AFC Wimbledon fan ‘flabbergasted’ as sinkhole fundraiser hits £50,000 target

A supporter of AFC Wimbledon, who has collected over £50,000 for his team following flood damage to the stadium, expressed that the level of support has been "incredible."

Graham Stacey, a 50-year-old from Hook, Hampshire, initiated a fundraising campaign that has already exceeded its adjusted goal of £50,000. This was prompted by severe flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, which also showed signs of a sinkhole on the field after some regions experienced over a month's worth of rainfall in just 24 hours on Monday. The campaign hit the £50,000 milestone on Tuesday, thanks to a generous donation of £15,000 from a contributor called "Newcastle United." The fundraising goal has now been raised to £100,000.

AFC Wimbledon was set to face Newcastle in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, but the match was postponed. It has now been rescheduled to take place on October 1 at St James’ Park.

Stacey mentioned that the backing from Newcastle has been “amazing,” though he playfully added that Wimbledon still plans to come out on top against them next week. “I owe them an apology since they’ve been so kind, and if we manage to [win], I might feel a little guilty … but they really have been very generous,” he remarked.

The Wimbledon supporter originally aimed to raise £10,000, but that amount was quickly exceeded within a few hours, prompting him to raise the goal to £50,000. “I’ve been reaching out to people on WhatsApp to discuss our next steps, as we'll definitely need the funds,” he stated.

The club has the backing of American writer John Green, who contributed £200 and was one of the first to donate. "I talked to him on [X], and he shared our crowdfunding link. His personal contribution was very generous," he mentioned. "We received numerous donations from the U.S., so I suspect he played a significant role in that."

Footage of what seemed to be a sinkhole at the club’s stadium began to spread online. Initially, Stacey suspected it was created by artificial intelligence, as the severity of the flooding was unprecedented for him. He remarked, “Honestly, when I first watched the video, I thought it was AI-generated. I assumed someone had overlaid a golf course onto our field because it looked so surreal—how could this even happen? It’s certainly striking, but the damage it caused was heartbreaking. I haven't witnessed anything like this before, especially not on a football field or in this country.”

He expressed how grateful he is for the encouraging messages he has received from Wimbledon fans and supporters of other clubs who have contributed to his fundraising efforts. He referred to his club as "fan-owned" and emphasized that it doesn't rely on benefactors with deep pockets. "We're not a wealthy club," he mentioned. "Our goal is to be self-sufficient. We get back what we invest."

“It’s been amazing. Moments like these really show how football brings people together as a true community, putting rivalries on hold. It's been both wonderful and surprising in some ways because the supportive messages we receive are just as fulfilling as the contributions.”

Stacey, a member of the Dons Trust's board from 2019 to 2022, mentioned that the funds raised will be used to fix up the stadium and the playing field, as well as to ensure the club's museum remains safe.

Stacey remarked that the flooding has been "a challenging situation in nearly every way," especially since the club was on the verge of reaching the top of League Two. He expressed his gratitude to the Wimbledon supporters and the broader football community for their “incredible support.” For more information about Stacey’s fundraising efforts, click here.