Batsford was in charge of the club's remarkable rise during the 1970s

Allen Batsford, the manager who led Wimbledon from non-league to the Football League in the 1970s, has died at the age of 77.

Batsford took over at Wimbledon in 1974 and led them to three straight Southern League titles and election to the League in 1977, replacing Workington.

Under his guidance Wimbledon also had a remarkable FA Cup run in 1974-75.

In round three they won at Division One side Burnley, and in round four took reigning champions Leeds to a replay.

Batsford resigned as Wimbledon manager midway through their first season in the old Division Four, being succeeded by Dario Gradi, and after that he went on to be youth team coach at Millwall.

606: DEBATE His achievements and those of his players became the stuff of legend Trebor_75

After the demise of Wimbledon FC and the club's relocation to Milton Keynes, Batsford continued to have strong links with the newly-formed AFC Wimbledon.

He was introduced to the crowd on the pitch before their recent FA Cup tie against Millwall at Kingsmeadow in November.

Batsford had begun his managerial career at Walton and Hersham during the 1960's, taking the side to the Athenian League title in 1969 and then the Amateur Cup in 1973.

Former Surrey Herald sports editor and team-mate John Whitbread told BBC Surrey: "I became a very close friend with Allan when he arrived at Walton and Hersham.

"Within a year (of his arrival) Walton had won the Athenian league. They beat the likes of Guildford, who were then a huge side, and it went on from there. They won County Cups and League Cups galore.

"The highlight was probably winning the FA Amateur Cup in front of 45,000 fans at Wembley, beating Slough Town 1-0. They are still the only team to have gone through an FA national competition without conceding a goal."

Batsford then moved to Wimbledon in 1974.

"What he did with us was incredible," former Dons' goalkeeper Dickie Guy, who saved a penalty against Leeds' Peter Lorimer in the 1974-75 FA Cup run, told the Croydon Guardian.

"As soon as he came to the club he changed everything and made it a lot more professional.

"He was very thorough and single-minded and knew what he wanted to do.

"He organised us so well and was so focused he got that across to the players.

"I was always one that liked to mess about a little bit but I had a great deal of respect for him and he got us working hard and gave us belief in ourselves.

"We have got a great history in the cup and that's all down to Allen.

"He was a nice man, a great friend and a good manager."

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