So, dons manager harry bassett and crazy gang founder member wally downes decided. Wimbledon s crazy gang are furious about a new television documentary they claim has depicted them as brutal thugs. The rise of the crazy gang, as that generation of wimbledon s players were known, from nonleague football to a victory over a highly successful liverpool team in the final stunned english football. Monday nights fa cup tie between afc wimbledon and liverpool has brought back memories of the famous final the two teams played back in 1988.
Remembering wimbledons crazy gang these football times. Ill be playing a 352 so lets see what im working with. What happened was this a group of wimbledon fc fans didnt give up and formed a new team, who were immediately branded. It draws upon a case study of loyal wimbledon football club fans who remain supporters of this team after its relocation from merton, south west london to milton keynes in 2003.
New wimbledon captain ben chorley has the chance to make a name for himself today by continuing his teams unlikely knack of pulling of shocks. Crazy gangs penchant for brutal intimidation revealed. The dons are up against division one tabletoppers norwich at the national hockey stadium, where the nationwide league form book gives stuart murdochs side little chance. Crazy gang s penchant for brutal intimidation revealed in shocking detail during bt sports 90minute film vinnie jones explains full details of the culture that developed under wimbledon. Bt sport recently premiered a brandnew documentary about wimbledon fc entitled the crazy gang. Journey is a word best consigned to teary x factor eviction reels, but when wimbledon replaced workington in the football league in 1977, it was the start of something special. Vinnie jones remembers crazy gang days when wimbledon stars set fire to alan corks car jones made more than 300 appearances for the dons in two spells and recalls the time cork father of. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of the first division, then to win the fa cup, in only just over a decade. Dave bassett and wally downes to set record straight after bt. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team.
The inside story of vinnie, harry, fash and wimbledon fc 1st edition by matt allen isbn. The bt sports documentary on the rise of wimbledon from division four to fa cup winners in 1988. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of. The crazy gang is a nickname used by the english media to describe wimbledon f. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of the first division, if we can sell newcastle brown to japan, and if wimbledon can make it to the first division, there is surely no achievement beyond our reach. The move of wimbledon coincided with my move to australia, so ive only watched all these events from the sidelines. Crazy gang football, a nickname for the wimbledon football team of the 1980s and the 1990s. Wimbledon s crazy gang and the 5 meanest teams in history. A don since joining the club at eight, the wombles youth product is using wimbledons past to help determine their future. Wimbledons crazy gang and the 5 meanest teams in history. This chapter explores the impact of post relocation in english professional football on the loyal fans left behind.
Four years later, dave bassett took over from dario gradi as manager and the crazy gang era truly began. The crazy gang by dave bassett goodreads share book. Inspired by the recent documentary about the crazy gang, wimbledon are my team of choice. Best moments from new book on wimbledons crazy gang the sun. When arsenal hit long balls to a 6ft 4in centreforward niall quinn, its good football. Crazy gang documentary causes uproar with former wimbledon boss dave bassett bt sport documentary about vinnie jones and company beating liverpool in 1988 fa cup final dismissed as total and. He makes a similar point in the new book, the crazy gang. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south. Plough lane memories and putting the crazy gangs record. Afc wimbledon are delighted to announce that dons heroes dave bassett and wally downes will be launching a new book about the real story of the crazy gang. For those not attending friday nights book launch evening at the club, dave and. The crazy gang by dave bassett, wally downes waterstones.
Plough lane memories and putting the crazy gangs record straight. The clubs former owner sam hammam has complained to bt sport and demanded. If we can sell newcastle brown to japan, and if wimbledon can make it to the first division, there is surely no achievement beyond our reach. As a football team, wimbledon fc represented the last mob in town. Vinnie jones remembers crazy gang days when wimbledon. When wimbledon hit long balls up to a 6ft 2in centreforward john fashanu its destroying the game, bassett noted. Dave bassetts wimbledon, long derided, deserve greater respect than. Cowley recalls his years on the books of wimbledon during. Crazy gang tat2 17 rue bourgneuf, 42300 roanne, france rated 4. Their general approach to the game was often derided by others in. Wednesday 16th july 1997 a date weve all seen hundreds of times. The name, originally that of a well known group of british comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often cheeky and boisterously macho behaviour of wimbledons players, who were in the habit of playing frequent and outrageous practical jokes on each other and on the clubs manager dave bassett. The results brought the squad on board with the managers new philosophy and so began the rise of the crazy gang. Crazy gang comedy group, a group of british entertainers formed in the 1930s.
Crazy gang culture can undermine norwich the journal. Carlton fairweather led sunderland ladies to fourth in womens super league one last season. The crazy gang by dave bassett penguin books australia. The crazy gang lost to manchester city on the first day of the season but went top of the table after consecutive wins. Wimbledons crazy gang were far from impressed by last years tv documentary about them. It really should be renamed cm day as this is when it all kicks off. Where are they now wimbledon s fa cup final winning team as wimbledon take on coventry in the fa cup this friday, live on bt sport, we take a look back at the crazy gang from 1988. Wimbledons crazy gang furious at bt sport documentary. Danny cowley recalls his years on the books of wimbledon during the crazy gang era the lincoln city boss speaks of his respect for afc wimbledon ahead of saturdays fa cup first round tie share. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Wimbledon favourites dave bassett and wally downes will be signing copies of their new book about the real story of the crazy gang before saturdays game against morecambe. Watch the crazy gang, the fulllength documentary about.
If the crazy gang happened now wed all be in prison. And the way it was hijacked by john fashanu and, to a lesser extent, vinnie jones late arrivals to the gang. The crazy gang of wimbledon fc coming a long way from the 1889 founding of wimbledon old central football club, wimbledon fc would finally make it to top flight football and get promoted to the first division in the 198586 season. Crazy gang documentary causes uproar with former wimbledon. A club that defeated the famous liverpool side 10 in the 1988 fa cup final to enshrine their lasting legacy in defining words as said by famed commentator john motson. The fulllength documentary features exclusive interviews with most of the players who were the crazy gang and featured for wimbledon in their famous fa cup victory in the 1988 final against liverpool at wembley stadium. Having hurtled through the amateur divisions into english footballs top flight during a ten year run from 1976 to 1986, the crazy gang assaulted the games elite and cracked heads with a spirit that too often resembled a kamikaze attack. Dave bassett and wally downes to set record straight after bt documentary with book on wimbledon s crazy gang.