MK Dons
Formed in controversial circumstances when Wimbledon FC relocated from South London to Milton Keynes; it was a move that was opposed by supporters of Wimbledon who eventually formed their own non league club, AFC Wimbledon.
The move to Milton Keynes was sanctioned by a three man FA Commission in 2002 and the move to Milton Keynes actually happened in 2003 following the purchase of the club by music promoter Pete Winkelman.
The club was in administration at the time and Winkelman secured funding for the administrators to keep the it operational. The change of name to Milton Keynes Dons came in 2004 after Winkelman’s company bought the club out of administration.
AFC Wimbledon reformed as a non league club and have, of course, fought their way up through the football pyramid and are now a league club.
Having played in League One between 2004 – 2006 MK were relegated to League Two though under the stewardship of Martin Allen were play off semi finalists in 2006/07.
Their first silverware, the Football League Trophy, arrived in 2007/08 with a 2-0 win against Grimsby Town at Wembley and they also clinched the League Two title that same season.
They were promoted to the Championship at the end of the 2014/15 season but spent only one campaign at that level and were relegated back to League One in 2016 and suffered relegation to League Two in 2018.
They returned to League One at the first attempt and have remained at that level since.
Rovers have, to date, played 16 league games against MK Dons, winning four, drawing three and losing nine.
The last time we met in the league was in the 2020/21 season when MK Dons won both encounters 2-0, on December 20th 2020 at Stadium MK and on April 20th 2021 at the Memorial Stadium.
Sean Rigg made his Rovers league debut against MK Dons back in August 2006, while Jean-Paul Kalala and Gavin Williams made their first league appearance in a Rovers shirt, against MK in February 2011. Luke Russe made his Rovers league debut against MK Dons in March 2018 while Cam Hargreaves’ first senior game for Rovers was a home game against MK in October 2019.
Players to have turned out for both clubs include Angelo Balanta, Scott Bevan, Dominic Blizzard, Hiram Boateng, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jermaine Easter, Chris Lines, Lee Nichols, Richie Partridge, Carl Regan, Mark Wright, Danny Woodards, George Williams, Elliott Ward, Ed Upson and James Tunnicliffe.
Paul Tisdale has managed both clubs and former Rovers player Matt Gill spent a short time as coach with MK before following manager Russell Martin to Swansea City where he is now Technical Development Coach.
MK played at the National Hockey Stadium when they first relocated but they now play at the purpose built Stadium Mk which was opened in 2007 and has a capacity of 30,500.
We will face MK Dons next season on 10th September at Stadium MK and at the Mem on 4th February 2023.
A round trip from The Mem to Stadium MK is 248 miles, via the M4 and A34.
MK Dons
Stadium MK
Milton Keynes
Stadium Way
MK1 1ST
Keith Brookman
(all photos courtesy of Keith Brookman)