AFC Wimbledon and Charlton Athletic put footballing rivalries aside to host friendly matches for people with learning disabilities ahead of the clubs’ League One clash on Saturday.
Before the Addicks’ late winner, Charlton Upbeats and Generate Football Club faced each other at the nearby Weir-Archer Stadium before both teams watched the first-team encounter.
Both clubs offer opportunities for people with learning difficulties to play football – Generate, representing AFC Wimbledon, a charity for adults with learning difficulties who have recently won their round of the FA People’s Cup.
Meanwhile, the Upbeats are run by the Charlton Athletic Community Trust with the successful event also seeing the players take to the Kingsmeadow pitch before the game as well.
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Organised by the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, Director Philip Rudling said: “We were delighted to host Generate FC, our local pan disability team, and Charlton Upbeats on Saturday.
“We were really pleased with the response from both groups, who enjoyed playing together and watching the game.
“ Charlton were very complimentary about their whole experience and praised the welcome they received from the club and stewards in the away area.
“Moving forward, we hope to repeat the matchday activity and bring more disability groups into the stadium as part of our work in the local community.”