Honouring the achievements of local team AFC Wimbledon

Did you know that traditionally, football matches were played on Shrove Tuesday in a number of towns across England? Records show that the game in Kingston was played between the 'Thames Street' team and the 'Town's End' team, starting at 11am and not finishing until 5pm. 

It was more of a free-for-all than a football match as we know it today, and was eventually banned in the 1860s because of injuries to participants and damage to local properties. 

On 28th July, the Mayor and Deputy Major of Kingston (Councillors Patrick Codd and Geoff Austin), held a private reception for players and officials of AFC Wimbledon, in recognition of their extraordinary achievement of gaining promotion to the football league just nine years after being founded by its fans. As you will undoubtedly know, AFC Wimbledon play their home games at Kingsmeadow Stadium. 

Councillor Patrick Codd said: "This reception is to honour the rise and rise of AFC Wimbledon, who have achieved five promotions in the nine years since they were formed. This is one of the most remarkable sporting achievements in recent times."

At the reception, Erik Samuelson, AFC Wimbledon's Chief Executive, was presented with a framed print of an engraving dated 1846 showing the football matches that were played every Shrove Tuesday in the marketplace, Kingston Upon Thames.