The magic that enchants the FA Cup has once again conjured a storyline fit to grace any of the 139 years of the competition's rich history. AFC Wimbledon, formed in only 2002 by fans disenfranchised by the club they formerly supported is now just a replay away from taking on the club they rebelled against, the MK Dons. The AFC Wimbledon story is a remarkable tale that represents the success of direct action and the potential of supporter-owned clubs.

The first Wimbledon football club was formed in South West London in 1889 but had to wait until 1977 to join the Fourth Division of the English Football League. Once in, it took just nine years to reach the First Division. Such a rapid ascent made the club a fascinating curio in a competition dominated by sides of the pedigree of Liverpool and Everton.

The club was poor. It had a tiny, Spartan home called Plough Lane and played a robust brand of football that earned its playing squad the nickname of The Crazy Gang. The Dons also had a colourful owner in Sam Hammam, who, according to one biographer, "initiated new signings by burning their clothes while they were training, scrawled graffiti on the dressing room walls at West Ham and kept his promise to kiss Dean Holdsworth's backside when he reached his 15-goal target for the season."

Despite such a ragtag background Wimbledon spent more than a decade Wombling in the top-flight, taking home a famous FA Cup along the way.

Unfortunately for the club and its supporters, on-field competitiveness masked off-field instability.

Chief amongst these issues was the state of their ground. Following the 1990 Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster, Wimbledon was forced into either redeveloping Plough Lane, their home of 80 years, or finding an alternative venue. The short-term decision was an unpopular ground-share with local rivals Crystal Palace a situation that simply delayed the inevitable.

Without the finances to build another ground in London, Wimbledon looked elsewhere. Plans to relocate the club as far as Dublin were considered seriously and despite attempts to secure a future in Wimbledon's Borough of Merton, the outlook was bleak.

By 2001, Hammam had sold out to Norwegian investors who quickly began haemorrhaging cash as the cost of surviving in the Premier League took its toll. The club's fortunes nosedived and relegation from the top-flight was followed by difficulties in The Championship. Concerns began being raised about the viability of the club.

The solution was the dramatic decision to relocate the club just north of London, to the 1960s new town of Milton Keynes, and rename the side MK Dons. Such a decision, to effectively franchise participation in English football was not well received.

In a classic English farce, the F.A. appealed against its own committee's decision making process with its Chief Executive branding the decision to allow the move "appalling." However, with Wimbledon seemingly sliding into oblivion, and Milton Keynes overdue a sporting outfit to rally around, the compromise had its merits. While efforts were made to include Wimbledon supporters in the relocation, they were piecemeal and tokenistic. The move to Milton Keynes spelled the death of Wimbledon FC in both name and spirit.

From these ashes, supporters set about building their own Wimbledon - AFC Wimbledon - replete with Crazy Gang spirit and rooted in South West London.

The new club, formed in 2002, is a model for community-owned sports clubs. AFC Wimbledon is majority owned by The Dons Trust, a supporter-led organisation committed to retaining at least 75% of voting rights to ensure fans have the majority say in the future of the club. While the community spirit is reinforced in the Trust's constitution, which states as its primary objective, "to strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community which it serves and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club."

Revenue is raised through share issues to members, simultaneously securing the club's future and tying supporters to the venture for the long term. The club has even raised enough money to own its own ground, Kingsmeadow, in the neighbouring borough of Kingston upon Thames. Such organisation supports an average attendance of over 3,500 - astonishing for a non-league outfit.

It might be just eight years old but AFC Wimbledon already feels better run than its predecessor.

This off-field strength has enabled The Dons to flourish on the pitch. From a starting point of the Combined Counties League, the ninth tier of the footballing pyramid, AFC Wimbledon has catapulted itself through the competition and is now second in the Conference National - the feeder competition for the Football League. This incredible achievement places the fledgling side within touching distance of returning Wimbledon to the big time.

Which brings us to this weekend's FA Cup draw and the tantalising prospect of AFC Wimbledon hosting MK Dons.

First, AFC Wimbledon needs to beet Ebbsfleet United (a side a division below them) in a replay following this weekend's 0-0 draw. If they succeed, they will take on the winners of League One MK Dons or League Two Stevenage Borough. Assuming both matches go to form, MK Dons, the old Wimbledon FC will travel to AFC Wimbledon in the dream tie for the nascent club.

In a country where the footballing landscape has become dominated by money, foreign ownership and the golden goose of the Champions League, AFC Wimbledon is a refreshing antithesis. Its success shows the potential of supporter-owned clubs and how the determination of fans should never be underestimated. It is fitting that the stage for Wimbledon's catharsis, redemption and demon exorcism is that great egalitarian knockout tournament, the FA Cup.

The Crazy Gang's triumph over Liverpool in 1988 is one of the great upsets in FA Cup history. Victory for AFC Wimbledon over MK Dons in Round 2 2010 may not be as high profile but it will taste just as sweet.