Michael Taliadoros, the AFC Wimbledon superfan who had watched every one of the club's matches since 1989, died last night, the League One club confirmed. He had just watched his team play in their 2,000th consecutive match.
A 37-Year Unbroken Run
Taliadoros, known as MikeyT at Plough Lane, watched 2,010 consecutive Wimbledon first-team matches, a run spanning almost four decades. Not even the global pandemic or the club's relocation to Milton Keynes stopped him from attending. He was also known for his encyclopaedic memory, able to recall not only the score from every game he attended but the date the match took place.
The club announced his death this morning, with tributes flooding in for their matchday commentator. Taliadoros had just celebrated his 56th birthday and had told the Mirror at the start of the new season that he never planned to stop.
Club Pays Tribute
In a statement, the club said: "The memories he has given and shared with us will last for many years to come, and we will never forget the dedication he gave to his roles as commentator and stadium announcer. We send our deepest condolences to Mikey’s family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace Mikey, a Wimbledon legend in every sense."
His commentary from the club's late win over bitter rivals Milton Keynes went worldwide back in 2024. Colleague and co-commentator Rob Cornell said he does not know if he will ever get used to his friend not being there.
"I Just Never Want to Stop"
Taliadoros put his knowledge to use as a matchday commentator, a role that allowed him behind closed doors during Covid and the chance to keep his incredible run going. He told the Mirror in August: "The run started away to Charlton on May 6 1989, and the last match I missed was at Manchester United a few days earlier. That was the last Wimbledon game I wasn’t at. I had only just started work, and I hadn’t had my first pay packet. I’d just left college but as soon as I'd been paid for the first time, there was no stopping me!"
He added: "The next season was our centenary year, so that summer a few of us said we’re going to try and do every game and it snowballed from there really. I did all 47 that year, including the Zenith Data Systems Cup away at Ipswich on a Thursday night just before Christmas!"
Heartbreakingly, he added: "I just never want to stop. If I keep eating spinach and keep drinking cans of Lidl’s Red Bull equivalent, then who knows when the run will end. Myself and Rob will be like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show into our 90s!"
