Ivor Heller

*Born in 1963, Ivor was a promising footballer as a child – but his height ended any thoughts of becoming a professional player. Barely five feet tall, he was severely bullied at school, and even in his early years of employment;

*His only claim to fame is comical to say the least: Ivor played an elf in the blockbuster film Santa Claus:The Movie and was understudy to the leading star, Dudley Moore. It almost catapulted him into a career in Hollywood;

*He first saw Wimbledon play at Plough Lane when he was nine years old and, through football, found an escape route from the horrendous bullying he was enduring at school;

*For many years he ran local snooker clubs and mixed with some of that sport’s biggest celebrities – including Steve Davis and Jimmy White;

*He was even head-hunted by one of the UK’s most notorious gangland villains – Joey Pyle, best man at Reggie Kray’s wedding;

*After launching AFC Wimbledon, he became the club’s commercial director, bringing in some of their biggest and most-lucrative sponsorships and partnerships over 21 years;

*He helped forge the longest-running sponsorship deal in football between AFC Wimbledon and the gaming giants Sports Interactive (famed for the Football Manager series);

*International author John Green and world-renowned musician Marcus Mumford both became involved with the club thanks to Ivor.

Favourite film: The Godfather Favourite Book: Exodus by Leon Uris
Favourite Band: The Specials
Favourite Album: Quadrophenia by The Who
Favourite song: The Womble Song
Favourite meal: Two eggs chips and beans
Favourite destination: Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
Favourite match: The 2011 Conference play-off final
Favourite memory: Winning the FA Cup
Favourite player: Steve Galliers
Favourite managers: Wally Downes and Terry Brown
Hero: Baroness Margaret McDonagh
Favourite mantra: Come On You Dons

IVOR ON HIS STORY
“We Shall Not Be Moved is my account of how I stuck two fingers up to the FA. Along the way, my marriage collapsed and the struggle cost me very, many, sleepless nights. “I was bullied during my schooldays and there were times when this felt exactly the same. It was a David v Goliath battle all right. Just like it had always been throughout Wimbledon’s history.”

IVOR ON THE FA
“The only people who weren’t in the wider interests of football were the FA themselves.”

IVOR ON MILTON KEYNES USING NAME ‘DONS’
“What the hell has Milton Keynes got to do with the Dons? Absolutely nothing – other than it was our name when they took our club from us. “I believe they did it to wind us up. It’s their sod-off gesture to us. It makes me feel sick to see our name emblazoned on their stadium.”