Comments on: Franchising Wimbledon: The Beginning http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/ Exploring football culture around the world. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:22:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Pitch Invasion » Lead Story » From Leigh RMI to Leigh Genesis http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-5116 Pitch Invasion » Lead Story » From Leigh RMI to Leigh Genesis Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:55:08 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-5116 [...] the past, backing up my point, have been visionaries such as Pete Winkleman. He decided to up and move Wimbledon to Milton Keynes? Why? Because he was a visionary and that’s what visionaries do. Then there’s John [...] [...] the past, backing up my point, have been visionaries such as Pete Winkleman. He decided to up and move Wimbledon to Milton Keynes? Why? Because he was a visionary and that’s what visionaries do. Then there’s John [...]

]]> By: Manjai Ceesay http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-3170 Manjai Ceesay Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:27:31 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-3170 It seems like it was ages ago It seems like it was ages ago

]]> By: Davyd Trunyov http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2498 Davyd Trunyov Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:54:52 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2498 Fans can only hope this could never happen again. I don't know if you can put Everton to Kirby move under the same category (it is only 6.9 mi – about 17 mins a move according to Google Maps), but club have done a very good job winning a publicity battle and next think we know they will move them Wigan (15.5 mi – about 27 mins), if they get relegated. Every town needs a premierships club, who cares about lover leagues :-) www.keioc.net Fans can only hope this could never happen again. I don’t know if you can put Everton to Kirby move under the same category (it is only 6.9 mi – about 17 mins a move according to Google Maps), but club have done a very good job winning a publicity battle and next think we know they will move them Wigan (15.5 mi – about 27 mins), if they get relegated. Every town needs a premierships club, who cares about lover leagues :-)
http://www.keioc.net

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2486 Tom Dunmore Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:54:33 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2486 I'd add, though, that it's not just in England an English League club could be moved to. Remember, Wimbledon considered Dublin, Cardiff and Glasgow, and for all I know, New York and DC too. Also, there are still some pretty large towns without a Football League club. I wouldn't presume this could never happen again. I’d add, though, that it’s not just in England an English League club could be moved to. Remember, Wimbledon considered Dublin, Cardiff and Glasgow, and for all I know, New York and DC too. Also, there are still some pretty large towns without a Football League club. I wouldn’t presume this could never happen again.

]]> By: alex http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2483 alex Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:45:47 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2483 I still don't understand why, with a club apparently on the verge of going out of business, moving it was seen as somehow preferable. No-one tried to "save" Newport or Aldershot by relocating them, so why Wimbledon? When Luton and Swindon were on the brink a few weeks ago, no-one suggested relocating them. Why couldn't Wimbledon have been allowed to die a natural death, if indeed that is what was going to happen? Another Joe is right though, there's nowhere left in England for a team to move to now. It won't happen again. I still don’t understand why, with a club apparently on the verge of going out of business, moving it was seen as somehow preferable. No-one tried to “save” Newport or Aldershot by relocating them, so why Wimbledon? When Luton and Swindon were on the brink a few weeks ago, no-one suggested relocating them. Why couldn’t Wimbledon have been allowed to die a natural death, if indeed that is what was going to happen?

Another Joe is right though, there’s nowhere left in England for a team to move to now. It won’t happen again.

]]> By: Mark http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2480 Mark Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:29:54 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2480 I remember the Crazy Gang from when I started watching English soccer...fantastic stuff. I remember the Crazy Gang from when I started watching English soccer…fantastic stuff.

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2479 Tom Dunmore Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:57:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2479 Paul, I'd also add that David Conn's <em>The Beautiful Game?</em> has a very good chapter on the topic too (cited in the post). Paul, I’d also add that David Conn’s The Beautiful Game? has a very good chapter on the topic too (cited in the post).

]]> By: Paul http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2477 Paul Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:16:47 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2477 Might I suggest that anyone interested in finding out more about this get hold of a copy of a book called 'Rebellion' by Doug Brimson. It contains an excellent section about the history of FC Wimbledon and the move to Milton Keynes. Might I suggest that anyone interested in finding out more about this get hold of a copy of a book called ‘Rebellion’ by Doug Brimson.

It contains an excellent section about the history of FC Wimbledon and the move to Milton Keynes.

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2475 Tom Dunmore Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:57:30 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2475 Ian, I think you're right it's the first article to be so explicit in its praise. That's exactly why I decided to write this reminder of what happened, even if it'll be old hat to some people. I am guessing that if the MK Dons rise up the league, we'll see a lot more articles like the Telegraph one in the coming years. Davyd, thanks for the link, and Joe, I hope you're right -- but I'll go into that more in the next article. Ian, I think you’re right it’s the first article to be so explicit in its praise. That’s exactly why I decided to write this reminder of what happened, even if it’ll be old hat to some people. I am guessing that if the MK Dons rise up the league, we’ll see a lot more articles like the Telegraph one in the coming years.

Davyd, thanks for the link, and Joe, I hope you’re right — but I’ll go into that more in the next article.

]]> By: Another Joe http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2473 Another Joe Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:36:43 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/01/27/franchising-wimbledon/#comment-2473 I think Wimbledon relocating to Milton Keynes was an anomily. Most other towns and cities that size already have clubs and Wimbledon was in a vurnable position to be "franchised" because of the groundshare with Crystal Palace. Thus, I think the case of Wimbledon was a "perfect storm" and "franchising" won't happen in English football (soccer) again. I think Wimbledon relocating to Milton Keynes was an anomily. Most other towns and cities that size already have clubs and Wimbledon was in a vurnable position to be “franchised” because of the groundshare with Crystal Palace. Thus, I think the case of Wimbledon was a “perfect storm” and “franchising” won’t happen in English football (soccer) again.

]]>