FC Wimbledon has issued an official update on the status of their damaged pitch and the generous contributions made through a Just Giving page to assist with repairs. The club, whose Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United was postponed due to water damage on the pitch, is working tirelessly to rectify the situation before the rescheduled match on October 1 at St James’ Park.
In the update, AFC Wimbledon expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received from fans and outlined the ongoing efforts to restore the pitch to playable conditions. The club also shared key details regarding the damage, the work being done to address it, and how the Just Giving page is helping to fund the repairs.
Carabao Cup Postponement and Rescheduling
AFC Wimbledon’s Carabao Cup match against Premier League side Newcastle United was initially set to take place on Tuesday night. However, heavy rainfall and resulting pitch damage forced the club to postpone the fixture. After discussions between both clubs and competition organizers, a new date has been confirmed for October 1, with the match set to be played at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
While the postponement was a disappointment for both sets of supporters, AFC Wimbledon is focusing on repairing their home ground and ensuring future matches can proceed without further disruption. In the meantime, the club’s attention has shifted to other fixtures and the swift rescheduling of the Cup tie.
Addressing the Pitch Damage
The damage to AFC Wimbledon’s pitch was severe, caused by a significant amount of water pooling on the surface after heavy rains. In their official statement, the club detailed the scale of the effort being made to remedy the situation. The club wrote, “Since the most recent update issued on Monday night, we wanted to provide some further information and images to supporters. More than 100,000 litres of water was removed from the grounds on Monday via tankers.”
Removing such a massive volume of water from the playing surface required swift action, and AFC Wimbledon worked through the night to address the situation. The club brought in several independent experts and ground specialists to assess the extent of the damage and recommend the best course of action.
The Role of the Just Giving Campaign
Recognizing the financial strain that the repairs would place on the club, AFC Wimbledon supporters stepped up by launching a Just Giving page to help fund the recovery efforts. The campaign has seen an outpouring of generosity from fans, who have collectively contributed to ensure their club can cover the costs associated with the extensive repairs.
As the club’s update explains, the financial support from fans has been invaluable: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters, who have gone above and beyond to help us during this challenging time. Every donation, no matter how small, is making a difference, and we are deeply appreciative.”
The funds raised through the Just Giving page will go toward covering the costs of pitch drainage, specialist equipment, and the expertise required to bring the playing surface back to standard. While the club has not disclosed the total amount needed for repairs, they have emphasized that the generosity of fans has already made a significant impact.
The Path Forward for AFC Wimbledon
In their statement, the club outlined the next steps in the repair process, including ongoing monitoring of the pitch’s drainage systems and additional work to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
The club’s priority is to ensure that they can host matches safely and without disruption. AFC Wimbledon’s ground staff are working tirelessly alongside the external experts to expedite the repairs. The aim is to have the pitch ready for upcoming league fixtures, though the club has acknowledged that the timeline is dependent on weather conditions and the progress of the repairs.
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