By Rob Cornell
Former Premier League star Leon McKenzie has praised the example set by AFC Wimbledon Academy in staging a Careers Fair for young players.
Leon, who played for Norwich City in the top flight, attended the event staged at the club recently. He is a partner in LAPS (Life After Professional Sport) which helps players prepare for their next career after football.
“It’s fantastic that AFC Wimbledon held an event like this because it’s so important,” said Leon. “A message should go out to all the clubs. It shouldn’t be off the back of one club saying: ‘You know what? That’s important!’
“Every club should see it as being important and we should be doing more of these events and making it compulsory for players to come. It shouldn’t be ‘Do you want to come?’ – make it compulsory! They are the only ones that are going to benefit later on.”
Leon is pictured talking to two of our under-18s squad – striker Tino Carpene and defender Reuben Collins who, along with their AFC Wimbledon team mates and young players from Fulham, Millwall, QPR and Luton, found the fair to be very beneficial.
“The young boys have been fantastic. They’ve engaged, listened, come and seen me and are becoming members. They’re going through the process of understanding. Hopefully it’s sinking in.”
The full interview with Leon McKenzie is available to view below, via a link to our official YouTube channel.