Matchday 94 – Completing the Famous 92 Football League Grounds
After 77 long days since our last matchday, we finally reached the moment we had been building towards for over a year and a half – Matchday 94. In that time, life hadn’t stood still. I had changed jobs, undergone a hernia operation, and thankfully made a strong recovery. Yet despite all of that, we still managed to attend 18 additional games outside of the official 92 challenge. Football had remained a constant thread throughout a time of great personal change – and today was the reward for all of it.
We wanted this final match to be a true celebration. From the start, we had planned to make it as special and memorable as possible. We arranged hospitality at AFC Wimbledon and stayed in regular contact with their fantastic staff, who couldn’t have been more helpful. They even organised a feature for us in the matchday programme, which was such an unexpected and wonderful touch. Seeing our story printed inside a Football League programme was genuinely emotional.
To make the day even more special, we were joined by some of the closest people to us – Gus, Jen, Amanda, Leah, and of course, Grandad Steve. Steve himself was completing the 92 alongside us, and since he had shared 30 matches with us on this journey, it only felt right that we crossed the finish line together.
With the match rescheduled for a 12:30 kick-off instead of the usual 15:00, it meant an even earlier start than we had initially hoped. Plans were slightly thrown off when Chiltern Railways cancelled all trains from Birmingham Moor Street due to Aston Villa’s match at Wembley. Determined not to let anything spoil the day, we made a 50-minute drive early in the morning to Warwick Parkway to catch the first available train at 06:42.
Bleary-eyed but full of excitement, we boarded the train and arrived at London Marylebone just before 08:30. We had originally planned to kick off the day with a Wetherspoons breakfast (in true tradition), but a slow service at Greggs meant we found ourselves rushing instead. Time was against us, and soon we were heading straight to Wimbledon.
A 10-minute walk to Edgware Road station took us onto the tube, and after a few stops, we arrived at Wimbledon Park. It was a beautiful morning – the sun was shining brightly – and a lovely 25-minute walk brought us right to Plough Lane, home of AFC Wimbledon.
First stop, of course, was the club shop. Buying a scarf from every ground had become a sacred tradition for us, and today was no different. Picking up that final scarf felt symbolic – the last piece of a collection built on years of dedication and memories.
Upon arrival at the hospitality entrance, we were warmly greeted and checked in smoothly. We were each handed a lanyard with our food and drink vouchers attached – a lovely keepsake to mark the day.
Inside, the hospitality lounge was buzzing with anticipation. We were soon met by James, one of the brilliant members of staff, who kindly offered to take us pitchside for a special photo session. Standing pitchside at our final ground, soaking up the atmosphere before the fans flooded in, was simply magical. Thank you, James, for making that moment so memorable – the photos we took will be treasured forever.
Back inside, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet while chatting, laughing, and reminiscing about our journey. The environment was relaxed, welcoming, and full of smiles – just how we had hoped it would be.
During the morning, AFC Wimbledon legend Neil Sullivan gave a talk about his career, sharing stories and memories from his playing days. Afterwards, he stuck around for photos with supporters, and of course, Liam, Leah and I jumped at the chance. Another memory captured on this unforgettable day.
After grabbing a complimentary coffee, we made our way to our seats – and what a view we had! Padded seats directly above the halfway line, in the front row of the upper tier. It was the perfect vantage point to take in the game and the electric atmosphere that was building inside the stadium.
Both sets of fans were fantastic, creating a loud and lively backdrop throughout the match. The first half saw chances for both sides, but neither could find the net, keeping the tension high as the teams went into the break.
During halftime, we returned to the lounge for a quick coffee refill and soaked in the lively buzz among the fans. It felt like the entire day was on a knife-edge, filled with excitement and anticipation.
The second half brought the drama. Port Vale scored twice in just three minutes, sending their travelling supporters into absolute raptures. With promotion to League One in their sights, the celebrations were wild and heartfelt. Sadly for Wimbledon, they couldn’t find a way back into the match, and in truth, Port Vale thoroughly deserved their win based on their dominant second-half performance.
After the final whistle, we stayed behind for a while, soaking up the incredible atmosphere, especially from the jubilant Port Vale fans. It felt right to pause, breathe it all in, and reflect on the amazing journey that had brought us here.
Leaving Plough Lane was emotional but celebratory. Before heading back, we managed to tick off another personal milestone – my 100th Wetherspoons pub visit! The Wibbas Down Inn in Wimbledon provided the perfect setting to toast our achievement. With drinks and food (and tired but happy kids), we reminisced on all the matches, all the miles travelled, and all the memories made.
Afterwards, we made our way to Wimbledon tube station, hopped across to Paddington, and returned to London Marylebone. After a short wait, we boarded our train back to Warwick Parkway and completed the final leg of the journey home.
It was a long day, but one that I will never, ever forget. Completing the 92 is a dream for so many football fans – and to have done it with Liam, my family, and close friends by my side made it even more special.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone at AFC Wimbledon for your incredible hospitality and kindness in making this day truly memorable.
This isn’t the end though – stay tuned! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting a special blog reviewing all 94 matches we attended in under 585 days. There are so many amazing stories still to tell…
Five facts about AFC Wimbledon:
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AFC Wimbledon was founded in 2002 by supporters of the original Wimbledon FC after the controversial decision to relocate the club to Milton Keynes (later becoming MK Dons).
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They achieved five promotions in nine years, climbing from the Combined Counties League to the Football League in record time.
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Plough Lane is their spiritual home, with the club returning to a brand new stadium near their original ground in 2020 after years of ground-sharing at Kingsmeadow.
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The club is owned by its fans, through the Dons Trust, ensuring that supporters have a controlling say in major decisions.
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Their mascot is Haydon the Womble, named after Haydons Road station and inspired by the famous Wombles of Wimbledon Common!