Dear all who read this,

AFC Wimbledon (AFCW) Ladies U23’s is kindly reaching out for your help in supporting our journey in developing our young female players of the future.

We are fundraising for the following:

- Player tracking equipment.

- Subscription fees for our camera.

- Specialised staff for match days - a physiotherapist and/or Strength and Conditioning coach.

A bit about us:

The U23 Women’s team at AFCW was created at the beginning of last season replacing our Senior Reserve team. The idea was to form a bridge between our Youth program and the Women’s First team. Since doing so, we have had considerable financial support from the senior side of the club, in the running costs of the U23’s, which has allowed us to provide accessible opportunities for our young female players to train and play competitive football.

At the end of last season, we wanted to ensure that our Youth players who are coming up into senior football have a healthy and structured learning environment. As a result, we have ensured that this season over 80% of our squad has come from our youth program, to provide them with the opportunities to take their next step.

With all new growth, there often comes a financial cost and we are reaching out to anyone who can kindly donate whatever they are able to afford as an investment into what we are trying to achieve. The coaching staff involved are on a voluntary basis, so your financial support would go towards improving infrastructure for the players, and specialised staff such as a Physiotherapist and/or a Strength and Conditioning coach.

Infrastructure improvements would involve purchasing equipment such as:

Tracking devices that will allow us to track the players technical and physical game.

In coaching, our teaching process would be strengthened with a learning environment that can monitor and visually communicate players areas of strength or further development. Being able to provide players with feedback on key technical and physical aspects of their game is critical to improving players performance. Investing in tracking equipment is a costly expense but is one that once purchased can be used for years to come and would be a considerable building block in the success of our future.

We have access to a Veo camera, with an analyst that has come onboard and offered their time on a voluntary basis, to watch and analyse our matches and training sessions. However, the software required for this carries a monthly expense and any donations will go towards this subscription. This will help us analyse trends and support player development which will be invaluable to our players.

Regarding the Physiotherapist and/or Strength and Conditioning coach, these are specialised personnel who would require financial support in their travel and equipment for training and matchdays. With the bulk of our squad aged between 16 and 18 years old, their physical development and injury prevention during this key stage of their growth makes this part of our infrastructure a key factor in protecting the players longevity in the game.

Your investment is about our future in being able to lay a strong foundation to build on. Your help would provide a learning environment with the right structures in place to allow our young players dreams to become a reality. As the saying goes “a dream written down with a date becomes a goal, a goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action becomes reality.”

With your support we can lay the right foundation to provide our young players the opportunity to give their dreams the possibility of becoming a reality. Our plan is to establish these structures by the end of the 2021/22 season.

Thank you in advance for your support, generosity and kindness.

Best wishes

Andrew Hatcher

AFC Wimbledon U23’s Manager