{"product_id":"wimbledon-old-centrals","title":"Wimbledon Old Centrals","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNote - if you purchase this item you get 2 x prints - Old Centrals \u0026amp; Wimbledon Art Deco 1920\/21\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWimbledon FC (1889–2004)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWimbledon Football Club’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and controversy — from amateur beginnings on Wimbledon Common to FA Cup glory, exile and rebirth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigins: Wimbledon Old Centrals (1889–1910)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe club was formed in 1889 as \u003cb\u003eWimbledon Old Centrals\u003c\/b\u003e, playing on Wimbledon Common in navy shirts. In 1890 the team added its initials to the jerseys. The “Old Centrals” suffix was dropped in 1905 as the club sought a broader identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1908 Wimbledon moved to Burlington Road, but the pitch proved disastrously waterlogged. With fixtures repeatedly postponed and council appeals ignored, the club suspended activities in September 1910.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eResearch by Bert Dale has uncovered photographic evidence of a monogram crest worn on striped shirts during this early period — one of the first indications of the club’s visual identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWimbledon Borough \u0026amp; Reformation (1911–1919)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA successor club emerged in 1911, backed by former officials and players, adopting the name \u003cb\u003eWimbledon Borough FC\u003c\/b\u003e. Based at Coppermill Lane and composed largely of council workers, Borough played in black and white and adopted the borough coat of arms as their official crest — though it is unclear whether it was worn on shirts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLack of municipal backing led to Borough folding after one season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImmediately thereafter, a new \u003cb\u003eWimbledon FC\u003c\/b\u003e was formed. The team played in black and white at \u003cb\u003ePlough Lane\u003c\/b\u003e, a ground that would become synonymous with the club for 75 years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFollowing a wartime hiatus, Wimbledon joined the United Senior League in January 1919 and then the Athenian League for 1919–20.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlue Shirts and Isthmian Ascendancy (1920–1963)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1920 the club adopted blue shirts, now known to have been trimmed with red. A training photograph from the period shows a large “W” on the shirts — a device reportedly frowned upon by the FA and later abandoned.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the end of that season, Wimbledon took a gamble by applying to join the Isthmian League. A proposed league expansion was narrowly approved; had it failed, Wimbledon may have been left without a competition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1923 the club adopted a crest based on the Borough of Wimbledon’s coat of arms, featuring the double-headed eagle — a reference to the legend that Julius Caesar once camped on Wimbledon Common. This badge remained (with interruptions) until the late 1950s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOver the next four decades Wimbledon became one of England’s leading amateur sides, winning the Isthmian League eight times. Their amateur era peaked in 1963 when they won the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley. That same year, the club turned semi-professional and joined the Southern League.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouthern League Power \u0026amp; FA Cup Heroics (1963–1977)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe double-headed eagle briefly reappeared between 1970 and 1974.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1973–74 the club occasionally wore yellow and blue, though all-blue remained the principal strip. The following season saw an extraordinary FA Cup run in yellow and blue. When drawn against First Division Burnley, local sports shop owner Ron Hales supplied new Bukta kits. After defeating Burnley, Wimbledon adopted the strip as a lucky charm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA television clash with Leeds United required a darker kit for black-and-white broadcasting, prompting a reverse blue version. That strip was worn for the remainder of the season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYellow returned in 1975–76 (initially with yellow shorts, later blue). By early 1977, white shirts became regular wear — including during the win over Telford that secured a third consecutive Southern League title.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the 1977 Football League AGM, Wimbledon were elected to the League at the expense of Workington. For their inaugural campaign, the club adopted an all-white Adidas strip and a refreshed crest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRapid Rise \u0026amp; The “Crazy Gang” (1977–1991)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter promotion and relegation in four successive seasons, Wimbledon embarked on a meteoric ascent. By 1986 they had reached the First Division — the highest level of English football.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNicknamed the \u003cb\u003e“Crazy Gang,”\u003c\/b\u003e the club defied convention. In 1987 they finished sixth. In 1988, against overwhelming odds, they defeated Liverpool 1–0 in the FA Cup Final. Their direct, long-ball style and physical edge — personified by figures such as Vinnie Jones and John Fashanu — unsettled purists but proved ruthlessly effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExile from Plough Lane (1991–2000)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDays after the 1988 triumph, plans were announced to relocate to a new stadium in Merton. These failed to materialise. With Plough Lane deemed unsuitable for redevelopment, the ground was sold and in 1991 Wimbledon moved into Selhurst Park, sharing with Crystal Palace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite modest resources and attendances, the club continued to compete admirably in the Premier League, finishing in the top nine between 1994 and 1997 and reaching the semi-finals of both domestic cups.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1999 owner Sam Hammam sold the club to a Norwegian consortium. On the final day of the 1999–2000 season, Wimbledon were relegated from the Premier League.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRelocation \u0026amp; Schism (2000–2004)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no permanent home secured, the owners opted to relocate the club to Milton Keynes. The majority of supporters opposed the move and in 2002 formed \u003cb\u003eAFC Wimbledon\u003c\/b\u003e in south-west London.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeanwhile, Wimbledon FC played declining crowds at Selhurst Park before moving in September 2003 to the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes, despite entering administration with debts exceeding £20 million.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA consortium led by Peter Winkleman rescued the club from liquidation but confirmed the relocation’s permanence. In 2004 the club was renamed \u003cb\u003eMilton Keynes Dons\u003c\/b\u003e, adopting new colours and a new identity. All formal ties with Wimbledon FC were severed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 2006 an agreement confirmed that Wimbledon FC’s honours would be relinquished by MK Dons, while historical artefacts were transferred to the London Borough of Merton.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLegacy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWimbledon FC’s history is unique in English football:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFounded 1889\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFA Amateur Cup winners (1963)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouthern League champions (three successive titles)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFootball League members from 1977\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst Division (1986)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFA Cup winners (1988)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original club’s story effectively ended in 2004, but its spirit continues through AFC Wimbledon — formed by supporters determined to preserve the identity born on Wimbledon Common in 1889.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eProduct details:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will only pay shipping\/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscounts are given for multiple purchases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSize: A3, A4, A5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle Sided\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePaper: 400gsm premium art stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrint quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFinish: Unframed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWatermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully packaged for safe delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAny issues please contact me at \u003ca href=\"mailto:paul@worldvintagecolours.com\"\u003epaul@worldvintagecolours.com\u003c\/a\u003e by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Vintage Colours","offers":[{"title":"A3","offer_id":47468892946624,"sku":"Wimbledon - A3","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4","offer_id":47468892979392,"sku":"Wimbledon - A4","price":12.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A5","offer_id":47468893012160,"sku":"Wimbledon - A5","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/8242\/7840\/files\/A3-WimbledonOldCentrals.jpg?v=1771328175","url":"https:\/\/www.worldvintagecolours.com\/products\/wimbledon-old-centrals","provider":"World Vintage Colours","version":"1.0","type":"link"}