AFC Wimbledon head into tomorrow’s clash with Newport County firing on all cylinders thanks to a helping hand from Fulham.
Dons manager Neal Ardley had planned to hold a session on Tooting and Mitcham’s 3G pitch but a covering of snow saw that idea out the window.
A quick phone call to neighbouring Fulham, whose training ground is only a few minutes away from Wimbledon's base, provided a solution.
Ardley knows Whites boss Kit Symons well from his playing days and Welsh connections and the Craven Cottage chief was only too happy to help an old pal in need.
Ardley told Dons Player: “We’d already booked in to train at Tooting on their 3G due to frozen pitches but when the snow came down on Tuesday we knew that it was thick and we couldn’t clear the 3G.
“We looked at two other options. Firstly, we thought about using the Goals facilities if they could free it up and get some of the snow off.
“But I happened to know Kit Symons from before so I asked Kit if we could borrow Fulham’s indoor area to train on and Kit worked hard to get us that.
“We delayed training a little bit and then we trained in there. It ended up being a really good session, a good blow, and we thank Fulham for that.
“The two that really kill you are frozen pitches and snow. If you start going to artificial surfaces then some struggle and that’s not perfect.
“It was great of Fulham to let us work there and that’s the sort of relationship we’ve got with them.”
Wimbledon have a difficult run of games coming up with Newport this weekend before fixtures with joint League Two leaders Burton and then Shrewsbury to follow.
It will be one of the most demanding weeks of the club’s season and Ardley was relieved to be able to welcome back Sammy Moore and Alfie Potter to training this week, although the County clash will come too soon for a recovering Jack Smith.
