Club offers support at a hard time for midfielder
AFC Wimbledon Under-18s manager Mark Robinson has backed young prospect Louie Cockle to bounce back from his injury setback after he broke his leg on Friday.
Louie, a first-year scholar with the Dons, was playing in just his second pre-season match for the Under-18s against Pro Academies UK (AFC Hayes) when he suffered a broken leg in three places that completely overshadowed a friendly that Wimbledon won 9-0.
Just three days before the incident, Louie (left in above picture) had finished third in the Richmond Park run, an annual pre-season training event for the Under-18s. Louie started playing for Wimbledon between the age of nine and 12, but he left to join Fulham after impressing scouts from the Championship club. However, he returned to the Dons at the end of last season and impressed enough to earn a scholarship with Wimbledon.
Mark Robinson said that Louie will receive the best possible care from the club to make a recovery with Neal Ardley having already been in touch with the player’s family to offer his support.
Mark said: “The performance and result was under a huge dark cloud with Louie suffering a broken leg. I’m absolutely devastated for Louie because he’s been outstanding in every aspect so far in pre-season. It was difficult to know what to do as Louie is very popular among the squad and the boys were in a bit of a state. Unfortunately, it’s something that they will probably have to deal with again in their careers so I thought it was best to carry on despite the big delay. It was certainly the right decision as the boys showed great professionalism.
“Louie is getting plenty of support from the club. We will do everything to look after him and to get him back playing for Wimbledon so that he can fulfil his potential."
All at AFC Wimbledon wish Louie a speedy recovery in his recuperation and we hope to see him back in a Dons shirt soon.