AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane Flooded After Severe Weather Causes River Bank To Burst
AFC Wimbledon's stadium, Plough Lane, was left underwater after the River Wandle burst its banks, causing extensive flooding and severe damage to the pitch. The flooding, which happened after a weekend of heavy rainfall, has disrupted the club's fixtures, including their highly anticipated Carabao Cup match against Newcastle United.
The River Wandle had not broken its banks since the 1960s, and the pressure from the floodwaters caused areas of the pitch to collapse, with one corner now resembling a golf bunker.
“I thought it was AI,” says managing director
James Woodroof, the managing director of the club, was in disbelief when he saw photos of the damage.
"I woke up to images from my stadium team. I thought it was AI," he said.
More than 100,000 litres of water had to be pumped out of the stadium, as the entire ground floor, concourse, and pitch were submerged.
Investigations are ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage beneath the surface of the pitch. Excavation work is expected to begin soon, with diggers set to arrive at the stadium.
Matches rescheduled due to flooding
As a result of the damage, the Carabao Cup match against Newcastle, originally scheduled for Tuesday at Plough Lane, has been moved to St James' Park and will now take place on October 1st.
Newcastle has stepped in to help, donating £15,000 toward repairs. A fan-led fundraiser has also been launched with the goal of raising £100,000 to assist with the restoration of the stadium.
In addition to the cup match, Wimbledon's League Two fixture against Crewe Alexandra, set for October 1st, has also been postponed.
The club is now in discussions with local teams to find a temporary venue for their upcoming game against Accrington Stanley, with hopes to return to Plough Lane by October 12th for their fixture against Carlisle United.
Community come together to support club
Woodroof acknowledged that while the flooding has caused major setbacks, the community's support has been overwhelming.
"It typifies the spirit of this football club, this relentless resilience and community spirit is extraordinary,” he said.
Despite the significant damage, the team remains optimistic about bouncing back soon.
As the club navigates these challenges, Woodroof remains confident in AFC Wimbledon's ability to overcome the situation.
"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," he said.
The flooding has also taken a toll on other parts of the region, with parts of South London experiencing a month's worth of rain in just a few hours.
