CAFC vs AFC Wimbledon- Preview
Carshalton Athletic host an AFC Wimbledon XI this Saturday at Colston Avenue in their penultimate pre-season friendly.
AFC Wimbledon XI
With the Robins set to face an AFC Wimbledon XI likely packed with promising youth prospects, it’s worth taking a closer look at their academy. Fans may recall that Carshalton Athletic defeated a youthful Wombles side in our final pre-season match last season. Aziz Sankoh was the star of the show, helping secure a 2-0 victory.
Sankoh’s impact was clear from the start—he whipped in a driven cross that led to an own goal by Wimbledon centre-back Sam Goma. Later, he sealed the win with what might be the best goal of his career: a stunning 25-yard rocket that left everyone in awe.
Since its establishment in 2011, shortly after AFC Wimbledon’s return to the Football League, the club’s academy has quietly built a strong reputation for developing players who embody the club’s core values: togetherness, resilience, and continuous improvement.
Based at their training ground in New Malden, the academy has produced a steady stream of talent making the jump to professional football. Players like Jack Rudoni, Ayoub Assal, and Jack Currie are prime examples—youngsters who progressed through the ranks and have since carved out careers higher up the football ladder. Under-18s captain Riley Horan, who has also featured on the first-team bench this season, sums up the academy’s approach well. “It’s not just about football here,” he says. “Wimbledon are great at making good people, not just good players.” Having grown up locally, Horan describes playing for the club as a proud moment and credits the exposure to first-team training as a key step in his development.
The philosophy runs deep throughout the club. Under-18s head coach Simon Clark stresses the importance of attitude over raw talent when young players train alongside the senior squad. After recent sessions with the first team, manager Johnnie Jackson praised the youngsters not for their skill, but for their work ethic and professionalism—qualities Clark continually emphasises. The academy also mirrors the first team’s style of play: quick transitions and aggressive pressing, making the jump to senior football a more natural progression for the players.
Former academy graduates currently in the first team reflect on the impact the setup has had on their growth. Huseyin Biler recalls how the academy instilled discipline and humility early on, even mentioning how tasks like cleaning the first team’s boots helped build character. Isaac Ogundere admits he wasn’t the most naturally gifted but credits the academy for helping him mature and seize his opportunities. Aron Sasu, who joined the club at just 10 years old, describes the academy as a second home, where he gained not only football skills but also life lessons.
The numbers back up the academy’s progress, too. This season, the Under-18s finished third in their league with a club record 18 wins and 57 points, while the Under-15s lifted the Amber Cup. AFC Wimbledon ranks fifth among Category Three academies nationally for productivity and 38th overall across all academy categories. A recent club record was set for academy-generated transfer income, with three young players moving on to Premier League academies, including Everton, Brighton, and Fulham.
All told, AFC Wimbledon’s academy quietly continues to punch above its weight, focusing on developing both the player and the person—a steady pipeline of talent and character for the future.
Team News
The talented trio of Junior Nkeng, Riley Horan, and Ed Leach—who featured in last season’s friendly—have now signed their first professional contracts. Centre-back Horan, the former youth team captain, brings leadership at the back. Left winger Nkeng made his debut a couple of seasons ago and finished with double figures for both goals and assists in the Under-18s. Attacker Leach impressed with 20 assists and 10 goals for the Under-18s, earning a spot in the first-team squad for last season’s longest away trip. It remains unclear whether any of the trio will feature on Saturday.
Defender Kai Jennings, who returned from a loan spell with Surrey Senior Cup winners Walton & Hersham—where he played alongside Horan—could be in contention to strengthen the heart of the defence.
Several other players who spent time out on loan last season have returned and appear to have been retained. These include Jake Lawrence (Kingstonian), Kai McKenzie (Binfield), Reuban Amissah (Marlow FC), Harry Sidwell (Enfield Town), Morgan Williams (Dorking Wanderers), and Ethan Sutcliffe (Tonbridge).
Pre-Match Analysis
Carshalton Athletic could see players from across the youth age groups featuring on Saturday, as the academy mirrors the first team’s style of play with quick transitions and aggressive pressing.
This season, the Under-18s finished third in their league, setting two club records in the process: most league wins in a season (18) and most points in a season (57). Meanwhile, the Under-15s lifted the Amber Cup after a commanding 3-0 win over Leicester City at Plough Lane, showcasing maturity and technical quality beyond their years.
Key Player
Under-18s captain, Riley Horan, made a memorable senior debut while on loan at play-off chasing Southern Premier South side Walton & Hersham. The local defender, who has attracted interest from the Republic of Ireland youth setup and is the nephew of former Wimbledon midfielder John Gannon, was loaned out in March 2025 and immediately thrust into action.
Riley started at right back for Walton against Basingstoke Town during a crucial stage of the season. With just five minutes remaining and Walton trailing 1-0, Riley rose to the occasion by scoring a late equaliser with a well-placed header from a wide cross. Although Walton couldn’t find a winner, Riley’s debut goal in front of over 1,000 fans marked an unforgettable milestone early in his senior career.
Reflecting on the experience, Riley described how the loan move came about and his rapid integration into the team. Despite joining a settled side at the top of the table, he seized the opportunity to step in after an injury to a defender, earning his start and impressing with his work rate and commitment, even playing out of position.
Riley’s impactful loan spell underlined his importance as a promising talent within the academy and highlighted his readiness to make the step up to senior football.
The Gaffer: Michael Hamilton
Having joined the Dons back in 2008 as a volunteer, Academy Manager Michael Hamilton has steadily worked his way up, playing a pivotal role in building the club’s youth setup from the ground up.
Michael’s passion for youth development shines through when he talks about the process he’s been part of for nearly 17 years. He firmly believes that success isn’t about having the biggest budget but about fostering a strong culture and relentless drive to improve.
“When I joined, I was a young coach working at another professional club, and I quickly realised that gaining experience coaching older boys was crucial for my development,” he explains. “I offered my services to the club for free and started voluntarily. Back then, it was more of a grassroots setup—not the academy structure we have today.”
“My first role was assisting Mark Robinson with the Under-18s, and since then, I’ve done almost every job within the Academy. We had to build everything from scratch—it was a blank canvas. While we don’t have the flashiest facilities or deep pockets, what we do have is character, a strong culture, and a commitment to taking action. We never use obstacles as excuses; progress and improvement are non-negotiable.”
“For us, the ultimate goal is to get players into the first team. When you see players like Aron Sasu, Isaac Ogundere, and Huseyin Biler making that step, it validates everything we do.”
“Of course, there are plenty of talented youngsters with potential, but the club’s role is to create the pathway. It’s then up to the individual players to put in the hard work and fulfil that promise. The moment you stop pushing forward, someone else will overtake you. Having the first team and Academy in the same building helps fuel that hunger and ambition in our players.”
Match Details
Date: Saturday, 26 July 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 3:00 pm
Admission: Adults (£5), Concessions (£3), Children (£2)
Tickets: Buy Tickets Here
