AFC Wimbledon to return to Merton?

[Green]

Interesting article on BBC London news tonight about AFC Wimbledon's hopes to return to Merton - specifically the Dog Track at Plough Lane.

It's been on the cards for a while but the ante had been upped with the owners of Plough Lane announcing plans to turn it into a football ground. If this happens I'd been pleased for AFC Wimbledon, certainly no less than this smashing little club deserve.

On the other hand it leaves London with not a single dog track - but really I think greyhound racing needs to have a long hard look at itself and try and reinvent itself somehow (as darts have for example), falling attendences mean even if these latest plans don't come to fruitition they're surely living on borrowed time at Plough Lane, and no doubt plenty of other tracks too.

Article from a local rag here http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/football/9960848.Wimbledon_dog_track_supports_plan_to_turn_stadium_into_football_ground/

[paultheroyal]

Surely they can work on it together?

[Green]

Nope, totally unsuitable.

I think the current set up at Plough Lane, whilst dated, is pretty good for greyhound racing. Small outside terrace, large indoor area with tables or just banked seating. But it's so dated it needs to be brought up to date - horse racing are doing it with gigs after racing, no reason the dogs couldn't go the same way (or at least try something)

Dogs & Football together at the same stadia is surely without precedent and for good reason.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Dogs & Football together at the same stadia is surely without precedent and for good reason.

Managed OK at the old Wembley for the best part of 80 years, plus Eastville for over 90 years.

See also http://www.footballgroundguide.com/northern-ireland/lisburn-distillery/index.htm

But the plans don't seem to show a greyhound track :

[Green]

Take it you didn't read the OP? No, there is no greyhound track. That's the point - the last remaining dog track in London is under threat.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Certainly did - that's why I only quoted the bit that said "Dogs & Football together at the same stadia is surely without precedent" - before showing a couple of precedents.

[leon]

so its going to the dogs?

[Green]

Certainly did - that's why I only quoted the bit that said "Dogs & Football together at the same stadia is surely without precedent" - before showing a couple of precedents.

That was in response to paultheroyal, not the OP - hadn't explicitly said but guess I need to now - thanks for the precedents (I didn't realise there were anyway)

In the OP I said the dog track was closing under the proposals.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'll be making my first visit to AFC Wimbledon next Saturday. Any recommendations on where to drink?

[Green]

so its going to the dogs?

Yes. I mean, no.

I'll be making my first visit to AFC Wimbledon next Saturday. Any recommendations on where to drink?

I'd actually recommend drinking in the clubhouse. They've got real ale, it's a good atmosphere. Does get busy just before kick off but its manageable.

[SWLR]

From a combination of standing in the AFC end at the friendly with friends and from the programme notes, as we know there was much debate on whether the money needed to be spent on Kingsmeadow was 1. truely essential 2. better than spending on players 3. money down the drain when they return to the promised land (the equivalent of RFC moving from Early in W'ham DC, back to Tilehurst and the Borough) 4. the proposal that does not dare speak its name.. Kingsmeadow will do as there is no ambition to be a 'big club' and the fun is being a community club.
I think my friends response will be a cynical - too good to be true. 1. it is desperate move by the owners of the dog-track, 2. it implies a move in at least the medium term back to a corporate ownership structure... do they want it.
Also it should be noted that Fulham have done a great job in the last 10 years in targeting SWLondon for support. Since the MK Dons move, Fulham have gone from attendences of 5k-25k. They took over running all the local children's holiday training sessions etc.

Sadly, I just think this pipedream will end in disaster. Wimbledon's ambition should be to be a great community club (which it is) that will yo/yo between Conf/L2/L1 if they are lucky. A move to Merton is a red-herring.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

I'll be making my first visit to AFC Wimbledon next Saturday. Any recommendations on where to drink?

Sir Robert Peel.

[Green]

From a combination of standing in the AFC end at the friendly with friends and from the programme notes, as we know there was much debate on whether the money needed to be spent on Kingsmeadow was 1. truely essential 2. better than spending on players 3. money down the drain when they return to the promised land (the equivalent of RFC moving from Early in W'ham DC, back to Tilehurst and the Borough) 4. the proposal that does not dare speak its name.. Kingsmeadow will do as there is no ambition to be a 'big club' and the fun is being a community club.
I think my friends response will be a cynical - too good to be true. 1. it is desperate move by the owners of the dog-track, 2. it implies a move in at least the medium term back to a corporate ownership structure... do they want it.
Also it should be noted that Fulham have done a great job in the last 10 years in targeting SWLondon for support. Since the MK Dons move, Fulham have gone from attendences of 5k-25k. They took over running all the local children's holiday training sessions etc.

Sadly, I just think this pipedream will end in disaster. Wimbledon's ambition should be to be a great community club (which it is) that will yo/yo between Conf/L2/L1 if they are lucky. A move to Merton is a red-herring.

Ultimately a dilemma a lot of clubs face - do you progress up the leagues or fanny about in the lower divisions indefinitely. TBF I'd probably opt for the latter too.

[Jackson Corner]

What happened to the old Plough Lane ground in the end? I know for years after they left it remained untouched.
I can remember going to Plough Lane around 90/91 to watch Wimbledon play Man Utd in the old 1st division. It cost a tenner at the turnstyle the gate was about 9,500 plenty of space on the terrace. How times have changed..

[Green]

What happened to the old Plough Lane ground in the end?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelhut/2793135762/

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I know Pascal Taggert, who has renovated a lot of Greyhound Stadiums in Ireland, has submitted plans to rebuild a Plough Lane. It would be very sad if the Dog track went. Surely any new build has to look at being multi purpose as the preferred option?

[Green]

I dunno, this kind of argument rears its ugly head with athletic tracks every so often.

I just don't think its worth the sacrifice of having the fans so far from the pitch.

[wolsey]

An (admittedly irrelevant) question based purely on geographical ignorance:

Is Romford viewed less London than Wimbledon? Always thought of them as a bit, well, hinterland.

[Green]

Yeh there's quite a difference, Romford is zone 6, Wimbledon is zone 3.

[wolsey]

Yeh there's quite a difference, Romford is zone 6, Wimbledon is zone 3.

Fair enough, but does Wimbledon feel "more London" than Romford?

FWIW I have always struggled withe fact that Croydon/Sutton/Wimbledon etc are seen as London.

Plus is Zoning really Geographically accurate?

Again, all questions asked from a point of ignorance.