When Dave Went Up – The Inside Story of Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup Win, by Gary Jordan, Published by Pitch Publishing, Price: £19.99
CAN it really be 35 years ago that Wimbledon shocked the football world by beating Liverpool in the FA Cup fi nal?
If you’re old enough, you’ll probably still have a picture in your mind of Lawrie Sanchez’s fl icked header from Dennis Wise’s free-kick fl ying into the net – or Dave Beasant fl inging himself to his left to keep out John Aldridge’s penalty.
Alternatively, it may be the famous words of BBC commentator John Motson that stick in your mind: “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club.” While those were a few of the most memorable moments, there was, of course, a lot more to it than that.
And that’s what avid Dons fan Gary Jordan, who is also the editor of AFC Wimbledon’s matchday programme, has uncovered in When Dave Went Up
. It’s a comprehensive account of Wimbledon’s run to Wembley in that famous season and there is naturally plenty on the fi nal itself. What I particularly enjoyed were the stories of some of the key players in that Dons side – Beasant, Sanchez, Clive Goodyear and Terry Gibson. There are plenty of anecdotes and tales that will raise a smile.
Jordan starts the book by covering Wimbledon’s rise from Non-League and also includes fans’ memories of the remarkable FA Cup-winning campaign.
It’s a book that has been lovingly put together and the end result is something that Dons fans, and neutrals too, can really enjoy.
Rating out of 10: 9
