Why empowering AFC Wimbledon lets their young people take the lead

AFC Wimbledon Under-18s celebrate victory over Blackburn in the FA Youth Cup in December; Player-led competitions are at the heart of their academy programme. Photo: AFC Wimbledon

A few weeks ago AFC Wimbledon Under-18s won 4-3 at Cheltenham Town in the Youth Alliance Cup. The visitors lost 3-0, but did not panic. They adjusted their tactics and adjusted systems before storming back. It was a wild match, a remarkable turnaround, but what was even more impressive was that Wimbledon was effectively managerless that day, with the match designated as one of their player-managed fixtures, a pioneering concept that was central ...