So on May 30th I left Kingsmeadow and made my way to Wembley* now known as Wombley, I arrived at 12:30 and was given a quick tour of Wembley and taken to the Mascots changing room, was a bit nicer than my one at Kingsmeadow but still no shower and fur drier, I’ll have to wait until New Plough Lane, hint hint Mayor of London!
I was hoping I could go see all our excited fans outside the ground and around the concourse, but Wembley said this wasn’t allowed, so instead I was allowed round the edge of the pitch, when I first entered only a handful of fans were in the stadium, but every time I looked the fans literally doubled in numbers, I got as many highfives, hugs and photos with our fans as I could but the barriers at Wembley, aren’t very mascot friendly, I was having to borrow the stewards seats to get closer to our fans!
Then it was time to meet the lucky children who would won the chance to be the mascot for the play off final, and my pal/rival for the day Pilgrim Pete, for a photo call!
Then we were told it was time for a mascot dance off to get the crowds going (Wimbledon fans didn’t need geeing up!) It was decided that this would take place in front of the Plymouth Argyle fans, so I knew had to throw some shapes, I cannot remember the tune of choice we had to dance to, but I recall it not being a song I would have chosen! I was first so I threw a few break dancing moves, sadly not enough room for my full repertoire, before a bit of body popping and a moon walk finished with the splits, Pilgrim Pete had no chance!! 1-0 to Wimbledon 😀 the school boys team soon after making it 2-0 on the pitch against Mansfield in their cup final, and 2-0 in events to Wimbledon, just needed the first team to win now for the hatrick (no pressure!!)
As I made my way back to our end I could see thousands of our fans had made their way in to the stadium, and the sea of yellow and blue was developing in to an amazing site! On my way to our fans I saw the play off final trophy and I could not resist a bit of Womble intervention!
As I got back to our end everywhere I looked was yellow and blue smiling faces, it really was an amazing site, I wanted to high five and hug every one of them, but those stupid barriers got in the way.
Then the Wembley official at about 14:40 said it was time for me to leave, I did what any good mascot would do and ignored him for as long as I could get away with and kept greeting our fans, but I was soon told my time was up and I had to leave the pitching, and I realised I wouldn’t be able to give the player’s a high five as they came on to the pitch, our good luck ritual. Thankfully luck was on our side though 😀
As for the match well we know how that turned out and better reporter’s and bloggers have covered it better than I could, but in case you have had your head in the sand, we won 2-0 and apart from one great save from Kelle Roos, we always looked in control! The games came from Lyle Taylor baby, and then Adebayo “beast” Akinfenwa (eventually) scored from the spot in the 11th minute of injury time!
And there it was we were officially promoted to League One, 14 years to the day that Afc Wimbledon were born!! A few Womble tears of pride were shed I’m not ashamed to admit!
Then as Wembley wouldn’t let me go and celebrate with the players and fans, I decided I would travel back on the train with the fans to celebrate, or at least that was the plan until I was kidnapped by some Afc Wimbledon fans who had privately hired an old fashioned bus, with disco lights, so I travelled back to Kingsmeadow in style busting some moves, to welcome the players back to the ground.
And what a welcome the bars and car park were overflowing with fans, as the team coach pulled I’m to the car park to huge roars of we are going up, with the cheers getting louder and louder as each player stepped odd the coach proudly wearing their medals!
After greeting them back, I soon sneaked off to bed all the excitement getting to me, and I let the players staff, and fans party, and us Wombles know how to party!!
I can’t finish this blog post without thanking those that have been told they won’t be having their contracts renewed:
firstly Sean Rigg, Sean was brilliant last season, popping up with a fair amount of goals, including a goal against that team we have to play in the league now, and nor forgetting the winner at Wycombe to set up the Fa Cup game against Liverpool, sadly this season he couldn’t quite oust Barcham out of the starting eleven, wherever he will go they will gain a great player.
Secondly Callum Kennedy, if there is ever a player, young fans should be inspired by, it is Callum, he was told by Neal he was surplus to requirements, but Callum didn’t listen he plugged away in pre season and forced Neal to offer him another contract, a great example of refusing to give up, this season must have been frustrating, watching Jon Meades making left back his own, but Callum waited and once again grabbed his chance when Meades got injured. All this whilst having to deal with his dad passing away. A loyal servant who will always be remembered by me and many others.
Lastly but by no means least, Adebayo the beast Akinfenwa, again he had a much better season last year I am sure he will admit, I mean how do you top scoring the winner against them, and then scoring against your boyhood team Liverpool! But I’m not taking anything away from him, because the way he has ended this season has been immense, all 3 appearances in the Play offs were amazing, he showed along with the rest of the players, he wanted to get us up.
For me Bayo was a great player and man for our club, on and off the pitch ofter being nagged by his team mates who were driving that game, he refused to leave until every fan got their photo they desired. Legend is so easily said, but this man for me will always be a legend**, wherever he plays, they will gain a great player, man and Beast!!
**As is every player that plays his heart out in the yellow and blue.
One last person I have to thank (apart from the whole team, management, volunteers and fans) is my minder this season Chris, he probably often wonders what he has got himself in to, but without him, I’d have missed a lot of fans for hugs and highfives, and stood on a few feet too, thank you Chris, same again next season?
Haydon the Womble 