Vote for our Under-18s in goal of the month competition
In an interview for Dons Player, we feature two more youngsters hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jim Fenlon, Huw Johnson and Frankie Merrifield.
.Dons goal of the monthThe above trio have all made their full first-team debuts this season and that offers encouragement to the likes of Charlie Fayers and Matt Cunnington. The ex-Brighton and Hove Albion pair have flourished since leaving the Seagulls last season. Both 17 years of age, Charlie and Matt have played their parts in a promising start to the campaign from this season’s crop of Under-18s. The style of football played by Mark Robinson’s Football League Youth Alliance side has already been recognised with a goal of the month nomination on the League Football Education website. Our supporters can view the goal against Crawley Town and vote for it by clicking on
Charlie’s first goal of the season against Aldershot was a completely different type of goal as he scored an excellent individual effort last weekend and the left midfielder says he is relishing life with AFC Wimbledon after making the switch last season.
“I joined at the start of last season after playing at Brighton since the age of 11,” he said. “I feel that training is more personal for me now and focuses on improving different parts of my game. If you are watching a football match at home, you will often get a text from Mark about things that were done right and how we can relate to that and improve ourselves. I was not enjoying my football as much as I should have been at Brighton and I kind of knew I would not get offered a place there. But I am doing well here and I would love to make it into the Wimbledon first-team in the future.”
“I started off as a right midfielder at Brighton, then went gradually back and ended up playing right-back and central defence, so I was all over the place,” he said. “I could not find my best position, but after coming through a trial here I have played left-back ever since. I feel that I have improved a lot since I have been at Wimbledon.” A promising left-back, Matt believes he has found his natural position since joining AFC Wimbledon last year.
Visit Dons Player to view the full video interview with Charlie and Matt.