The Greatest Story -

WiSH - A brief introduction

2002 Started to develop as individual collectors of Wimbledon FC Historical items, responding to memorabilia, trophies & many other club heritage items that had started to appear for sale on the open market

2010 Started to communicate & work together forming the seeds of WiSH

2012 In Partnership with TVF Created “On Common Ground” Film -& book, premiered at Wimbledon Odeon, detailing Wimbledons Unique Sporting History & Legacy

2013 - Core group started working together on clubs history & heritage, recruiting other collectors

2015, Became involved & participating with Merton Council Heritage.

2016-2018 WiSH members spent 2 years visiting other clubs museums, meeting with their historians, exploring their structures & gaining valuable insight into best practice, funding streams what works well.WiSH then widened this remit to visit other sports museums & more general local museums in order to garner as much information as we could in prearation for WiSH progression.

2018 - WiSH proposals & partnership offer taken to DTB & FCB asking for a museum/heritage stadium & the donation of the vast amount of club history to a Charity set up with the core aim of specificallysafeguarding, preserving, sharing & ensuring our history returns to Plough Lane for future generations

2019 - Purchased ownership & copyright of the entire AFC Wimbledon Video History from 2002-2017 saving it from being destroyed.

2019 Progression, constituted as independent Charity, joined UK Museum Association, registered with Heritage Lottery fund, partnered with & active members of Merton Heritage with the aim of creating both a physical & virtual online museum, with the intention of becoming interactive with Dons fans groups around the world.

April 2019 Presented at DTB SGM 

August/September 2019 working with Heritage Specialists & MDC Heritage to create designs & costings for both physical & online positions. Proposed a Proposed Service Level Agreement to DTB.

Jan 2020 we had our first year review, the board & members voted unanimously to remain a independent charity fully open to working in partnership with all sporting & history organisations across Wimbledon & the wider Merton District.

Further request sent to DTB asking for partnership & a shared agreement going forward with a view to funding, sustaining, operating a museum at new stadium

Full Charity Commision registration submitted which will alter Charity Status from Constituted Charity operating under £5k to full public disclosure.

Feb 2020 Website updated & work towards creation of a Virtual Museum commences.

WiSH are fully committed to seeing the vast collection owned by individuals brought together within the Merton area for all fans to see & appreciate the complex & unique 130 year history Wimbledon football has, preserving it for future generations of Dons.

2021 - The Greatest Story is launched, work commences on 8 projects, dedicated TGS room in stadium, heritage trails within the stadium & across Merton & Wandsworth, Wombles From the Lane memory capture project, timeline in the West stand concourse & many other developments in planning.

As we progress towards both a physical & virtual online Museum you can become a Wimbledon in Sporting History Founder member & help WiSH at the start of their journey -

Lifetime Membership
Unique & historical Founders Badge 
Founders Certificate
Name on Founders plaque 
Invitation to launch
Invitation to all WiSH events
Regular updates

£250

Founders income will assist in the set up & initial running costs, after that WiSH will be self sustainable through ordinary yearly membership, grant funding, fundraising events & sales.

Founder Membership will only be offered as an initial launch on a limited basis & not available after this.

For further information you can cotact us via e-mail.