The 2007-08 squad
| Date | Opponents | Comp | Result | Scorers | Att | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 Aug | Bury | H | FL2 | 1-2 | Andrews | 7,740 | 19th |
| Tue 14 Aug | Ipswich Town | H | FLC | 3-3 | AET. Dons 5-3 on pens.Knight, Bruce (og), Gallen | 7,496 | FLC |
| Sat 18 Aug | Macclesfield Town | A | FL2 | 3-3 | Andrews, Knight, Cameron | 2,257 | 17th |
| Sat 25 Aug | Shrewsbury Town | H | FL2 | 3-0 | Knight, Wilbraham, Dyer | 7,380 | 10th |
| Tue 28 Aug | Sheffield United | H | FLC | 2-3 | AET. Broughton, McGovern | 7,943 | FLC |
| Sat 1 Sep | Rochdale | A | FL2 | 2-3 | Gallen (2) | 2,743 | 12th |
| Fri 7 Sep | Notts County | H | FL2 | 3-0 | Andrews, Swailes, Wilbraham | 7,977 | 8th |
| Sat 15 Sep | Brentford | A | FL2 | 3-0 | Andrews (2), Johnson | 4,476 | 6th |
| Sat 22 Sep | Darlington | H | FL2 | 1-0 | Diallo | 7,901 | 5th |
| Sat 29 Sep | Morecambe | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Dyer | 2,688 | 1st |
| Tue 2 Oct | Mansfield Town | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Stirling, Dyer | 1,984 | 1st |
| Sat 6 Oct | Bradford City | H | FL2 | 2-1 | Andrews, Swailes | 7,903 | 1st |
| Tue 9 Oct | Peterborough United | H | JPT | 3-1 | Wright (2), Cameron | 5,087 | JPT |
| Sun 14 Oct | Lincoln City | H | FL2 | 4-0 | Knight (2), Dyer, Wilbraham | 13,037 | 1st |
| Sat 20 Oct | Hereford United | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Wright | 3,936 | 1st |
| Sat 27 Oct | Stockport County | H | FL2 | 0-2 | 8,290 | 1st | |
| Sat 3 Nov | Wycombe Wanderers | A | FL2 | 1-1 | Cameron | 5,929 | 1st |
| Tue 6 Nov | Grimsby Town | H | FL2 | 2-0 | Wilbraham, Wright | 6,797 | 1st |
| Sat 10 Nov | Crewe Alexandra | A | FAC | 1-2 | Johnson | 3,049 | FAC |
| Tue 13 Nov | Bournemouth | A | JPT | 2-0 | Andrews, Swailes | 3,247 | JPT |
| Sat 17 Nov | Chester City | A | FL2 | 2-0 | Wright, Johnson | 3,102 | 1st |
| Sat 24 Nov | Chesterfield | H | FL2 | 1-2 | Wright | 9,638 | 1st |
| Tue 4 Dec | Dagnhm & Rdbrdge | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Diallo | 1,880 | 1st |
| Sat 8 Dec | Accrington Stanley | H | FL2 | 5-0 | Andrews, Navarro, Cameron, Dyer (2) | 6,917 | 1st |
| Sat 15 Dec | Peterborough United | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Gallen, Andrews | 10,351 | 1st |
| Fri 21 Dec | Brentford | H | FL2 | 1-1 | Gallen | 8,445 | 1st |
| Wed 26 Dec | Notts County | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Wright, Johnson | 5,106 | 1st |
| Sat 29 Dec | Darlington | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Johnson | 5,304 | 1st |
| Tue 1 Jan | Mansfield Town | H | FL2 | 1-0 | Andrews | 9,583 | 1st |
| Sat 5 Jan | Rotherham United | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Wright | 5,421 | 1st |
| Tue 8 Jan | Gillingham | A | JPT | 1-1 | Dons won 5-4 on penalties. Johnson | 3,717 | JPT |
| Sat 12 Jan | Barnet | H | FL2 | 0-1 | 9,881 | 1st | |
| Sat 19 Jan | Wrexham | A | FL2 | 0-1 | 4,319 | 1st | |
| Sat 26 Jan | Rochdale | H | FL2 | 0-1 | 7,882 | 1st | |
| Tue 29 Jan | Macclesfield Town | H | FL2 | 1-1 | O'Hanlon | 6,483 | 1st |
| Sat 2 Feb | Bury | A | FL2 | 5-1 | Wright (3), Dyer, Gallen | 2,241 | 1st |
| Sat 9 Feb | Rotherham United | H | FL2 | 1-1 | Gallen | 9,455 | 1st |
| Tue 12 Feb | Shrewsbury Town | A | FL2 | 3-3 | Wright (2), Gallen | 5,474 | 1st |
| Tue 19 Feb | Swansea City | A | JPTS1 | 1-0 | Johnson | 10,125 | JPTS |
| Sat 23 Feb | Barnet | A | FL2 | 2-0 | Navarro, Dyer | 2,495 | 1st |
| Tue 25 Feb | Swansea City | H | JPTS2 | 0-1 | Agg score 1-1. Dons won 5-4 on penalties | 9,757 | JPTS |
| Sat 1 Mar | Chester City | H | FL2 | 1-0 | Swailes | 8,172 | 1st |
| Fri 7 Mar | Grimsby Town | A | FL2 | 1-0 | O'Hanlon | 4,106 | 1st |
| Mon 10 Mar | Chesterfield | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Andrews, Dyer | 3,834 | 1st |
| Sat 15 Mar | Dagnhm & Rdbrdge | H | FL2 | 4-0 | Wilbraham (2), Dyer, Gallen | 9,417 | 1st |
| Fri 21 Mar | Peterborough United | H | FL2 | 1-1 | Wilbraham | 14,521 | 1st |
| Mon 24 Mar | Accrington Stanley | A | FL2 | 1-0 | Wright | 1,559 | 1st |
| Sun 30 Mar | Grimsby Town | W | JPT F | 2-0 | Andrews, O'Hanlon | 56,618 | JPTF |
| Fri 4 Apr | Lincoln City | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Regan, Johnson | 3,896 | 1st |
| Tue 8 Apr | Wrexham | H | FL2 | 4-1 | Swailes, Wilbraham (2), O'Hanlon | 8,646 | 1st |
| Sat 12 Apr | Wycombe Wanderers | H | FL2 | 2-2 | Wilbraham, O'Hanlon | 12,747 | 1st |
| Tue 15 Apr | Hereford United | H | FL2 | 0-0 | 11,428 | 1st | |
| Sat 19 Apr | Stockport County | A | FL2 | 3-2 | Wright, Navarro, Andrews | 8,838 | 1st |
| Sat 26 Apr | Bradford City | A | FL2 | 2-1 | Stirling, Dyer | 14,609 | 1st |
| Sat 3 May | Morecambe | H | FL2 | 1-1 | Wilbraham | 17,250 | 1st |
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | MK Dons | 46 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 82 | 37 | 45 | 97 |
| P | Peterborough Utd | 46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 84 | 43 | 41 | 92 |
| P | Hereford United | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 72 | 41 | 31 | 88 |
| P | Stockport Cty | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 54 | 18 | 82 |
| 5 | Rochdale | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 54 | 23 | 80 |
| 6 | Darlington | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 40 | 27 | 78 |
| 7 | Wycombe Wdrs | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 56 | 42 | 14 | 78 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 76 | 56 | 20 | 69 |
| 9 | Rotherham United | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 60 | 58 | 2 | 64* |
| 10 | Bradford City | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 63 | 61 | 2 | 62 |
| 11 | Morecambe | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 59 | 63 | −4 | 60 |
| 12 | Barnet | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 56 | 63 | −7 | 60 |
| 13 | Bury | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 61 | −3 | 59 |
| 14 | Brentford | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 52 | 70 | −18 | 59 |
| 15 | Lincoln City | 46 | 18 | 4 | 24 | 61 | 77 | −16 | 58 |
| 16 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 55 | 66 | −11 | 55 |
| 17 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 16 | 3 | 27 | 49 | 83 | −34 | 51 |
| 18 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 56 | 65 | −9 | 50 |
| 19 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 47 | 64 | −17 | 50 |
| 20 | Dagnhm & Redbdge | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 49 | 70 | −21 | 49 |
| 21 | Notts County | 46 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 37 | 53 | −16 | 48 |
| 22 | Chester City | 46 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 47 |
| R | Mansfield Town | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 48 | 68 | −20 | 42 |
| R | Wrexham | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 38 | 70 | −32 | 4 |
| Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Wright | 41 | 15 |
| Keith Andrews | 45 | 14 |
| Lloyd Dyer | 50 | 11 |
| Aaron Wilbraham | 40 | 10 |
| Kevin Gallen | 31 | 9 |
| Jemal Johnson | 46 | 8 |
| Sean O'Hanlon | 51 | 5 |
| Leon Knight | 18 | 5 |
| Danny Swailes | 47 | 5 |
| Colin Cameron | 35 | 4 |
| Alan Navarro | 47 | 3 |
| Jude Stirling | 41 | 2 |
| Drissa Diallo | 35 | 2 |
| Jon-Paul McGovern | 5 | 1 |
| Drewe Broughton | 19 | 1 |
| Carl Regan | 9 | 1 |
| DATE | PLAYER | TO | FEE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 July 2007 | Ben Harding | Released | |
| 01 July 2007 | Gary Smith | Released | |
| 03 July 2007 | Clive Platt | Colchester United | £300,000 |
| 09 August 2007 | Izale McLeod | Charlton Athletic | £1,100,000 |
| 31 August 2007 | Jon-Paul McGovern | Swindon Town | Undisclosed |
| DATE | PLAYER | FROM | FEE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 July 2007 | Kevin Gallen | Free agent | Free |
| 11 July 2007 | Mark Wright | Free agent | |
| 25 July 2007 | Drewe Broughton | Free agent | |
| 01 August 2007 | Colin Cameron | Free agent | |
| 03 August 2007 | Mustapha Carayol | Free agent | |
| 10 August 2007 | Nathan Abbey | Free agent | |
| 10 August 2007 | Alan Navarro | Free agent | |
| 11 August 2007 | Willy Guéret | Free agent | |
| 11 August 2007 | Luke Howell | Free agent[ | |
| 19 August 2007 | Danny Swailes | Macclesfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 31 August 2007 | Jemal Johnson | Wolves | |
| 15 November 2007 | Jordan Hadfield | Macclesfield Town | Loan to end of season |
| 04 December 2007 | Matt Carbon | Free agent | Free |
| 25 January 2008 | John Miles | Accrington Stanley | Loan to end of season |
| 01 February 2008 | Carl Regan | Macclesfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 01 February 2008 | Craig Dobson | Stevenage Borough |
The new manager
Paul Ince
25 June 2007 - 22 June 2008
3 July 2009 - 10 May 2010
25 June 2007 - 22 June 2008
3 July 2009 - 10 May 2010
*Rotherham deducted 10 pts for entering administration
Back row: Unknown, Sam Page, Matt Carbon, Drewe Broughton, Jude Sterling, Aaron Wilbraham, Mark Wright, Drissa Diallo, Gareth Edds, Lloyd Dyer, Paul Heald, Unknown
Middle row: Mike Dove, Unknown , Unknown , Sam Collins, Sam Baldock, Alan Navarro, Nathan Abbey, Ademole Bankole, Willy Guret, Dean Lewington, Kieran Murphy, Sean O'Hanlon, John Hastings, Simon Crampton, Andy Samson
Front row: Michael Branch, Carolye, Leon Knight, Luke Howell, Keith Andrews, Pete Winkelman, Paul Ince, Ray Mathias, Jon-Paul McGovern, Kevin Gallen, Paul Mitchell, Colin Cameron, Scott Taylor, Unknown
THE PLAYERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TOP SCORERS
The season's transfers
IN
OUT
THE RESULTS
EFL2: How they finished
No. Player
1 Ademola Bankole
2 Jude Stirling
3 Dean Lewington
4 Keith Andrews
5 Drissa Diallo
6 Sean O'Hanlon
7 Jon-Paul McGovern
8 Kevin Gallen
9 Felix Bastians
9 Leon Knight
10 Colin Cameron
11 Lloyd Dyer
12 Willy Guéret
1 Ademola Bankole
2 Jude Stirling
3 Dean Lewington
4 Keith Andrews
5 Drissa Diallo
6 Sean O'Hanlon
7 Jon-Paul McGovern
8 Kevin Gallen
9 Felix Bastians
9 Leon Knight
10 Colin Cameron
11 Lloyd Dyer
12 Willy Guéret
No. Player
13 Gareth Edds
14 Mark Wright
15 Drewe Broughton
16 Aaron Wilbraham
17 Kieran Murphy
18 John Miles
18 Scott Taylor
19 John Hastings
19 Carl Regan
20 Alan Navarro
21 Luke Howell
22 Jake Livermore
22 Bally Smart
13 Gareth Edds
14 Mark Wright
15 Drewe Broughton
16 Aaron Wilbraham
17 Kieran Murphy
18 John Miles
18 Scott Taylor
19 John Hastings
19 Carl Regan
20 Alan Navarro
21 Luke Howell
22 Jake Livermore
22 Bally Smart
No. Player
23 Jemal Johnson
24 Matt Carbon
25 Danny Swailes
26 Sam Page
27 Sam Collins
28 Liam Kelly
29 Nathan Abbey
30 Mustapha Carayol
31 Laurie Walker
32 Jordan Hadfield
35 Adam Chicksen
36 Sam Baldock
23 Jemal Johnson
24 Matt Carbon
25 Danny Swailes
26 Sam Page
27 Sam Collins
28 Liam Kelly
29 Nathan Abbey
30 Mustapha Carayol
31 Laurie Walker
32 Jordan Hadfield
35 Adam Chicksen
36 Sam Baldock
Paul Ince was born in Ilford on 21 October 1967 and grew up as a West Ham United supporter. He was spotted playing, aged 12, by West Ham manager John Lyall when the club was in the Second Division and signed for the Hammers as a trainee, aged 14. He became a regular first team player in the 1987–88 season before signing for Manchester United in 1989, making 206 appearances and scoring 25 goals.
He played 53 games for England between 1992 and 2000, scoring two goals.
After leaving United in 1995 he played for Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swindon Town (as player-coach) before becoming player-manager of Macclesfield Town in 2006.
Ince was unveiled as the new Milton Keynes Dons manager along with his assistant Ray Mathias and fitness coach Duncan Russell on 25 June 2007. The Dons reached the top of League Two in September 2007 and other clubs began to take a serious interest. In October and November 2007, he denied rumours that he was being linked with managerless Premier League teams Wigan, Derby County and Championship team Norwich City.
Ince was named as League Two Manager of the Month in October and December 2007, and again in April 2008. Ince's first silverware as manager came in the Johnstones Paint Trophy final at Wembley on 31 March 2008, with the Dons defeating Grimsby Town 2–0. He then secured the Dons' return to League One in April 2008 after they beat Stockport County 3–2. On 26 April, the Dons became League Two champions after they beat Bradford City 2–1.
On 22 June 2008 he became manager of Blackburn Rovers, the first black British manager in England's top division, but after winning just three games in 17, Ince was sacked on 16 December 2008
On 3 July 2009, Ince signed again for Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal but during Ince's second spell the club was less successful,l finishing in 13th place in League One. On 16 April 2010, he announced that he would leave the job a year early, at the end of the season.
He returned to management on 28 October 2010, signing a three-year deal with Notts County. On 3 April 2011 he left the club by mutual consent after losing a club record nine games in a row.
On 18 February 2013, Blackpool appointed Ince as manager on a one-year rolling contract, but he left on 21 January 2014, after less than a year in charge, becoming their fourth-shortest-serving manager in their history (40 league games).
He played 53 games for England between 1992 and 2000, scoring two goals.
After leaving United in 1995 he played for Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swindon Town (as player-coach) before becoming player-manager of Macclesfield Town in 2006.
Ince was unveiled as the new Milton Keynes Dons manager along with his assistant Ray Mathias and fitness coach Duncan Russell on 25 June 2007. The Dons reached the top of League Two in September 2007 and other clubs began to take a serious interest. In October and November 2007, he denied rumours that he was being linked with managerless Premier League teams Wigan, Derby County and Championship team Norwich City.
Ince was named as League Two Manager of the Month in October and December 2007, and again in April 2008. Ince's first silverware as manager came in the Johnstones Paint Trophy final at Wembley on 31 March 2008, with the Dons defeating Grimsby Town 2–0. He then secured the Dons' return to League One in April 2008 after they beat Stockport County 3–2. On 26 April, the Dons became League Two champions after they beat Bradford City 2–1.
On 22 June 2008 he became manager of Blackburn Rovers, the first black British manager in England's top division, but after winning just three games in 17, Ince was sacked on 16 December 2008
On 3 July 2009, Ince signed again for Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal but during Ince's second spell the club was less successful,l finishing in 13th place in League One. On 16 April 2010, he announced that he would leave the job a year early, at the end of the season.
He returned to management on 28 October 2010, signing a three-year deal with Notts County. On 3 April 2011 he left the club by mutual consent after losing a club record nine games in a row.
On 18 February 2013, Blackpool appointed Ince as manager on a one-year rolling contract, but he left on 21 January 2014, after less than a year in charge, becoming their fourth-shortest-serving manager in their history (40 league games).
CUP WINNERS: The team celebrate with the Johnstones Paint Trophy
after their 2-0 triumph over Grimsby Town in the final at Wembley
after their 2-0 triumph over Grimsby Town in the final at Wembley
won their first national knockout competition, with a 2–0 victory over Grimsby Town at Wembley Stadium in the 2008 Johnstones Paint Trophy Final. They lost in their opening round match in the 2007–08 FA Cup, and were eliminated in the second round of the Football League Cup.
Thirty-one players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were 16 different goal-scorers. Defender Dean Lewington missed only two of the 55 first-team matches over the season.
Mark Wright finished as leading scorer with 15
Thirty-one players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were 16 different goal-scorers. Defender Dean Lewington missed only two of the 55 first-team matches over the season.
Mark Wright finished as leading scorer with 15
goals – 13 in the league competition and two in the Football League Trophy. Keith Andrews won the Football League Two Player of the Year Award.
The club released Drewe Broughton, Matt
Carbon, Sam Collins, Liam Kelly, Jake Livermore
and Kieran Murphy, while Mustapha Carayol,
Lloyd Dyer and Gareth Edds left on their own
accord for Torquay United, Leicester City
and Tranmere Rovers.
New players to join were midfielders Flavien
Belson from FC Metz, Peter Leven from Chesterfield and Florian Sturm from FC Vaduz.
The club released Drewe Broughton, Matt
Carbon, Sam Collins, Liam Kelly, Jake Livermore
and Kieran Murphy, while Mustapha Carayol,
Lloyd Dyer and Gareth Edds left on their own
accord for Torquay United, Leicester City
and Tranmere Rovers.
New players to join were midfielders Flavien
Belson from FC Metz, Peter Leven from Chesterfield and Florian Sturm from FC Vaduz.
The 2007–08 season was the Dons’ fourth season in the Football League and their second successive season in League Two.
After the closure of the National Hockey Stadium this was the first season they played home fixtures at Stadium:mk.
Paul Ince, starting his first season as manager, made nine permanent summer signings.
After the eighth round of League Two fixtures
the Dons reached first place and occupied this
spot in 37 of the remaining 39 weeks, ending the season as champions of League Two. They also
After the closure of the National Hockey Stadium this was the first season they played home fixtures at Stadium:mk.
Paul Ince, starting his first season as manager, made nine permanent summer signings.
After the eighth round of League Two fixtures
the Dons reached first place and occupied this
spot in 37 of the remaining 39 weeks, ending the season as champions of League Two. They also
Season in review
Keith
Andrews
Website created, designed and researched by Russell Forgham
2015-20 with the assistance of David Gundry
2015-20 with the assistance of David Gundry