Wimbledon Old Centrals

Note - if you purchase this item you get 2 x prints - Old Centrals & Wimbledon Art Deco 1920/21

Wimbledon FC (1889–2004)

Wimbledon Football Club’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and controversy — from amateur beginnings on Wimbledon Common to FA Cup glory, exile and rebirth.

Origins: Wimbledon Old Centrals (1889–1910)

The club was formed in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Centrals, 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.

In 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.

Research 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.

Wimbledon Borough & Reformation (1911–1919)

A successor club emerged in 1911, backed by former officials and players, adopting the name Wimbledon Borough FC. 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.

Lack of municipal backing led to Borough folding after one season.

Immediately thereafter, a new Wimbledon FC was formed. The team played in black and white at Plough Lane, a ground that would become synonymous with the club for 75 years.

Following a wartime hiatus, Wimbledon joined the United Senior League in January 1919 and then the Athenian League for 1919–20.

Blue Shirts and Isthmian Ascendancy (1920–1963)

In 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.

At 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.

In 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.

Over 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.

Southern League Power & FA Cup Heroics (1963–1977)

The double-headed eagle briefly reappeared between 1970 and 1974.

In 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.

A 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.

Yellow 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.

At 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.

Rapid Rise & The “Crazy Gang” (1977–1991)

After 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.

Nicknamed the “Crazy Gang,” 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.

Exile from Plough Lane (1991–2000)

Days 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.

Despite 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.

In 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.

Relocation & Schism (2000–2004)

With 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 AFC Wimbledon in south-west London.

Meanwhile, 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.

A consortium led by Peter Winkleman rescued the club from liquidation but confirmed the relocation’s permanence. In 2004 the club was renamed Milton Keynes Dons, adopting new colours and a new identity. All formal ties with Wimbledon FC were severed.

In 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.

Legacy

Wimbledon FC’s history is unique in English football:

• Founded 1889
• FA Amateur Cup winners (1963)
• Southern League champions (three successive titles)
• Football League members from 1977
• First Division (1986)
• FA Cup winners (1988)

The 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.

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