But in the last few weeks a rag-tag bunch of ‘misfits, throw-outs, not-wanteds’their own wordswho didn’t just take on the English football establishment but steamrollered their way through it, haven’t stopped talking about what went on in their dressing room.
Reveling in their nickname of the Crazy Gang, Wimbledon’s remarkable team in the 1980s cared little for either rules or reputations.
“At Wimbledon, you got tied up naked and dragged through puddles, or maybe someone nicked your car and drove it away [to hide it], or your shoes would get nailed to the top of a seat,” Terry Phelan, a former player, told CNN.
“Or they would burn your clothes, cut your clothes or your tie off, or if you left your hotel key when you were out of a hotel you’d come back and your room would be trashed.”
Though derided for their long-ball style, the small South London club achieved a rise in English football that was astonishingly fast.
In 1977, the unfashionable club entered the English football league — starting in the fourth division.
Nine years later, they were briefly top of what is today’s Premier League after a startling run of four promotions in five seasons.
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Better was to come as the alley-cats then defeated English football’s aristocrats in one of the FA Cup’s greatest upsets, as Wimbledon beat Liverpool — dubbed the “Culture Club” by one commentator — in the 1988 final.
Although a smattering of players would go on to both bigger clubs and international careers, there was one undeniable factor behind Wimbledon’s success.
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“But it’s not just football where respect for the elder has changed, as it’s happened in offices and businesses all over the world.”
“MOLLYCODDLING THE NEXT GENERATION”
As a manager Ardley is well aware that in the 21st Century different rules now apply in dressing rooms.
“In the past, young players were hungry — they used to have to do jobs, stand up and be counted and deal with everything thrown at them. Now you’ve got young lads who want everything done for them.
“Academies in football have created a much better environment, training facilities and coaching quality, but they pamper them too much.
“But players at 14 get treated like first-team players. We’re trying to get the right mix — we want our players to have the best coaching and facilities, but we also want that hunger.”
The 42-year-old Ardley is intent on instilling a steely mentality in his players.
“We want a hardworking environment and we’re trying to change for the better to do that. But it’s a fine line — when trying to fire up a youngster — between getting him to perform and getting him to clam up.
“Society’s a lot nicer today but also a lot weaker, not as tough as it was 20 years ago. There is so much political correctness around that we have to be careful not to mollycoddle our next generation to the point where they haven’t got the character to make it to the top.”
