AFC Wimbledon Club Chair Mick Buckley reflects on his side’s playoffs win, the 2024/25 season, and preparations for League One.
Days on from the 1-0 win over Walsall at Wembley, he expressed gratitude to staff, volunteers, and fans for a successful season, highlighted by promotion at Wembley while also talking about the club’s values of togetherness, resilience, and constant improvement, which helped overcome challenges.
Progress was made across all club areas, including Men’s, Women’s, Academy, Girls, and the Foundation, alongside partner charities.
Buckley notes efforts to secure a competitive budget for League One and hints at upcoming opportunities for fans to contribute.
He shares a journalist’s praise for the club’s community spirit and fan-built stadium, expressing pride in the club’s history and unity. Despite future challenges, Buckley encourages fans to enjoy the promotion and thanks them for their support.
Mick Buckley, Chair of AFC Wimbledon PLC, reflects on a remarkable season. 🖊️ #AFCW 🟡🔵https://t.co/pY9KjhJrSZ
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) May 29, 2025
STATEMENT:
Mick Buckley, Chair of AFC Wimbledon PLC, reflects on a remarkable season.
“After our fantastic day at Wembley on Monday, I wanted to say a big thankyou to all our staff, volunteers and fans for coming together and making the season such a success.
“It seems like an age since last July, when all our playing and non-playing staff gathered with some volunteers in the 1889 lounge to contemplate the season ahead.
“We talked about the importance of our values, togetherness resilience and constant improvement. We knew if we were going to be successful this season we would have to really live these values.
“I’m not going to review the season in detail here but it’s fair to say that all of us working together overcame some pretty robust challenges, culminating in 29000 of us celebrating at Wembley.
“We have made incredible progress across all areas of the club; Men, Women, Academy, Girls and the Foundation. Our partner charities, WiSH and DLAG have also made an incredible impact.
“The highlights were of course promotion at Wembley and our women being the highest placed league 2 club in the women’s pyramid. Both men and women massively outperforming relative to competitive playing budgets.
“This week we have been working hard to give Johnnie and Craig the most competitive budget that we can compete in League One next season. This gets tougher and tougher.
“Several fans have asked how they can help. There will be an opportunity for those that would like to help to do so. Look out for more on this shortly.
“Much has been written about us this season. The thousands of people who have made this club what it is today should feel very proud to read what journalist Oliver Kay wrote after visiting our stadium:
“I had one of the best of football days when I finally made it to the Cherry Red Records Stadium in September last year.
“Just setting foot in this stadium is to feel what it is like to support a team that is at the heart of its community and to be among a fanbase whose team means more to it than just wins and losses.
“Love for the game and the team and reverence for the history of the club, the club that was stolen from them and the club they rebuilt, is everywhere, from the kitsch statue of Dave Beasant at the front of the stadium to the illustration on the walls.
“It feels like a stadium where everybody knows each other, like neighbours in a street, like a giant, loving, proud family that refuses to be torn apart.
“The beauty of the architecture here is not in the stadium buildings.
“It is in the knowledge that this is something built by fans. If I lived in London, this is where I’d watch my football”.
There will be some tough challenges ahead. I am sure we will come together to meet them.
In the meantime, really enjoy the warm glow of promotion and thanks again to all of you.
Painful end to season for Walsall as AFC Wimbledon return to League One with playoff final win
Manager Johnnie Jackson said after the playoff final: “I am absolutely buzzing. My suit has been soaked, but it’s all worth it! I’m just so proud, there was relief at the final whistle, but now it’s pure pride in everyone. To see almost 30,000 Wimbledon fans here – a sea of yellow and blue – and what the players have produced on the pitch is nothing short of magnificent.
“I was pleased when we got this end for our supporters because it has tended to bring a bit of luck. It’s just another chapter in our history for this place: the 1988 FA Cup Final, the 2016 team, and we spoke in the build-up about this being another opportunity for our players to write our own chapter. It shows how far our club has come and I was delighted to see our fans so happy.
“I grew up on George Graham’s Arsenal, so maybe that’s paid off and 1-0 to the Arsenal has become 1-0 to Wimbledon,” Johnnie added. “Our defending had received plaudits all season, but I felt that we showed a lot of quality in attack today as well, we perhaps could have scored a couple more. At 1-0 you have to defend properly and we’ve done that all season, especially in the last four games and that’s got us over the line to promotion.”
Myles Hippolyte: “I used to look at Wembley and pretend I was playing there in my aunties back garden with my cousins. We always laughed at this type of thing and never believed it would come true. I believed I was going to become a footballer and now I’ve scored at Wembley – it’s the stuff of dreams. I’m so happy to have now had success at Wimbledon. After my first time of playing here and losing (with Stockport), now it’s time to celebrate a win!
“It’s massive – a big day and a great day. I’m happy for everyone: all the boys, staff, people behind the scenes and the supporters. It was a massive occasion and I’m just happy to have scored. I had a shot just before and I was hoping that was going to be the one, but that went well wide. For the goal, I felt it was going in straight away.”
