AFC Wimbledon

Academy management

Michael Hamilton
Academy Manager

Michael was appointed as Academy Manager in 2019 having previously held multiple roles at the club including Academy Head of Coaching and Lead Youth Phase (U13s to U16s).

Michael has played a pivotal role in developing players who have progressed to both professional and international football and prior to joining the club he was at Millwall Football Club working within their academy set up.

In 2021 Michael was appointed as Loans Manager, which he combines with his Academy Manager role. In 2022 Michael graduated from Portsmouth University with Post Graduate Diploma in Football Academy Management, in the same year he was recognised by The Football Blacklist for his work in youth development.

Jack Matthews
Academy Head of Coaching

Jack joined the Academy in 2016, in a part-time position, before transitioning full time with the academy in 2019, when he was confirmed as the new Lead Foundation Phase Coach.

In 2021 Jack progressed to the role of Youth Phase Lead Coach before being appointed the Academy Head of Coaching in 2023.

Jack combines this role with the role of Individual Development Coach, where he resumes responsibility for the individual development programme of our 1st and 2nd year pros.

Ben Fosuhene
Head of Academy Talent ID

Ben joined the club in June 2016 to Head the Academies Talent Identification and Recruitment Department, following four years working as a key member of the Brentford FC Academy Recruitment Team.

Ben brings extensive knowledge of players and teams within London and the surrounding areas with many connections abroad. He continues to build his intelligence along with his team of scouts in order to find the right players for AFC Wimbledon.

Ben holds coaching badges as well as the coveted FA Talent Identification Level 4 in Management, Strategy & Leadership qualification.

Simon Clark
Under 18s Head Coach

Simon enjoyed a very successful playing career making over 300 appearances as a professional footballer across the football league. In the latter stages of his playing career he headed over to Singapore where he assumed the role of player/manager with Woodlands Wellington FC.

Since moving back to the UK in 2004, Simon has worked across both the senior and youth development phases, working with various clubs including Notts County, Watford FC, Charlton Athletic and more recently Peterborough FC.

Nicholas Wright
Mid Phase Manager

Nicholas joined the club in 2016, initially as a volunteer coach, before working across all age groups within the foundation phase.

In 2021, Nicholas joined the full-time staff as the new Foundation Phase Lead, overseeing the development of 9s to 12s age groups and as part of the academies restructure, he was named as the newly formed role of Mid Phase Manager (overseeing the U12 – U14s development programme).

Nicholas currently holds the UEFA B Licence Qualification and has a Masters in Sporting Directorship.

Ben Ewing
Foundation Phase Manager

Joined the Academy as a pre academy coach in November 2020, before being promoted to pre academy coordinator from August 2021, whilst assisting across the Foundation Phase.

In January 2023 he was confirmed as the new Foundation Phase Manager, where he oversees the development programme from U9s to U11s.

Prior to joining the academy Ben had been teaching and coaching for 10 years in the non-league ranks.

Craig Watkins
Head of Academy Player Care

In 2022 Craig joined us from the Crystal Palace Foundation, where he worked within their mentoring and wellbeing sector. Craig also played professionally / semi-professionally and counts Exeter City, Sutton United and Woking FC amongst his former clubs.

Stuart Page
Head of Education

Stuart has been Head of Education at the club since August 2014 and splits his time between overseeing the full education programme for the apprentice scholars, acting as a consultant for the education across all other age groups, lecturing at colleges across Hampshire and providing End Point Assessments for the scholar apprenticeship programme to the Premier League and EFL.

Alongside his teaching degrees, Stuart holds UEFA Coaching badges and has had two books published.

Ahmed Jama
Head of Academy Performance Analysis

Ahmed joined the club in 2018 on a part time basis, before being appointed as the Head of Academy Performance Analysis in 2019.

Victoria Athey
Lead Academy Therapist

Victoria joined the academy in 2022 and oversees the medical department across the academy. She has previously held multiple roles across the NHS, Private practice and sport. She has worked within Category 1 and 2 Academies and as First Team Physiotherapist for Colchester FC and Essex County Cricket Club. She plays a pivotal role between the academy and first team and leads the team of therapists in looking after injured players.

Martin Davidson
Lead PDP Physical Performance Coach

Martin joined the Academy in July 2022 having already spent two years with the Club, initially as 1st Team Sport Science Assistant and then in the dual role of 1st Team Lead Sport Scientist and U23s Physical Performance Coach. This followed the completion of a BSc in Sport Science which included a year at Fulham FC.

Martin's principal role is planning, delivering, and evaluating the physical development programme for the U18s which is designed to enhance the players’ athletic football abilities.

This ensures that they possess the level of physicality needed to execute the technical and tactical skills required to support an effective transition to senior football.

Theo Treadaway-Hoyte
Under 18s Therapist and Lead Academy Physical Performance Coach