New Dons go non-league

The new club, formed and financed by disgruntled supporters of the Nationwide League side Wimbledon, will play its first competitive game on 17 August.

It will also play five pre-season friendlies, starting with the inaugural match against Sutton United on 10 July.

The full League fixture-list is expected to be published in July.

AFC Wimbledon was set up by a group of Dons supporters angry at Wimbledon's possible relocation to Milton Keynes.

The outfit was earlier refused permission to enter a team in Ryman League Division Two.

The Combined Counties League is a feeder for the Ryman League.

"The work starts today on building a club the supporters can be proud of," said AFC Wimbledon in a statement.

The Dons Trust has raised £75,000 to fund their project.

And they have agreed a deal to groundshare with Kingstonian at their Kingsmeadow Stadium next season.

Former Wimbledon player Terry Eames has been appointed as director of football.

Player trials for the new team will take place on 29 June at Wimbledon Common Extensions.

Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel plans to use Milton Keynes' National Hockey Stadium as a base for the side before moving to a new purpose-built arena.