Crazy gangs penchant for brutal intimidation revealed. Inspired by the recent documentary about the crazy gang, wimbledon are my team of choice. The crazy gang by dave bassett, wally downes waterstones. Crazy gang football, a nickname for the wimbledon football team of the 1980s and the 1990s. Much to the players disgust at playing in such an aesthetically crude style, wimbledon won the fourth division championship with 98 points, the most of any league that year. Dave bassett and wally downes to set record straight after bt. It draws upon a case study of loyal wimbledon football club fans who remain supporters of this team after its relocation from merton, south west london to milton keynes in 2003. Wimbledons crazy gang furious at bt sport documentary.
The bt sports documentary on the rise of wimbledon from division four to fa cup winners in 1988. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south. The name, originally that of a well known group of british comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often cheeky and boisterously macho behaviour of wimbledons players, who were in the habit of playing frequent and outrageous practical jokes on each other and on the clubs manager dave bassett. Crazy gang documentary causes uproar with former wimbledon. If we can sell newcastle brown to japan, and if wimbledon can make it to the first. Plough lane memories and putting the crazy gangs record.
The crazy gang is a nickname used by the english media to describe wimbledon f. When wimbledon hit long balls up to a 6ft 2in centreforward john fashanu its destroying the game, bassett noted. Watch the crazy gang, the fulllength documentary about. He makes a similar point in the new book, the crazy gang. He makes a similar point in the new book, the crazy gang, he has. A don since joining the club at eight, the wombles youth product is using wimbledons past to help determine their future. The crazy gang by dave bassett goodreads share book.
Best moments from new book on wimbledons crazy gang the sun. If we can sell newcastle brown to japan, and if wimbledon can make it to the first division, there is surely no achievement beyond our reach. Anyone familiar with david peaces excellent book the damned utd will know that don revies. Crazy gang documentary causes uproar with former wimbledon boss dave bassett bt sport documentary about vinnie jones and company beating liverpool in 1988 fa cup final dismissed as total and. Supporters will want to get their tickets early for this special event at the club on friday, 16 october as there is sure to be high demand for the occasion. Danny cowley recalls his years on the books of wimbledon during the crazy gang era the lincoln city boss speaks of his respect for afc wimbledon ahead of saturdays fa cup first round tie share. This chapter explores the impact of post relocation in english professional football on the loyal fans left behind. The fulllength documentary features exclusive interviews with most of the players who were the crazy gang and featured for wimbledon in their famous fa cup victory in the 1988 final against liverpool at wembley stadium. Crazy gang s penchant for brutal intimidation revealed in shocking detail during bt sports 90minute film vinnie jones explains full details of the culture that developed under wimbledon. The crazy gang of wimbledon fc coming a long way from the 1889 founding of wimbledon old central football club, wimbledon fc would finally make it to top flight football and get promoted to the first division in the 198586 season. Wimbledon s crazy gang are furious about a new television documentary they claim has depicted them as brutal thugs. The crazy gang lost to manchester city on the first day of the season but went top of the table after consecutive wins. Vinnie jones remembers crazy gang days when wimbledon stars set fire to alan corks car jones made more than 300 appearances for the dons in two spells and recalls the time cork father of. The results brought the squad on board with the managers new philosophy and so began the rise of the crazy gang.
Carlton fairweather led sunderland ladies to fourth in womens super league one last season. Dave bassetts wimbledon, long derided, deserve greater respect than. When arsenal hit long balls to a 6ft 4in centreforward niall quinn, its good football. Cowley recalls his years on the books of wimbledon during. If the crazy gang happened now wed all be in prison. Crazy gang tat2 17 rue bourgneuf, 42300 roanne, france rated 4. For those not attending friday nights book launch evening at the club, dave and. Crazy gang comedy group, a group of british entertainers formed in the 1930s. The clubs former owner sam hammam has complained to bt sport and demanded. Dave bassett and wally downes to set record straight after bt documentary with book on wimbledon s crazy gang. Ill be playing a 352 so lets see what im working with. The rise of the crazy gang, as that generation of wimbledon s players were known, from nonleague football to a victory over a highly successful liverpool team in the final stunned english football. It really should be renamed cm day as this is when it all kicks off. Bassett and downes to write book on wimbledons crazy gang.
And the way it was hijacked by john fashanu and, to a lesser extent, vinnie jones late arrivals to the gang. Where are they now wimbledon s fa cup final winning team as wimbledon take on coventry in the fa cup this friday, live on bt sport, we take a look back at the crazy gang from 1988. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of the first division, if we can sell newcastle brown to japan, and if wimbledon can make it to the first division, there is surely no achievement beyond our reach. Best moments from new book on wimbledons crazy gang the. Plough lane memories and putting the crazy gangs record straight. As a football team, wimbledon fc represented the last mob in town.
Journey is a word best consigned to teary x factor eviction reels, but when wimbledon replaced workington in the football league in 1977, it was the start of something special. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team. Bt sport recently premiered a brandnew documentary about wimbledon fc entitled the crazy gang. The crazy gang by dave bassett penguin books australia. Crazy gang culture can undermine norwich the journal. When a visiting team lined up in the tunnel at wimbledon s plough lane stadium.
The move of wimbledon coincided with my move to australia, so ive only watched all these events from the sidelines. Afc wimbledon are delighted to announce that dons heroes dave bassett and wally downes will be launching a new book about the real story of the crazy gang. New wimbledon captain ben chorley has the chance to make a name for himself today by continuing his teams unlikely knack of pulling of shocks. Wimbledons crazy gang and the 5 meanest teams in history. Vinnie jones remembers crazy gang days when wimbledon. Monday nights fa cup tie between afc wimbledon and liverpool has brought back memories of the famous final the two teams played back in 1988. The dons are up against division one tabletoppers norwich at the national hockey stadium, where the nationwide league form book gives stuart murdochs side little chance. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. What happened was this a group of wimbledon fc fans didnt give up and formed a new team, who were immediately branded. A club that defeated the famous liverpool side 10 in the 1988 fa cup final to enshrine their lasting legacy in defining words as said by famed commentator john motson. Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of the first division, then to win the fa cup, in only just over a decade. Wimbledon favourites dave bassett and wally downes will be signing copies of their new book about the real story of the crazy gang before saturdays game against morecambe. Their general approach to the game was often derided by others in.
Promoted to the football league in 1977, wimbledon fc was a small team from south london that against the odds went all the way to the top of. Wimbledons crazy gang were far from impressed by last years tv documentary about them. So, dons manager harry bassett and crazy gang founder member wally downes decided. Having hurtled through the amateur divisions into english footballs top flight during a ten year run from 1976 to 1986, the crazy gang assaulted the games elite and cracked heads with a spirit that too often resembled a kamikaze attack. The inside story of vinnie, harry, fash and wimbledon fc 1st edition by matt allen isbn.