Youngster earns a chance to shine
has been rewarded for putting a two-year injury nightmare behind him by having his scholarship at Wimbledon extended into a third season.Will NightingalePromising youngster
had to receive Football League approval for Will to continue as a third-year scholar because his birthday is just a few days outside the cut-off point required to be eligible for the Under-18s.Mark RobinsonAcademy Manager
in Wimbledon’s new development squad for next season.Chace Jaquart, Tom Beere, Charlie Fayers, Youssouf Bamba, Kieron Tarbie and Oluseyi DaleyHowever, Will has now been given the green light to join Mark’s squad for next season and he is also likely to join
, Mark Robinson said: “We were waiting to do this because Will’s scholarship is up after he completed two years as a scholar. He has had such a bad time with injuries that we wanted to extend his scholarship. Last season he played just two games and only 12 or 14 during the season before that. We had to contact the Football League and thankfully due to his injuries and because he has a late Birthday in August – he is just a few days away from being able to play for me - they agreed that he can extend the scholarship.Dons PlayerSpeaking to
“We believe that Will has a lot of potential and with my Under-18s squad being mostly made up of first years next season he will add experience for us. Will can play in various positions, including centre-back and in midfield, and once he gets his form and confidence back then he can push on for the development squad.”
that he is grateful to get another chance at the club he joined when he was just nine years of age.Dons PlayerWill Nightingale (pictured right in the above picture with Mark), who turns 18 in August, told
“It has been very frustrating for me in the last two seasons,” said Will. “I came through the ranks with good youth teams and we had a lot of success winning cups, but since I came into the Under-18s I have had a lot of injuries and not had much of a chance to show what I can do. I am very happy to get an opportunity to sign for another year. My most recent injury was a meniscal tear to my knee and I needed an operation on that about a month ago.
“I have been in the gym pretty much every day continuing my recuperation and Amy Todd (Academy Head Sports Therapist) has been a big help in writing out my recuperation programme. Amy has even been making me send pictures of myself in the gym to prove that I have been doing the work! Hopefully, I can get my match fitness back with Mark’s squad for a few months before pushing on for the development squad and then maybe get a first-team chance.”
Dons Player subscribers can now watch a full video interview with Will Nightingale on our premium site, along with Mark Robinson on the importance of having a development squad at Wimbledon for 2013/14.