2000–01 Wimbledon F.C. season
# 2000–01 Wimbledon F.C. season

During the 2000–01 English football season, Wimbledon F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, following relegation from the FA Premier League the previous season.

## Season summary

Following the departures of key frontmen John Hartson and Carl Cort, Wimbledon were unable to make an immediate return to the top flight and finished in 8th, five points short of the playoffs; were it not for their mediocre home form (with 11 draws and only 7 wins all season) they could have aimed for a playoff spot or even an attempt for automatic promotion. Despite this disappointing season, Wimbledon did enjoy some highlights, including a 5–0 win of London rivals Queens Park Rangers at home and a 5–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Wimbledon's struggle to return to the top flight was only made harder with the sale of the club's top scorer, Jason Euell, to South London rivals Charlton Athletic at the end of the season.

## Kit

German company Puma became Wimbledon's kit manufacturers. Tiny Computers remained the kit sponsor.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Fulham (C, P) | 46 | 30 | 11 | 5 | 90 | 32 | +58 | 101 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers (P) | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 76 | 39 | +37 | 91 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers (O, P) | 46 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 76 | 45 | +31 | 87 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 4 | Preston North End | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 64 | 52 | +12 | 78 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 5 | Birmingham City | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 78 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 60 | 52 | +8 | 74 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 7 | Burnley | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 72 | |
| 8 | Wimbledon | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 71 | 50 | +21 | 69 | |
| 9 | Watford | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 76 | 67 | +9 | 69 | |
| 10 | Sheffield United | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 68 | |
| 11 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 68 | |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 55 | |
| 13 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 55 | |
| 14 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 47 | 62 | −15 | 55 | |
| 15 | Norwich City | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 46 | 58 | −12 | 54 | |
| 16 | Barnsley | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 49 | 62 | −13 | 54 | |
| 17 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 52 | 71 | −19 | 53 | |
| 18 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 43 | 62 | −19 | 52 | |
| 19 | Stockport County | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 51 | |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 47 | 59 | −12 | 49 | |
| 21 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 57 | 70 | −13 | 49 | |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 48 | 57 | −9 | 48 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 23 | Queens Park Rangers (R) | 46 | 7 | 19 | 20 | 45 | 75 | −30 | 40 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 24 | Tranmere Rovers (R) | 46 | 9 | 11 | 26 | 46 | 77 | −31 | 38 | Relegation to the Second Division |

## Results

Wimbledon's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 12 August 2000 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–0 | 8,266 | |
| 19 August 2000 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 15,124 | |
| 26 August 2000 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 8,447 | |
| 28 August 2000 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | 13,519 | Williams |
| 9 September 2000 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 5–0 | 15,856 | Francis, Hartson (2), Euell (2) |
| 12 September 2000 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–0 | 7,592 | Hartson (2) |
| 16 September 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–1 | 8,761 | Hartson |
| 23 September 2000 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–2 | 11,720 | Euell |
| 30 September 2000 | Stockport County | H | 2–0 | 6,087 | Ardley (pen), Francis |
| 14 October 2000 | Gillingham | H | 4–4 | 9,030 | Francis, Hartson (2), Euell |
| 18 October 2000 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–2 | 6,019 | |
| 21 October 2000 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 4–0 | 5,469 | Harley (2), Gayle, Euell |
| 24 October 2000 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–3 | 15,570 | Euell (pen) |
| 28 October 2000 | Sheffield United | H | 0–0 | 7,327 | |
| 5 November 2000 | Barnsley | A | 1–0 | 13,641 | Francis |
| 11 November 2000 | Fulham | H | 0–3 | 14,071 | |
| 18 November 2000 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2–1 | 18,159 | Euell, Andersen |
| 25 November 2000 | Norwich City | A | 2–1 | 14,059 | Hartson, Francis |
| 2 December 2000 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–1 | 8,608 | |
| 5 December 2000 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–3 | 16,699 | Roberts |
| 9 December 2000 | Birmingham City | A | 3–0 | 16,778 | Francis (2), Euell |
| 13 December 2000 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–2 | 4,489 | Euell, Andersen |
| 16 December 2000 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 6,076 | |
| 23 December 2000 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 4–0 | 8,058 | Andersen, Williams, Euell (2) |
| 26 December 2000 | Portsmouth | H | 1–1 | 9,245 | Francis |
| 2 January 2001 | Watford | A | 1–3 | 11,336 | Gayle |
| 13 January 2001 | Preston North End | H | 3–1 | 7,242 | Euell (2), Williams |
| 20 January 2001 | Portsmouth | A | 1–2 | 12,488 | Euell |
| 10 February 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 4–1 | 6,741 | Andersen (2), Euell, Beresford (own goal) |
| 24 February 2001 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 5–0 | 9,446 | Williams (2), Gayle, Euell (2) |
| 3 March 2001 | Stockport County | A | 2–2 | 5,519 | Agyemang, Wiss (own goal) |
| 6 March 2001 | Gillingham | A | 0–0 | 8,841 | |
| 10 March 2001 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | 13,167 | Agyemang |
| 13 March 2001 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–1 | 4,276 | Agyemang |
| 17 March 2001 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–1 | 19,000 | Euell |
| 31 March 2001 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–2 | 14,562 | Agyemang, Cooper |
| 4 April 2001 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 16,767 | Ardley |
| 7 April 2001 | Birmingham City | H | 3–1 | 6,619 | Nielsen, Hughes, Williams |
| 10 April 2001 | Burnley | H | 0–2 | 6,132 | |
| 14 April 2001 | Barnsley | H | 1–1 | 7,609 | Ainsworth |
| 17 April 2001 | Sheffield United | A | 1–0 | 14,527 | Roberts |
| 21 April 2001 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–1 | 10,027 | Nielsen, Cooper |
| 24 April 2001 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 3–3 | 5,468 | Willmott, Cooper, Ardley |
| 28 April 2001 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 18,576 | Euell (pen) |
| 1 May 2001 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–1 | 4,956 | Ainsworth |
| 6 May 2001 | Norwich City | H | 0–0 | 7,888 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R3 | 6 January 2001 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 4,391 | Ardley, Karlsson |
| R3R | 27 January 2001 | Notts County | A | 1–0 | 9,084 | Andersen |
| R4 | 6 February 2001 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | 20,625 | |
| R4R | 13 February 2001 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–1 | 5,991 | Ardley (pen), Euell, Hunt |
| R5 | 17 February 2001 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–2 | 9,650 | Williams, Agyemang |
| R5R | 20 February 2001 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–2 (lost 7–8 on pens) | 4,391 | Ainsworth, Gray |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R2 1st Leg | 19 September 2000 | Wigan Athletic | H | 0–0 | 1,941 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 26 September 2000 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–1 | 5,387 | Hartson, Gayle |
| R3 | 31 October 2000 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | 3,666 | Hartson (pen) |
| R4 | 29 November 2000 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | 19,513 | Roberts |

## Players

### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Kelvin Davis |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Kenny Cunningham |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Kimble |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Andy Roberts |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dean Blackwell |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway |
| 7 | DF | ENG | Neal Ardley |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Jason Euell |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Kevin Cooper |
| 12 | DF | NOR | Trond Andersen |
| 14 | GK | ENG | Paul Heald |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Carl Leaburn |
| 16 | MF | NIR | Michael Hughes |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Mark Williams |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Gareth Ainsworth |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Paul Robinson |
| 20 | GK | USA | Ian Feuer |
| 21 | DF | SCO | Duncan Jupp |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Chris Willmott |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Ian Selley |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Damien Francis |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Wayne Gray |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Patrick Agyemang |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Des Byrne |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Peter Hawkins |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Michael Thomas |
| 30 | MF | SWE | Pär Karlsson |
| 31 | MF | NOR | Kjetil Wæhler |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Ansah Owusu |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Rob Gier |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Jonathan Hunt |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Lionel Morgan |
| 36 | FW | DEN | David Nielsen |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Alex Tapp |
| 38 | DF | RSA | Matthew Booth (on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns) |
| 39 | GK | ENG | Shane Gore |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 6 | DF | ISL | Hermann Hreiðarsson (to Ipswich Town) |
| 8 | MF | JAM | Robbie Earle (retired) |
| 9 | FW | WAL | John Hartson (to Coventry City) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marcus Gayle (to Rangers) |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Jon Harley (on loan from Chelsea) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| — | DF | ENG | Samuel Okikiolu |
| — | DF | GER | Simon Mensing |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | FIN | Heikki Haara |
| — | FW | IRL | Stephen O'Flynn |

## Appearances and goals

    Source:
    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with names struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Wimbledon.
    Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Players contracted for the 2000–01 season :

| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Kelvin Davis | 45 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Kenny Cunningham | 15 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 (1) | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Alan Kimble | 21 (4) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 (4) | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Andy Roberts | 25 (2) | 2 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 28 (3) | 1 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dean Blackwell | 5 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 (1) | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ISL | Hermann Hreiðarsson † | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway | 30 (1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 (1) | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Neal Ardley | 36 (1) | 3 | 4 (1) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 42 (2) | 5 |
| 8 | MF | JAM | Robbie Earle † | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | WAL | John Hartson † | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 10 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Jason Euell | 33 (3) | 19 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 (3) | 20 |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Marcus Gayle † | 24 (8) | 3 | 0 (4) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 27 (12) | 4 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Kevin Cooper | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| 12 | DF | NOR | Trond Andersen | 40 (2) | 5 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 50 (2) | 6 |
| 14 | GK | ENG | Paul Heald | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Carl Leaburn | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 |
| 16 | MF | NIR | Michael Hughes | 5 (5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (5) | 1 |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Mark Williams | 42 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 7 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Gareth Ainsworth | 8 (4) | 2 | 5 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 (5) | 3 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Paul Robinson | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (4) | 0 |
| 20 | GK | USA | Ian Feuer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | SCO | Duncan Jupp | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Chris Willmott | 13 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 (1) | 1 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Ian Selley | 1 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (3) | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Damien Francis | 29 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 8 |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Wayne Gray | 1 (10) | 0 | 0 (3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (13) | 1 |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Patrick Agyemang | 16 (13) | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 (1) | 0 | 23 (14) | 5 |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Des Byrne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Peter Hawkins | 29 (1) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 (1) | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Michael Thomas | 5 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 (3) | 0 |
| 30 | MF | SWE | Pär Karlsson | 7 (9) | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 (9) | 1 |
| 31 | DF | NOR | Kjetil Wæhler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Ansah Owusu | 1 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 (3) | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Rob Gier | 13 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 14 (2) | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Jonathan Hunt | 8 (4) | 0 | 0 (2) | 1 | 1 (1) | 0 | 9 (7) | 1 |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Lionel Morgan | 1 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (5) | 0 |
| 36 | DF | ENG | Jon Harley * † | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| 36 | FW | DEN | David Nielsen | 9 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (2) | 2 |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Alex Tapp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | RSA | Matthew Booth * | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | GK | ENG | Shane Gore | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
