Fans force Luton to abandon friendly

Last updated : 24 June 2005 By Luke Thornhill
Hatters fans petitioned for the game, which was requested by Luton, to be called off after it was announced.

The club formerly known as Wimbledon, now called MK Dons but derided widely as Franchise FC, courted controversy when they moved 80-miles north to Milton Keynes from their traditional London home.

Despite masses of protest from fans of all clubs, the Football League agreed to the move - though they have now closed loopholes that allowed it to go through.

Fans angered by the move formed a breakaway club called AFC Wimbledon, which is enjoying great success in the lower echelons of non-league.

They attract crowds which dwarf those enjoyed by their former club, who play at the National Hockey Stadium, and are the model which Manchester United fans angered by Malcolm Glazer's takeover have based their FC United of Manchester club on.

Luton have now heeded the calls from their fans to pull out of the match, after being deluged with emails and phone calls - as well as an online petition.

United are due to travel to Milton Keynes in September 27, the first time the two clubs have met since the Dons abandoned their roots in Wimbledon, with some fans on the Iron-Bru.net messageboard previously suggesting that they will boycott the match.