New recruits for college academy squad
Ten young footballers have earned selection for AFC Wimbledon’s College Academy after beating off stiff competition at the trials days.
Head of AFC Wimbledon’s South Thames College Academy, Michael Hamilton, faced a tough challenge to select players after receiving over 200 applicants, but he has now announced the players to join his squad for 2013/14.
The players selected from the trials will join nine players, including Nas Majeed (above), from last season’s group in a squad of 19. The college academy has provided a platform for teenagers to continue their education while playing football and those who excel in the Football Conference Youth League have an opportunity to progress further at AFC Wimbledon. Nas, along with Harry Bruce, Jake May and Rob Switon have all been invited to join Mark Robinson’s Under-18s squad for pre-season training.
Michael Hamilton names the 10 players selected with a little bit more about them below:
: Strong powerful forward who was previously with Oxford United.Jaevon Mitchell
: Strong central midfielder who has been interesting professional clubs.Powell Ulcah
: Energetic right-sided player who previously played for the Dons U16s.Jamie Hardwick
: Defender who rejected offers from other clubs to join Wimbledon.Ian Smith
: Dominant centre-back who has also previously played for the Dons at youth level.Jack Watret
: Technical central midfielder who joins us from Bedfont.Steve Sergeant
: Dynamic central midfielder who showed a lot of promise in trials.Malik Smith
: Pacy centre forward who joins as a second year.Jaszime Johnson
: Impressed enough at the end of last season to earn a second year.Duane Williams
: Pacy right-back who can also play further forward.Rushane Brown
These additions will join the following players from last season’s squad to make a squad of 19: Nehemie Mole, Jake May, Robert Switon, Harry Bruce, Dalvin Donnelly, Jordan Jackson, Nas Majeed, Ola Fadehan, Tyrell Samuda.
Michael Hamilton said: “I’m delighted I have managed to get the players we wanted as a few of them were being pursued by other clubs and a couple took a little more convincing than others. The end of a season is always busy as I receive a lot of phone calls and requests from trialist who have been released from clubs. I refuse to just sign a player based on just his CV so therefore this process is very lengthy. No one has been promised anything but as long as these boys are willing to work their socks off and apply themselves correctly, then they will have a chance of realising their potential.”
Josh Oyibo, Greg Hayden, Terry Murray, Sam Baffour, Nii Amarfio, Kyle Bernard, Sam Whiting, Jack Greenaway.Michael wished to thank the following players who have now moved on from the college academy every success in their future careers: