Stephen brings AFC Wimbledon back to Plough Lane
“Coming back to Plough Lane would not have been possible without Stephen’s acumen, political will and business-like approach. I have never seen a politician so adept at making things happen for people in his borough.”
Ivor Heller, Life Vice President, AFC Wimbledon
In 2002 a Football Association-led independent commission agreed to move Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes. A small group of fans led by Ivor Heller decided to start all over again and formed AFC Wimbledon, with the first trials on Wimbledon Common. Fast forward some 18 years and several promotions later, the club played its first home game at their new 9,000 seater stadium, only 150 metres from the old ground in Plough Lane.
In between Ivor Heller as commercial director and Erik Samuelson as the CEO of the club, held countless meetings with Merton council planning officers to map a way back to Merton and a new stadium. But they knew they needed political support too and they turned to Stephen.
Both Ivor and Erik are on record about Stephen’s contribution to the club’s return to Plough Lane. Erik says “From the council, Alambritis led the way, smoothed out all the political obstacles and was always available to resolve any problems.” According to Ivor the club would not be where it is but for Stephen: “As the council leader, he was all over the case on our aim to return to Plough Lane. I have never seen a politician so adept at making things happen for people in his borough.”
Now the club is back in their spiritual home, Wimbledon, in a brand new stadium with 850 units of much needed housing in place and positive regeneration taking place in the vicinity.
Stephen with Ivor in the new stadium
Stephen and Ivor are pictured sat in the permanent west stand. The plans for the football stadium were approved unanimously by Merton Council in 2015 with the planning permission allowing the stadium to be expanded to 20,000 spectators. The stadium currently comprises a four-storey structure with admission access from the first floor, and hospitality above. This structure seats 4,267 spectators. The semi-permanent stands on the other three sides brings initial capacity to 9,215.
We still have our FA Cup
Stephen was pleased to see memorabilia belonging to Wimbledon Football Club returning first to its spiritual home in the London Borough of Merton and now to its rightful place at Plough Lane. A collection of historical Wimbledon FC items including a replica FA Cup forms the patrimony of the former club. Commenting on the trophies and medals Stephen said “This is a real piece of history which can be enjoyed by both current and future generations. It is all the more poignant for me as I was at Wembley in 1988 when the club beat the mighty Liverpool to win the FA Cup.”
Affordable housing at the stadium
Over 850 flats have been built alongside the new football ground, after the team won planning permission for their stadium. A high percentage of the homes that surround AFC Wimbledon’s new stadium are affordable. Stephen says “when the League Two team secured planning permission from Merton Council to redevelop the 14 acre site, we insisted that any developer showing an interest to build housing there would also have to create a substantial sporting use and that meant enabling us to build the stadium we have.”
Send Stephen a message
“I learnt so much from Stephen when we were working together on the stadium and engaging with architects and developers alike. He certainly knows all the levers to pull in Wimbledon to get things done. Stephen has a knack in managing to make people’s dreams come true and he certainly did just that with our return to Wimbledon.”
Ivor Heller, Life Vice President, AFC Wimbledon