Wombling Free: A Fan’s Journey From Despising Football To Gaining A Superpower

Until astir 10 years agone I despised football. That’s not to beryllium confused pinch passive indifference – I held a genuine disdain for it. The measurement it smugly held taste power and arrogantly took complete each speech repelled me. It had a history of stats and characters I wasn’t invited to study astir and, worse, it was littered pinch nan ugliness of toxic masculinity and racism. It earned my loathing.

This each started successful Cornwall. Though Truro City person precocious won a historical promotion to nan National League, successful nan Duchy successful nan 90s nan opportunities to spot nationalist level shot were sparse. My friends would make nan two-hour travel up past nan separator to Plymouth Argyle to get a sensation of that. It was comparatively acold and decidedly not affordable for everyone.

Football truthful seemed to inhabit a benignant of paradoxical authorities wherever it felt astatine nan aforesaid clip all-encompassing and inaccessible.

Of each things, it was Fantasy Premier League that became my nerdy, mentally draining introduction constituent to football. A cynical effort to fresh in? Sure, but it led maine to travel my favourite squad successful nan Premier League and, slowly, nan crippled became demystified. I became an avid listener to nan Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast. It fed my intrigue but I still didn’t consciousness I was capable of a real fan. Instead I was immoderate benignant of imposter. I had a rudimentary knowing of nan game, its stars and its authorities but that was astir it.

Matty Stevens celebrates aft scoring for Wimbledon against Carlisle past October. Photograph: James Manning/PA

It was only by the 2024-25 season, by which clip I lived successful southbound London, that I discovered AFC Wimbledon were a 20-minute locomotion from my flat. Intrigued, and ne'er having investigated a section squad of my own, I ventured to Plough Lane – location of nan Wombles. I had nary existent knowledge of them beyond that they rang a distant doorbell arsenic nan nine of John Green, an writer and creator I followed successful those early days of YouTube. He was nan designer of a geeky organization successful which I comparably had nary problem emotion astatine home.

The anxiety-inducing locomotion astir nan area conjured fears of nan section Dons smelling my imposter syndrome aliases someway penalising maine for nan taste appropriation of daring to beryllium successful nan location end. I’m not Louis Theroux, I can’t casually analyse immoderate weird subculture. Panic was bubbling.

With words of encouragement from my partner, we went to Wimbledon’s Carabao Cup fixture against Ipswich. They had precocious been promoted to nan Premier League, 3 divisions supra Wimbledon. Sure enough, Ipswich took an early lead but Wimbledon recovered and forced nan crippled to penalties. I didn’t deliberation I’d consciousness a gut-wrenching sickness for a squad I hardly knew but I was wrong. During nan shootout, an older gent strewn successful nine pins turned astir from nan statement successful beforehand and said to my girlfriend: “This is going to springiness maine a bosom attack.” It didn’t and AFC Wimbledon won 4-2 connected penalties.

Michael Roberts poses astatine Wembley earlier nan League Two playoff final. Photograph: Courtesy of Michael Roberts

Relief. Celebration. And past … realisation? I recovered it singular astatine really coming I’d been during nan game. My mind didn’t rotation into nan acquainted corners of interest aliases panic. The affectional ebb and travel of nan game, nan organization and nan characters – and nan pies. Irresistible. This felt significant.

As nan play went connected I attended much matches. AFC Wimbledon’s subtle matchday seduction would statesman pinch their £3 programme – a nostalgic relic from a bygone property but an invitation to learn. A reasonable value tag was besides attached to tickets, nutrient and drink. After games I would get sucked into nine stories, cheque fixtures and shop nan merchandise. I was amazed astatine nan measurement nan nine enveloped nan fans, who successful this lawsuit owned them. There was small quality successful supporting this nine to nan nerdy pursuits I had arsenic a kid.

I felt arsenic if I had a liking successful AFC Wimbledon. I had recovered it, I had committed myself to keeping up to day pinch each of nan latest news, I’d proudly deterioration nan scarf successful nan section area. What person I become?

Curiosity became relationship and I moreover invited immoderate seasoned “football friends” to Plough Lane. I was insecure, I felt arsenic if I was showing disconnected a caller home; but not my student digs – this was my flat, a spot that meant something.

With a Glastonbury-esque effort, I secured a spot astatine nan playoff last astatine Wembley and watched nan Wombles triumph promotion to League One. On nan stadium concourse it was dizzyingly breathtaking and I felt I could talk to anyone anxiety-free. Following this accessible shot nine had genuinely fixed what to maine was a superpower.

It would beryllium naive to deliberation that location isn’t immoderate heartbreak successful shop for maine astatine immoderate point. I cognize it’s a rite of transition and it will hurt, much than erstwhile my Premier League favourites suffer aliases my Fantasy League squad inevitably neglect again adjacent season. But for now I wholeheartedly in installments nan Wombles for giving maine a assurance boost and a emotion of nan game.

As nan caller play starts I’d promote anyone football-curious to springiness their section squad a chance to mean thing to them. There is thing kinder and much inclusive astir shot fandom retired there.