Andrew Stephen’s Hot Off The Habbin article in the match programme for the CUFC v AFC Wimbledon match on 26th September 2026.
“How many things have been denied one day, only to become realities the next!”
Jules Verne
Listening to a recent interview of Steve Claridge, in which he described his scrap with John Beck after being substituted near the beginning of the game, made me chuckle. Dublin and Claridge were a formidable pairing, but Beck’s teams played to a rigid system, more so than the current Bromley side and maybe a bit like-Wimbledon. I think of the Wimbledon team which beat much fancied Liverpool in the F A Cup Final of 1988.
Everyone in football was delighted at the success of the Crazy Gang, whose determination and passion were such an effective mix. Beck told his team after the bust up with Claridge that he wished that all of them felt the same degree of passion as Steve did. I imagine that supporters of the current Tottenham team wish the same about their players. Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu and the other players in that fabled team might not have delighted the purists but no one liked playing against them.
What Wimbledon did, which was so important, was to go through the divisions and became a force in the Premier League for a number of seasons.
It was important ,because it showed what could be done and was a much clearer example of fair competition in action than we can expect in the present day, when big clubs and the media try their best to restrict competition and preserve the status quo. Despite the advent of the Independent Regulator, does anyone seriously believe that Manchester City will ever be penalised or even face trial for a staggeringly long list of alleged rule breaches? Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and a number of clubs have been penalised for arguably less serious offences. Every football fan needs to believe that their team will have its day and do what Wimbledon did all those years ago, even if they did insist on calling themselves the “Wombles”! It was a travesty that the Football League allowed the move to Milton Keynes. Their fans certainly thought so and we were delighted to see them back in the League. They played in Kingston for a while and I remember we needed two centre halves to look after The Beast, alias Akinfemwa, a worthy successor to John Fashanu. Many U’s fans inadvertently found themselves in a strip club, having thought they’d found a pub.
The joys of being a fan.
We too have made come backs and faced terrible adversity at times. Many thought that when we slipped out of the league it was the end. They reckoned without our fans, who would follow United if they were a Sunday League pub team, even if losing 5-0 at Histon stretched our patience. This season we were written off before a ball was kicked but our performances at Oxford and at Bradford have already shown that we can be a tough opponent. Recruitment has been excellent and we have a team prepared to battle for each other. We are hit by injuries and international call ups today, but we will still be formidable. I hope that this will be a good game for Ben Knight to demonstrate his speed and talent. Maybe it’s a chance to see Ahadme and Appare in tandem? I hope we see Patrick Bauer too. He has made a good impression, but we have yet to see much of him. Michael Morrison is always guaranteed a good reception at the Abbey. He will always be a hero here. We would like the points though!
Andrew Stephen