Milton Keynes Dons are the newest club in the Football League, having been formed in 2004 when Wimbledon FC were moved north to the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes.

The League were initially opposed to the idea, as the controversial move upset many in the football world, especially Wimbledon fans, who eventually negotiated the return of all of the Dons' trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.

The south London club has a long history that goes back to the Edwardian era, but the club had only played in the Football League since 1977.
Wimbledon then began their rapid ascent of the football ladder, reaching the top rung in 1986 where they stayed until 2000.

The Dons, nicknamed "The Crazy Gang" under Dave Bassett, had their finest hour in 1988 with their giant-killing 1-0 defeat of Liverpool in the FA Cup final, thanks to a Lawrie Sanchez header and a Dave Beasant penalty save.

Wimbledon's final place in League One was inherited by the Dons, who managed to escape relegation that season on goal difference and because Wrexham had 10 points deducted for going into administration.
However, the following season, 2005-06, saw a struggling side Milton Keynes Dons finish in 22nd place and they were relegated to League Two.

In 2006-07, though, Milton Keynes Dons turned things around and narrowly missed out on promotion after losing in the play-off semi-finals to Shrewsbury Town.

That summer Milton Keynes Dons cemented its young roots in the town, away from the reputedly soulless hockey stadium, by moving to stadium:mk at Denbigh.
Milton Keynes went one better in the next campaign, when new manager and former England captain Paul Ince steered them to the League Two Championship on the back of 29 victories.

Ince also took the Milton Keynes Dons to a Wembley final and victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after beating Grimsby Town 2-0.