Ahead of the Spireites’ return to the Football League and League Two, we are taking a look at all 23 other teams that make up the division.
We are continuing with MK Dons:
FACT FILE
Team Name: Milton Keynes Dons Football Club
Nickname: The Dons
Year Founded: 2004
Stadium: Stadium MK
Capacity: 30,500
2023/24 SEASON
Following relegation in the 2022/23 campaign, MK Dons were in the hunt for an immediate return to League One. A decent start was halted by a poor run of form in September and a large chunk of October, which resulted in Graham Alexander leaving the club. Mike Williamson was poached from National League side Gateshead and the former Newcastle defender got his new side quickly moving in the right direction. An automatic promotion challenge went into the final few weeks of the season, but Wrexham and Mansfield held strong to deny MK Dons. A play-off semi-final against Crawley Town proved to be too much for the Dons as the eventual play-off winners won 8-1 on aggregate.
MANAGER
Mike Williamson spent the majority of his playing career in the top divisions of English football. In January 2019, whilst playing for National League side Gateshead, he was named a player-coach. Following the Heed’s demotion to the National League North, Williamson became player-manager. He led the club to promotion back to the fifth tier in 2021 and the FA Trophy final in a losing effort to FC Halifax Town in 2023. The centre-back played his last game as a player in Gateshead’s 2-1 win at home to Oldham Athletic in February 2023. In October of the same year, Williamson accepted an offer to become manager of MK Dons.
KEY PLAYER
One of MK Dons summer signings, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans has shown his ability for Torquay United and Stockport County. The midfielder has a creative flair with an eye for goal.
Last season in numbers (for Stockport County and AFC Wimbledon):
Appearances – 41
Goals – 9
Assists – 5
Yellow Cards – 4
Red Cards – 0
Minutes Played – 2,679
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Will Grigg has an extensive past with MK Dons, starting in 2014 when he joined the club on loan from Brentford. His 22 goals in 50 games caught the attention of Wigan Athletic, who he then joined on a permanent basis. Grigg would once again ply his trade in Milton Keynes as he joined on loan from Sunderland in 2020 – he scored eight goals in 20 games. The striker joined the Dons on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022. He bagged seven times in 48 appearances throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
After one year at Stadium MK, Grigg moved to Chesterfield in June 2023. His impact was immediate, and he very quickly became a fan favourite, similar to his time at MK Dons. 26 goals in 42 games helped the Spireites to the National League title and a return to the Football League.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
P 14 W 5 D 5 L 4
It is usually a close fixture between the two sides whenever they come up against one another. However, the Spireites have had the better time in recent meetings, winning four out of the last five games – and drawing the other.
PREVIOUS GAME
In January 2017, both teams met at the SMH Group Stadium in what was a big game towards the bottom of the League One table. The visitors had the better of proceedings but failed to trouble Ryan Fulton in goal. Chesterfield’s best chance of the first half fell to Ian Evatt, who saw his header bundled wide of the goal by David Martin. The Dons once again controlled the game in the second period; Nicky Maynard tried his luck with an acrobatic effort that Fulton was equal to. The two sides would have to settle for a goalless draw.
