Young Dons will face Fulham next month
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s has seven matches scheduled for their pre-season campaign with a tough challenge against FA Youth Cup finalists Fulham as the pick of the bunch.
After starting their preparations for 2014/15 with a match against an AFC Wimbledon supporters’ team, it promises to get much tougher for the young Dons as they face a Fulham side that were only narrowly beaten 7-6 on aggregate by Chelsea in last season’s final.
Former AFC Wimbledon youth teamer Patrick Roberts, who played in that match and is highly-rated at Craven Cottage, could be in opposition. The Under-18s also have a match against the well-renowned Boreham Wood youth set-up with Dons hero Luke Garrard currently Academy Director at the Hertfordshire club.
The AFC Wimbledon Under-18s squad for next season will consist of 11 second years, including the likes of Ryan Sweeney (pictured), Dan Agyei, Billy Frost and Egli Kaja, a quartet who all played in the London Senior Cup Final win against Metropolitan Police.
Nine first year scholars will also be in the squad and AFC Wimbledon Academy Head of Coaching Mark Robinson has offered Ian Smith and Dylan Bahad opportunities to stake their claims in pre-season after they impressed for Michael Hamilton’s college academy side.
The full list of pre-season fixtures for AFC Wimbledon Under-18s is as follows:
- AFC Wimbledon supporters’ team (11.30 am kick-off at Tooting & Mitcham FC)28 June
(12 noon at Brunel University)Pro Football Academies UK4 July -
- AFC Hornchurch (12 noon at Tooting and Mitcham FC)8 July
- FAB Academy (11.30 am at Bisham Abbey)14 July
Fulham FC (11.00 am at Fulham FC training ground) -19 July
- Boreham Wood (1.00 pm at Meadow Park)23 July
- AFC Wimbledon v MB Academy (12.30pm at Tooting and Mitcham FC).28 July