Under-18s Manager Rob Tuvey wants our supporters to help his side take a step closer to national success this Saturday morning.
AFC Wimbledon’s talented youngsters face Cambridge United in the Southern Area final of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, at our training ground in New Malden (10.30am kick-off). A win would set up a meeting with either Fleetwood Town or Rotherham United, who will contest the Northern Area final at the end of the month.
“We want it to be one club and one family and that is really important for us,” said Rob, who we caught up with at Tuesday’s Central League Cup match over at Ware FC. “It would mean so much to the boys to get people to come down and watch them.
“That’s what we want. We want these boys to come and play in front of crowds.
“If supporters come down on Saturday to King’s College Sports Ground and show your season ticket on the day, or your match ticket for the first-team game against Fleetwood later on, then you’re more than welcome to come and watch the boys.”
Rob has been pleased with the response of his squad, since the FA Youth Cup defeat at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United just before Christmas.
“It’s always tough,” said Rob (pictured with Lead Youth Phase Coach James Oliver-Pearce). “Obviously we put a lot of emphasis on the Youth Cup, but we never go away from producing pro footballers. We’re hopeful of doing that still this year.
“We felt we under-achieved as an Academy in the Youth Cup this season, but since then we’ve really bounced back and put in some really good performances. We’re unbeaten in the new year, which is fantastic.
“We’re seeing under-16s and first years really carrying on from the great work that the second years have put in as well. On Saturday, it will be a chance for the first years, under-16s and a couple of second years who are not out on loan to really show in a pressurised environment what they can do.”
The address for our training ground is: Windsor Avenue, New Malden, KT3 5HA.
You can see our catch-up with Under-18s Manager Rob Tuvey in full below, via the link to our official YouTube channel.