AFC Wimbledon hit target for financing new stadium

AFC Wimbledon confirmed this week that they have hit their target for financing their new stadium.

The supporter-owned League One club have been raising funds to build a brand new ground on Plough Lane since the start of 2020 – launching a bond scheme back in January.

Thanks to the bond scheme, and a bridging loan from MSP Capital, the Dons can now proceed with construction of the new 9,000-capacity venue. Building work at Plough Lane began last year following demolition of the greyhound racing track on the site as they plan to leave their temporary home in Kingsmeadow.

“There’s no doubt this has removed a major headache for the club,” their chief executive Joe Palmer said. “We can now divert our attentions back to the forthcoming season and preparing for the intensely uncertain, post-COVID world we are all facing.

“This unquestionably presents a whole new series of challenges but we can take comfort from knowing the stadium project has the funding it needs to reach completion.”

“To say I am proud of what we have achieved is almost an understatement,” Palmer added. “This is a triumph for absolutely everybody at our club, and – of course – for the thousands of our fans who raised over £7.5m via the Plough Lane Bond and crowdfunding campaign.”

The Plough Lane Bond scheme attracted investment from countless AFC Wimbledon fans as well as the wider-football family – including the FSA, who invested £5,000 into the scheme.

FSA vice chair Tom Greatrex said: “This is a tremendous effort by everyone connected to AFC Wimbledon – a testament to what supporter-owned clubs can achieve.

“It represents one of the final steps in a 17-year dream that many thought was impossible. We look forward to the day construction is complete and hope AFC Wimbledon fans thoroughly enjoy their return to Plough Lane.”