Travelling on a bus may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but to one life-long AFC Wimbledon fan it is the ultimate dream.

However, the dream only works if it is an open top bus, there are thousands of fans cheering, the Dons have won a Wembley final and he is wearing his Haydon the Womble outfit.

That is because Dean Parsons, the man behind Haydon’s mask, has supported Dons since he was a child and he can remember their last trip to Wembley.

The 41-year-old, born in Colliers Wood and living in Morden with his wife and two daughters, grabbed the mascot’s role as soon as it was introduced in 2006.

“I was helping out with some fund raising work that we do at the club and we were asked if there were any takers to be the mascot and I said yes nearly straight away,” said Parsons.

“I’ve loved it ever since I started. I couldn’t imagine stopping.

“It brings a smile to people, young and old and that is what is so great about it.”

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He added: “However, I sweat buckets sometimes, although it’s lovely in the winter because I stay relatively warm.”

Parsons also appears at children’s hospitals as Haydon the Womble as part of the Dons’s work in the community.

He delivered presents to sick children in a cancer hospital on Christmas Eve last year to make their festive time special.

Parsons said this is only part of the contribution Dons make to the community, but it is what makes the club so incredible.

“Everyone probably says it about their club, but ours is really special,” he said.

“It’s a real football community. People at this club have worked so hard to get where we are now and we work so hard for charities and the community.

“There are so many great people involved at Wimbledon and the community would not be the same without them. I am so proud to be part of it.”

A young Parsons attended Plough Lane regularly with his dad and grandad, and he dreams of AFC Wimbledon moving back to Merton.

“I hope that the new stadium move works out. Being back in Merton would be amazing,” he said.

“The new stadium would make a huge different for us and the community. Merton is the club’s home and that is where we belong.”

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Womble of the people

But that is not the end of Parsons’ AFC Wimbledon dreams – there is one more that dates back to 1988.

He said: “My dream is to go on an open top bus at Wembley. I remember there were Wimbledon fans on open top buses going to the 1988 FA Cup final.

“I asked my dad if we could go on one next time we went to Wembley and he said of course.

“Whether it is the FA Cup final, a play-off final or the St. Johnstone’s Paint trophy it doesn’t matter as long as we go back to Wembley one day.”