OneHuddersfieldThe GalpharmMick HarfordIan Wright2012–13 seasonCambridge CitySheffield Wednesday2013–14 League OneManchester UnitedColchester UnitedOldham AthleticCrewe AlexandraYeovil TownPreston North EndRotherham UnitedSouthend UnitedRobbie NeilsonScottish PremiershipHeart of MidlothianScotlandFA Cuplocal derbyNorthampton Townfollowing seasonPeterboroughDan MiccicheKeith MillenExeter City