YouTube interview with Mark Robinson ahead of match
has urged his players to rise to the occasion in tonight’s tough FA Youth Cup challenge against Colchester United.Mark RobinsonAcademy Manager
The Dons entertain Colchester at the Cherry Red Records Stadium tonight (7.45 pm kick-off) in a first round tie that Mark says could be the hardest match yet for his young squad.
, Mark said: “We had a really good training session today (Monday) and went through a few things that might help us because it is a really tough challenge. People may look at Colchester and think that they are not a massive club, but it is the biggest challenge that we have faced as a youth team in the history of AFC Wimbledon.Youth FocusSpeaking during an interview for our YouTube channel, which can be viewed by clicking on
“If we were playing West Ham or Tottenham it would not be any harder. We know for a fact it is the best young group that Colchester have had and last year they were only beaten 3-2 by Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup. It will be a tough test, but this is what it is all about for us. It will tell us what we are good at and what we need to get better at.
“The FA Youth Cup has a bit more glamour to it and we have done a bit more about the opposition. We played them in pre-season when they were excellent, but the main focus is about what we do. We don’t want to over-think about Colchester. Whatever the final score, I want to be able to look at the boys who have played well for us and say that they were as good as some of their players. For those of our players who we cannot say that about we will get back to the training ground and get better at what we do.”
The picture above shows Wimbledon Under-18s Ryan Sweeney, Callum Wilson and Billy Bishop (left to right) posing with the FA Cup before Friday’s first-team match against Coventry City.
Admission is just £5 for adults (including senior citizens) tonight and Under-18s will be admitted free of charge for the match at The Cherry Red Records Stadium.
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s: Billy Bishop, Rob Switon, Ryan Sweeney, Ben Harrison, Nas Majeed, Dan Pearse, Callum Wilson, Egli Kaja, Billy Frost, George Oakley, Callum Overton, Taylor Roles, Daniel Agyei, Ollie Haines, Chris Vleitinck, Danny Gallagher.
The tea bar at the EcoHouse End will be open from around 7.15 pm tonight with refreshments available.-