Michael Taliadoros, known to fans as MikeyT, celebrated his 2,000th consecutive Wimbledon match on Saturday, a run that began in 1989 after he received his first pay packet as a teenager. Not even the Covid pandemic or the club's relocation to Milton Keynes stopped him from attending every competitive league and domestic cup game.
The 55-year-old, who now works as a matchday commentator for the League One side, can recall the score and date of every match he has watched. He started supporting Wimbledon with his father in 1980.
Run started in 1989
Speaking to the Mirror, Taliadoros said: “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!”
No near-misses
When asked about any close calls, Taliadoros said: “There’s been no colon-clenching moments. I have always managed to get there with enough time.” However, he admitted being late for a few matches, including an FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough in 2002 when the coach broke down on the M1.
He also recalled a trip to Newcastle on the night of Eric Cantona's infamous incident at Crystal Palace, when the coach got stuck on the M62 slip road. “We got there at 8.56pm and got home at 7am in the morning!” he said.
Covid and relocation
During the pandemic, Taliadoros continued to attend matches because of his commentary role. He said: “When Covid happened I didn’t think too much of it at first but then of course it got more serious. Thanks to the grace of god I was helping with the commentary, so I managed to still attend every game during the lockdown season.”
He acknowledged the club's controversial relocation in 2003, when Wimbledon moved to Milton Keynes and was renamed MK Dons. AFC Wimbledon was subsequently formed and rose through the leagues to overtake the Milton Keynes club in the football pyramid.
Taliadoros highlighted memorable moments, including play-off final wins against Luton, Plymouth and Walsall, and cup semi-finals against Tottenham, Leicester and Chelsea. He said: “We went 10 years without losing at Arsenal! Then of course going through the leagues with AFC Wimbledon, reclaiming what was ours and over-taking a certain Buckinghamshire retail park in the league standings was very special.”
He added: “There’s been ups and downs. We went from watching the Premier League to having curries on the terraces at Southall and cheese rolls at Merstham. But this is my club, this is Wimbledon and I love every second of it.”
