More than 100,000 liters of water has been pumped out of the English Football League (EFL) League Two team AFC Wimbledon’s flooded Plough Lane (London, England, UK) home after the “entire stadium” was left under water, says the club’s Managing Director James Woodroof.
‘BBC SPORT’ stated that the pitch at the Cherry Red Records Stadium has suffered “significant damage” after the nearby River Wandle broke its banks on the night of September 22nd, as per Woodroof.
London (UK)-based the English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales (UK). Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992 when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League (the highest level of the English football league system). The Football League was rebranded as the ‘English Football League’ (EFL) from the 2016-2017 seasons.
The English Football League Two, simply known as League Two in England and for sponsorship purposes as the Sky Bet League Two, is the third and lowest division of the English Football League (EFL) and fourth-highest tier overall in the English football league system.
The AFC Wimbledon is an English professional association football club based in Merton, London (UK). The team competes in the EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
The 9,215-capacity Plough Lane, currently known as the Cherry Red Records Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multipurpose football stadium in Wimbledon, South-West London (UK), which has been the home of the AFC Wimbledon since November 3rd, 2020.
‘BBC SPORT’ further stated that the September 24th Carabao Cup (the EFL’s showpiece Cup competition) third-round match against the Premier League team Newcastle United F.C. was postponed and will instead be played at the Premier League club’s 52,350-capacity St James’ Park ground (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) on October 1st.
‘The Dons’ League Two home game against its peer team Crewe Alexandra F.C., originally scheduled for September 22nd, has in turn been postponed. The club’s League Two clash against Accrington Stanley F.C. scheduled for September 28th has also been postponed after it was not possible to secure an alternative host stadium.
The club’s next home game after that is against their peer team Carlisle United F.C. on October 12th and Woodroof said it is their “real intention to fulfill that fixture”.
He added, “I woke up to images from my stadium team. I thought it was AI (artificial intelligence). The entire stadium, the concourse and the ground floor was under water. It was horrendous. The pitch has significant damage. We filled four tankers, which house 27,000 liters each – over 100,000 litres.”
With a running tap estimated to use nine liters a minute, 100,000 liters is the equivalent of a tap being left on continuously for around a week.
‘Essentially it’s a Natural Disaster’
Parts of Central and Southern England experienced more than a month’s worth of rain on September 22nd and September 23rd morning.
It is the first time the River Wandle has broken its banks since the 1960s, Woodroof said.
Damage to the pitch shows several areas of exposed sand close to one of the corner flags.
He further added, “We are deep in investigation mode into what has happened here. Essentially, it’s a natural disaster. The River Wandle was full. There was too much water and nowhere for it to go and the pressure has been so enormous that this area of the pitch has been the unfortunate victim. We really need to understand what the damage has been beneath that surface.”
Newcastle Gesture
Wimbledon has made a strong start to the season and sits fifth in League Two with 13 points from their first six matches.
They are undefeated in five home games in all competitions.
A JustGiving page has been set up by ‘The Wombles’ fan Graham Stacey to raise funds to help Wimbledon repair the damage with a target of £100,000.
Their Cup opponents Newcastle are among those to help pledging £15,000.
Stated Woodroof, “We are really thankful for all the support. It typifies the spirit of this football club, this relentless resilience and the community spirit is extraordinary. Time after time this football club has defied naysayers. We have another obstacle in our path and I’ve no doubt we’ll be back and I’m hopeful it’s sooner rather than later.”
Woodroof later confirmed that the club has insurance for the stadium and pitch and were working closely with their insurers.
He also urged ‘The Magpies’ fans to buy tickets for the rearranged tie, adding, “There’s a revenue share, so we get 45 percent of the gate. If you live in Newcastle please come down – by supporting your team you are supporting us.”
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