Crazy Gang (football)

Wimbledon F.C. teams of the 1980s and 1990s The Crazy Gang is a nickname for the Wimbledon F.C. teams of the 1980s and '90s. The name, originally that of a group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, became associated with Wimbledon because of the boisterously macho behaviour of their players, practical jokes, their aggressive style of play and reputation for a lack of discipline on the pitch. Despite enjoying decent success as a fixture in the First Division and later Premier League, their general approach to the game was often derided as unprofessional and simplistic in comparison to the style of football played by most of their competitors. England striker Gary Lineker once commented dismissively, "the best way to watch Wimbledon is on Ceefax", criticising the team's supposedly unsophisticated approach to football. Their physical style and aggressive reputation on the field often intimidated their supposedly more skilled opponents and helped the club to the most successful period in its history, as they won the 1988 FA Cup and also achieved regular finishes in the top half of the league. The name originated in the immediate aftermath of Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cu