Dons reach Wembley 20 years after Crazy Gang

Twenty years after Wimbledon shook English football by beating Liverpool in the FA Cup final, the club it became, MK Dons, have reached Wembley again.

The League Two (fourth division) leaders beat third division leaders Swansea City on penalties in the southern area final of the romantically named Johnstone's Paint Trophy at their Milton Keynes stadium after the tie ended 1-1 on aggregate.

The Dons, managed by former England, Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter midfielder Paul Ince, will face either Morecambe or Grimsby in the final in March.

Cash-strapped Wimbledon changed their name to MK Dons in 2004, having already moved to Milton Keynes earlier. However, most fans of the original south London club defected and formed their own club AFC Wimbledon who are working their way through the minor leagues.

Wimbledon, then a top-flight side nicknamed The Crazy Gang, beat the more-quoted Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley in 1988 with Lawrie Sanchez scoring the only goal of the game.

Last August, after negotiations between various fans' associations, MK Dons transferred the replica trophies and all Wimbledon FC memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton, effectively giving up their pre-2004 history.