AFC Wimbledon Development Squad and Academy

AFC Wimbledon Development squad and Academy are the youth teams of professional English association football club AFC Wimbledon. Under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) system for youth development, the academy has been granted Category Three status. The Under-18 squad currently competes in Football League Youth Alliance South East Conference. The Under 18's squad play their home matches in the FA Youth Cup at Kingsmeadow[clarification needed], in Kingston upon Thames, London. Whilst the Under 23's play a majority of their matches at Merstham F.C. most other matches are held at the club's New Malden training complex. The development squad competes in the Under–21 Premier League Cup.

AFC Wimbledon Academy
Full nameAFC Wimbledon
Nickname(s)The Dons, The Wombles
Founded2003
GroundPlough Lane
ChairmanMick Buckley
ManagerMichael Hamilton (Academy Manager)
LeagueFootball League Youth Alliance
2019-201st (Merit League One)
WebsiteClub website

History

The AFC Wimbledon Academy was founded in 2003. In 2010, the Under-13s squad won the Tesco Cup, having triumphed through the County and Regional rounds of the competition, by beating Lytham St Annes YMCA 2–0 in the final.

Current academy and youth development staff

NameRole
Michael HamiltonAcademy Manager
Michael CookAcademy Head of Operations
Anthony FergusonHead of Coaching
James Oliver PearceUnder 18s Head Coach
Jack MatthewsLead Youth Phase Coach (U13-16)
Nicholas WrightLead Foundation Phase Coach
Liam ConnorHead of Physical Performance
Jenna RichardsPhysical Performance and Medicine Manager
Stuart PageHead of Education
Ben FosuheneHead of Academy Talent ID
Ahmed JamaHead of Academy Performance Analysis
Diogo SantosYouth Development Phase Coach
Conor MartinAcademy Club Journalist
Deji Olorukoba-OseniAcademy Administrator

Current Youth Development Squads

Under-18s squad

Under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) system for youth development, the AFC Wimbledon Academy has been granted Category Three Academy status. The club currently competes in the Merit League One of the Football Youth Alliance.

As of 15 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  BERHugo Few
MF  ENGConnor Harris
32MF  ENGKai Jennings
MF  ENGCharlie Morgan
MF  ENGJake Lawrence
MF  ENGHarry Sidwell
FW  ENGReuban Amissah
FW  ENGKelvin Kargbo
37FW  ENGEdward Leach
35FW  ENGRobert Junior Nkeng
FW  ENGTom Wilson

Notable Academy graduates

Players in bold went on to sign professional contracts and are currently playing for the senior first team. Players in italics subsequently went on to be signed by a Premier League club.

References