The inaugural Exiles awayday took place on Saturday 8 December at AFC Wimbledon when 25 Exiles travelled to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Kingsmeadow. Many made shorter journeys than usual to watch the Dale but hats off to Mark Wagstaff who flew in from Kiev despite martial law and smoke bombs in the Ukraine!
The choice of Wimbledon as our venue had its origins in the 1998 World Cup in France. Scott Goulding, the Trust’s membership secretary, was there supporting England and found himself neighbours in Montpellier with Wimbledon supporters. He has maintained close links ever since, thus smoothing the way for Ian Goodwin, Exiles co-ordinator, to arrange the day. Special thanks go to Ivor Heller and Pietro Palladino at Wimbledon for hosting us so well. We enjoyed a fabulous Christmas dinner pre-match in the hospitality suite and Alan Reeves, a Dale legend from the 1990s now on the staff at Wimbledon, joined us for a chat.
Our band of brothers and sisters ranged in age from 5-year-old Freddie Brockerton-Baker there with his Grandad Rob Marchant, to 87-year-old Arnold Wood, there with son Steve. Feedback from the day has been really positive and we hope to make this an annual on-the-road event.
The Exiles boast a remarkable record of never having seen Dale lose an Exiles match at home; and Saturday’s hard-fought game of two halves means we start our unbeaten run away from home.
