Newcastle United help out £50,000 fundraiser to fix AFC Wimbledon pitch
A supporter of AFC Wimbledon, who has managed to gather over £50,000 for the team following the flooding at their stadium, expressed that the backing he has received has been "incredible."
Graham Stacey, 50, from Hook in Hampshire, launched a fundraiser that has exceeded its goal of £50,000. This initiative came in response to severe flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, which also seemed to have developed a sinkhole in the field. This situation occurred after parts of the country experienced over a month’s worth of rainfall within a single day on Monday.
On Tuesday, the total exceeded £50,000 thanks to a £15,000 contribution from a donor identified as "Newcastle United."
AFC Wimbledon was scheduled to face Newcastle in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday; however, the match was canceled and will now take place on October 1 at St James’ Park.
A sinkhole has appeared on the field at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, where AFC Wimbledon plays (Jordan Pettitt/PA).
Mr. Stacey shared with the PA news agency that the support from Newcastle has been "amazing," but he humorously added that Wimbledon is still planning to win against them next week.
"They have always been incredibly supportive. Clearly, we had an important match scheduled against them at our home ground tonight, but it's now taking place at St James' Park, which is an exciting opportunity," he mentioned.
"It's going to be exciting for both teams to compete in such a large stadium with incredible fan support. It will be even more exhilarating if we come out on top."
"I feel the need to say sorry since they've been so kind, and if we end up winning, it might make me feel a bit guilty… but their generosity is truly remarkable."
The Wimbledon supporter originally aimed to raise £10,000, but they quickly exceeded that amount within just a few hours and raised the target to £50,000.
"I've been reaching out to people on WhatsApp to discuss our next steps, as we'll need the funding," he said.
The club has the backing of American writer John Green, who contributed £200 and was among the first to make a donation.
"I chatted with him on Twitter, and he helped promote our crowdfunding link. He even contributed some of his own money, which was really kind of him," he mentioned.
"We received a significant number of donations from the United States, so I have no doubt he's likely responsible for much of that support."
Clips of what seemed to be a sinkhole at the club's stadium spread across the internet. Mr. Stacey initially assumed these were created by AI because he had never encountered flooding of that magnitude before.
“Honestly, when I first watched the video, I assumed it was created by AI. It seemed like someone had layered a golf course over our field because it looked so unbelievable – I couldn’t see how that was possible,” he explained.
"It looks incredibly dramatic, but the impact was heartbreaking due to its scale. I've never witnessed anything like that before, especially not on a football field or in this country."
He mentioned that he has been moved by the encouraging messages from Wimbledon supporters and rival teams who have contributed to his fundraising efforts. He referred to his club as "fan-owned" and emphasized that it does not rely on a wealthy benefactor.
"We're not a wealthy club. Our goal is to be sustainable, but we don't have a wealthy benefactor. We’re owned by the fans. The contributions we make determine what we can achieve," he stated.
“It’s been amazing. Moments like these truly show how football brings people together as a community, setting aside rivalries.”
“It’s been both amazing and surprising in certain respects, as the heartfelt messages we’ve received are just as fulfilling as the contributions themselves.”
AFC Wimbledon has shut down and had to delay upcoming games while the stadium undergoes repairs due to flood damage (Jordan Pettitt/PA).
Mr. Stacey, who served as a member of The Dons Trust, a supporters' organization that manages the club, from 2019 to 2022, mentioned that the funds raised will be used for repairing the stadium and pitch, as well as ensuring the safety of the club's museum.
Mr. Stacey mentioned that the flooding has been an unfortunate situation in nearly every way, especially since the club was on the verge of reaching the top position in League Two.
He expressed his gratitude to the Wimbledon supporters and the broader football community for their incredible enthusiasm.
