Here's a great picture of the North stand in 1966 (Geoff Seel)

A Southern League match between Wimbledon and Yeovil on 27th August 1966. (Geoff Seel) Wimbledon would win 2-0   The middle picture shows a view of the South Stand. Possibly the least comfortable seats I have ever sat on! This stand was purchased from Clapton Orient in 1923 - it once stood on their Millfields Road ground.

For the following pictures and match reports, I am indebted to WISA, Ian Pollock and the photographer Gerry Cranham.

WIMBLEDON BOROUGH NEWS, November 25th, 1960.

Bragg breaks a finger

WIMBLEDON 3, ST. ALBANS CITY 1
(Isthmian League)
 

Wimbledon goal keeper Les Bragg was rushed to hospital after this convincing victory over league rivals St. Albans City at Plough Lane on Saturday. An X-ray examination confirmed that he played through the second half with a broken finger. He will be out of action for four weeks.

It was suspected during the interval and inside-forward, Hamm, was delegated to take over in goal should Bragg break down. But he didn't. In fact, he saved a number of dangerous St. Albans shots before Reynolds and Kenchington made certain of victory.

The Dons had got off to a great start with a goal in less than a minute. Williams sent Martin sprinting down the wing and before the St. Albans defence could rally themselves the ball was in the back of the net. Martin had driven it hard across the goalmouth and Reynolds had sprung high into the air to head it brilliantly home.
The 2,400 strong crowd expected a flood of goals to follow. But Wimbledon could find no way past City's brilliant keener, Mike Locker.

Had St. Albans a defence to match their goalkeeper then Wimbledon would never have scored. And had they an inside-forward trio to match their wingers then the Dons would have been in real trouble. It was some 20 minutes before they had a worthwhile shot on the Wimbledon goal. Then from a corner winger Smith hooked the hall goalwards and Bragg had to dive full-length to turn it round the post.

Wimbledon, somewhat disillusioned by the brilliance of Locker, lost interest before the interval and St. Albans came more into the match. But the Dons defence stood firm and it was not until referee Mr. L. Rockman was drawing in his breath to blow the half-time whistle that they equalised. From a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area Smith hit the upright and Tomlinson drove it past the helpless Bragg.

Wimbledon turned round deprived of their lead and with a suspect keeper. A dangerous position to be in. But they pulled themselves together and, with Reynolds and Martin in fine form and the Dons defence covering well, Bragg was rarely tested. Hamm shot wide, Martin went close, Locker saved brilliantly from Reynolds, and it looked as if Wimbledon would never score. But then Locker made his first and only mistake and it gave Wimbledon the lead.

It was a fantastic goal. Locker placed the ball for a goal kick, drove it straight to Reynolds, who headed it back from 30 yards. It rolled into the net and Wimbledon were ahead. It was all one-way traffic now and in the 82nd minute Kenchington assured Wimbledon of victory when he cut through and drove the ball past the brilliant Locker.

Wimbledon: Bragg; J. Martin, Rudge, Ardrey, Law, Murphy, Kenchington, B. Martin, Reynolds, Hamm, Williams.
St. Albans: Locker; Clarke, Green, McClean, McCormack, King, H. Smith, P. Smith, Tucker, Tomlinson, Roffe.

WIMBLEDON BOROUGH NEWS, January 13th, 1961.

Kenchington the toast of Plough Lane.

WIMBLEDON 5, TOOTING & MITCHAM 0
(Surrey Senior Cup)

 

Keep at it, Peter, and you'll win Wimbledon next week's tough Amateur Cup tie on the sloping Loakes Park pitch of opponents Wycombe Wanderers. That is my message to Peter Kenchington, the Dons' somewhat rotund and overweight makeshift winger who became the toast of Plough Lane after this thrill packed Surrey Senior Cup win over neighbours Tooting and Mitcham on Saturday.

Former reserve centre-forward, Kenchington has been training four nights a week since he became a first team regular in October. Its effect was partially shown at Barking a fortnight ago when he starred in the Dons’ London Senior Cup success. And on Saturday in this all important local derby clash, it paid its top dividend comprising a brilliant hat-trick, a cannon crasher that shook the crossbar and two powerful shots in the final minutes that brought the best out of Tooting keeper Wally Pearson.

But before Kenchington and his fellow forwards broke through their opponents’ weak defence, honours went to the Dons' outstanding young goalkeeper Mike Kelly. He deprived Tooting of the lead with two great saves in the opening minutes and went on to prove he is the Dons' greatest find since Roy~ Law made his debut in 1958.

Centre-half and skipper Law, playing his 101st game for the club, was in brilliant form and completely blotted out Olympic leader Paddy Hasty. Twenty-four hours earlier Hasty had been picked to lead Ireland's attack against Wales and if he plays as badly tomorrow (Saturday) as he did last week then the selectors will soon be looking around for a new leader. One thing is certain - they won't find one in Eddie Reynolds, who missed four open goals which would have put Wimbledon within reach of giving Tooting a double-figure hiding.

But the Dons were content enough with their 5-0 win - the biggest goals tally they have ever run up in a game with Tooting. Five thousand fans, armed with the appropriately coloured scarves and rattles, saw Hasty kick-off for Tooting under a cloudless summer-like sky. Wimbledon were soon on the attack and Reynolds, running backwards, flicked the ball inches wide. But the home supporters' cheers were soon silenced as Hasty beat fullback Rudge and brushed the paintwork with a 30-yard drive.

Away again went Wimbledon - Reynolds hitting the side netting and then shooting high over the bar. Tooting hit back – Ardrey cleared off the line and Kelly saved brilliantly from inside-left MacKay.
Former Wimbledon skipper Jimmy Wright broke up many breakaway runs by his former colleagues but wasted his efforts with mistimed and inaccurate clearances.

Wimbledon’s power lay in their strong half-back line. Law was prominent in the centre and Ardrey and Murphy were particularly dangerous on the attack. After 15 minute of end to end play Wimbledon's forwards suddenly clicked. Reynolds, Hamm and Martin - in great form - all went close and Kenchington shook the crossbar from a Martin cross.

Then Reynolds dived full-length and headed the hall inches wide. Instead of rising, however he lay still in the heavy mud. Play stopped, Reynolds limped off and Kenchington moved into the centre. This proved a blessing in disguise for 30 seconds later Kenchington rose high into the air to head home a cross from Martin.

Then, three minutes from the interval and with the Dons back to battle strength, Hamm crossed from the wing. Reynolds jumped over it and Kenchington flicked the ball home from close range. The second half was as one-sided as any match will ever be. Tooting were completely demoralized and Wimbledon would have got at least 10 had Reynolds been his usual self.

But five proved more than enough. The third came after 56 minutes, Williams cutting in from the wing and driving the ball high into the net. All Pearson could do was to help it on its way. Kenchington scored the fourth from a corner to complete a deserved and popular hat-trick. Little had so far been seen of the Tooting forwards in this half and it was almost one-way traffic to the mud-packed United penalty area.

The fifth and final goal came two minutes from time. Martin crossed, Reynolds again left it and Hamm moved in to drive it accurately into the root of the net.

Wimbledon: Kelly; J. Martin. Rudge, Ardrey, Law, Murphy, Kenchington, B. Martin, Reynolds, Hamm, Williams.

Tooting: Pearson; Holder, Moran, Slade, Roberts, Wright, Halsey, Moore, Hasty, MacKay, Flanagan.