AFC Wimbledon Foundation hosted community event
This year’s AFC Wimbledon Girls and Kids Cup was bigger and better than ever with over 250 school children taking part at Southfields Academy.
Foundation staff hosted a hugely successful two-day Football League Trust event with Dons academy products Will Nightingale and George Oakley presenting prizes at the Kids Cup.
Lifting silverware could be just the start for Cheam High School (Girls Cup) and Cleves Primary School in Weybridge (Kids Cup) as they will now go onto represent AFC Wimbledon at the Southern Regional Finals with a chance of reaching Wembley at stake.
The children will be helped on their way with an invite to meet Wimbledon first-team players and staff after taking part in a coaching session provided by Foundation coaches at the training ground in New Malden.
The Foundation’s School Sports Officer Andy May said: “This was the first year we had staged the event at Southfields Academy. I think it was huge for us because it showed the facilities that we can provide now, thanks to our relationship with Southfields. It also highlights the potential for us as we continue to grow into the community.
“This year we did not have to worry about the weather as all the games were played on 3G pitches at Southfields and all the children could just enjoy themselves playing football.”
Will Nightingale, who has progressed through the academy to the first-team at Wimbledon, said: “It’s been a good standard of football and this is good coverage for our club. Hopefully, the winning teams will go on and do well representing us. It’s a great event to get our name out there so that more people know about our plans for the future of the club.”