The Fans’ Stadium

By: The Big Tissue
Date: 13/07/2003

FOOTBALL supporters wanting to buy shares in AFC Wimbledon and help secure the Fans’ Stadium have until Friday (July 18th) to get their application in. If you love football but hate the way it’s being ruined by short-term business interests then this is where the Fans start to reclaim the game.

And for a minimum investment of £90 you can be part of it.

To see what it is all about visit: www.thefansstadium.org/ourcampaign.

On May 28th last year a three man FA commission scandalously ratified a property deal that presented Milton Keynes with both our football team and the place in the First Division we spent 114 years getting. Since then Dons' fans have decided that it was time to act rather than protest.

Within two days we’d reformed as AFC Wimbledon and were starting again at the bottom of the pyramid. A year on, we’ve now bought our own stadium, Kingsmeadow, which we intend to run as a Fans' Stadium, a resource that can be used by fans around the country whose clubs are in difficulties.

You can find out what exactly a Fans' Stadium would mean at www.thefansstadium.org/about

Having bought the stadium, we know have to pay for it. To raise money the Dons Trust, owners of AFC Wimbledon, launched a share issue to raise a £1 million. If you are interested in being part of this please go here www.thefansstadium.org/helpus/shares.html to download a prospectus to your computer.

The minimum share application is 150, at 60p each. Admittedly £90 is a bit steep for a goodwill gesture but up to four people can join together to buy one lot.

If you buy shares make sure you include the name of the club you represent: the directors intend to erect a memorial to honour all the fans of other clubs who have contributed towards the purchase.

So far so good but there is a time issue here. We need to raise the money by this Friday 18th at 3.00pm when the offer closes. If that total isn't passed by that time then the issue will have failed and all the cheques will be returned, which would be a major setback.

Well, that’s the pitch. If after seeing the ad and reading the info you are keen to help but find £90 a bit too rich, or can't persuade any mates to pitch in for shares, well we ain't too proud to beg. You can still just make a donation at www.thefansstadium.org/helpus/donations.html.

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