It is easy to forget that AFC Wimbledon’s fight to return to its home borough extends long before the club’s creation in 2002.

In 1988, Wimbledon were riding high as winners of the FA Cup, and in the immediate aftermath of that success there was talk, even then, of plans to build an all-seater stadium in Merton.

Under the management of Bobby Gould and then Ray Harford, Wimbledon had become a solid fixture in Division One, finishing seventh in the 1990-91 season.

However, following the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, which made all-seater stadiums compulsory, the Wimbledon board elected not to build afresh, rather to move home completely.

A hate-hate relationship began with Selhurst Park – the home of Crystal Palace – in 1991 and the Dons were still there in 2000 when they were relegated to the Championship.

All hell broke loose in August 2001 when the board announced it was taking the club to Milton Keynes, and although they were virtually the only people in football who thought it was a good idea, an independent commission set up by the FA gave them permission.

The shattering news led to the birth in 2002 of AFC Wimbledon, conceived by fans angry at the relocation.

And although the new boys were described by that commission as “not in the wider interests of football”, they were words that would come back to bite them on the proverbial.

Wimbledon officially became Milton Keynes Dons in 2004, and they would go on to…. Well, who cares really?

As for AFC Wimbledon, they started life ground-sharing with Kingstonian, some five miles from the promised land of home.

After a long and protracted set of negotiations, the Dons eventually bought the ground and its debts off businessman Rajesh Khosla in 2006.

On the pitch, they began life in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, and nine years later, on a famous day in Manchester, Danny Kedwell scored the penalty that lifted the Dons back into the Football League.

Despite their unprecedented success, the club’s burning desire to move back to Merton has never faded, and in 2012, they announced plans to finally get home – 21 years after leaving.

Three years on, and with much consultation, argument and counter-argument, incredible dedication and hard work behind the scenes, AFC Wimbledon, its fans, founders, board members and the football world await the yay or nay decision from Merton Council.

Either way – there will be tears.

We will be live blogging the meeting on this website. Use hastag #DDayfordons to get involved on Twitter @Wimbledonnews.