For February 26th I'm going back 38 years to 1983 and York City's Fourth Division game at Plough Lane, Wimbledon and was my first visit (of 6) to Plough Lane.
Plough Lane was Wimbledon's home from 1912 until 1991 when the club's Board decided that the ground could not be economically redeveloped to meet the findings of the Taylor report and agreed a groundshare for home games to be played at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park whilst plans for a new stadium were developed. Wimbledon were to remain at Selhurst for 12 years, a spell which ended with the controversial franchising of the club to Milton Keynes as MK Dons. Wimbledon's old ground at Plough Lane became flats in 2008. The spirit (and fanbase) of the original Wimbledon migrated to the newly formed AFC Wimbledon who had started as a brand new fan-owned club in the Combined Counties League (9th level) and have risen steadily up through the pyramid to reach League 1 (3rd level) in the Football League. Commendably, 29 years after vacating Plough Lane, the new club proudly opened their new stadium earlier this season on the site of the former Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, only 250 yards away from their original Plough Lane home..
1982/3 was a promotion season for Wimbledon. They were crowned champions of Division 4, clear by 8 points from second placed Hull City. York, under player-manager Denis Smith finished in seventh place, missing promotion by only 4 points. This game, played in front of 2,168, was a thrilling one and finished 4-3 to the Dons under the management of Dave Bassett. They were aided by the sending off of York's keeper Roger Jones but City could be proud of their performance which boded well for the future. York's time to be Champions and to gain promotion would come the following season.
CRB Match No. 232
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