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Jack

Bentley To Link Up With Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon manager Dave Beasant has surprised fans with his first signing of the new season as he snaps up Winchester City's Warren Bentley.

Beasant is appearing to have a growing likeness towards Non-League strikers as the former England international signs up a Sydenhams Wessex Premier League striker.

Not much at all is known about the new 25-year-old signing for The Dons on a free transfer due to his non-contract deal at Winchester allowing any move to take place for free.

What is known, however, is that Bentley is absolutely lethal at that level of football. In the 2011/12 season, the striker began really coming into his own.

Bentley scored eleven goals in eleven appearances in the 2011/12 season for Alresford Town. This form continued into the next season - bagging twenty-six in thirty-seven games for Alresford.

In his final season at Alresford's Alrebury Park, it was his most successful to date. The striker scored 39 goals in 40 appearances for The Magpies.

Bentley moved back to Winchester City last season, and meanwhile playing on the right-wing for a lot of the season, he still managed to finish 15 goals in 27 games for Glenn Burnett's team.

Many are questioning Beasant's judgement on this deal, as he can do it in some of the lowest levels in football, but he may not be able to do it in the Football League. However, on £140 per week, it's worth the risk.

Jack

9 years

Sinclair Heads Back to Premier League

AFC Wimbledon starlet Jake Sinclair has abruptly ended his career at Kingsmeadow by signing for newly-promoted Hull City.

The youngster unfortunately had a clause in his Wimbledon contract saying that if Wimbledon fail to achieve promotion then his release clause would be permanently set at £750,000.

As we all know, The Dons missed out on promotion through a last gasp Jay Simpson winner, and it's now led to the sale of one of Dave Beasant's brightest talents.

Young goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has a similar clause written in his contract, but his is set at £2,000,000 - which no club would pay for a League Two keeper.

20-year-old Sinclair played 39 games in the league last season under Beasant, scoring five goals and being the third most creative player in League Two, with 10 assists to his name.

Sinclair is the third departure out of Kingsmeadow this summer, with Sean Rigg and George Pilbeam leaving at the end of their contracts.

Jack

9 years

Isgrove Set To Replace Sinclair at Kingsmeadow

In what is probably one of the signings of the season, Dave Beasant has managed to attract yet another Southampton winger to Kingsmeadow.

Dave Beasant must have some sort of agreement with the authorities at Southampton, as he just can't stop signing their wingers!

Jake Sinclair was the first former Southampton winger to join the club last season under Beasant, closely followed by the arrival of Omar Rowe a few days later.

It's now Lloyd Isgrove who joins the Wimbledon ranks, signing up on a two-year deal with The Dons and this definitely looks to change the outlook of Dave Beasant's side.

Jack

9 years

Rowell Returns To English Football

After a five year exile from England, Hartlepool United graduate Jonny Rowell has returned to the Football League, signing up with Dave Beasant's AFC Wimbledon on a two-year deal.

The central-midfielder has spent the last five seasons over in Belgium, playing firstly for Olympic Charleroi before a move to Waasland-Beveren, initially in Belgium's Second Division.

The 25-year-old was part of the team that won promotion to the Belgian Pro League in 2012, making 15 appearances, scoring one goal.

But now Dave Beasant has brought the midfielder back into the Football League after his contract at Freethiel expired earlier this summer.

Jack

9 years

Former Leeds Duo Join Beasant's Dons

Dave Beasant has gone through the Leeds United records recently and he's picked out former Whites players Paul Huntington and Michael Tonge to join his side this season.

Huntington played under Gary McAllister's Play-Off Final side in the 2008/09 season, as Leeds lost out to Doncaster Rovers in the Final.

After his spell at Elland Road, the centre-back joined Stockport County - then a League One side and thrived at Edgeley Park for a season.

77 league appearances at Yeovil Town followed that spell at Stockport, joining The Glovers on a free transfer in 2010. The 27-year-old then relocated with the man who let him leave, linking up with Simon Grayson at Preston North End in 2012.

His contract then ran out at Deepdale this summer, after three seasons at North End - including a promotion to the Championship. He now joins Dave Beasant at AFC Wimbledon on a two-year deal.

Michael Tonge was signed under the Neil Warnock era at Elland Road, with an initial loan from Premier League Stoke City in 2012 becoming permanent in 2013.

After a loan move to Millwall, the 32-year-old's contract in West Yorkshire ran out and AFC Wimbledon snapped the midfielder up on a one-year deal - expiring at the end of this season.

Jack

9 years

October Follows Sinclair Out The Door

Another big name has left Kingsmeadow today as David October departs to join the club who rejected him a year ago.

Five youngsters rising from Ipswich Town's academy were called into Mick McCarthy's office last year. Among those five was a 19-year-old left-back going by the name of David October.

McCarthy released the youngster right there in his office, with immediate effect. Not so long after, the men at AFC Wimbledon uncovered a gem on a free transfer.

October then went onto make 37 appearances in all competitions in the fourth tier, the best exposure of first-team football he has had since his loan move to Conference North side Histon.

Young October attracted interest from many League One clubs for his pace and technical ability was way beyond League Two standard. It was the Championship option that October liked the most.

The 20-year-old entered that office he was released from once more, to discuss terms about a return to the club who released him twelve months ago. A £275,000 fee was agreed, and now October looks set for a bright future at Portman Road, agreeing a three-year deal with the club.

Jack

9 years

Irish International Agrees Deal With Wimbledon

Next up through the Kingsmeadow door? 39-time Ireland international Stephen Hunt is your answer.

As one man heads into East Anglia, another man leaves it for Ipswich, as David October completes a £275,000 transfer to Portman Road, meanwhile Stephen Hunt leaves it for AFC Wimbledon - a kind of indirect swap deal.

The Irish international has racked up a huge combined total of £6.5million over the course of his illustrious career, spending five of his years in the English top-flight after graduating from Crystal Palace's academy in 1997.

The left-winger has never played as low as League Two in his career, but as Dave Beasant finalises a one-year deal with the 33-year-old, he hopes that he won't be staying at this level for long.

With Brandon Barker and Thierry Ambrose heading back to their parent club in Manchester City, Wimbledon have searched for alternatives, and they have come up with a fantastic wingman duo of Hunt and Lloyd Isgrove.

Jack

9 years

Meades and Barcham End Wimbledon Stay

In what has been a busy transfer window thus far, another two faces have left Kingsmeadow following Stephen Hunt's arrival on a free transfer.

Left-back Jonathan Meades and left-winger Andy Barcham have both left the club on a permanent basis, after totalling 22 appearances between them last season - Barcham only playing one.

It was obvious that Barcham was not a Dave Beasant favourite, playing only one game all of last season in a year of rotting in the development side.

The 28-year-old winger became unsettled at the club due to this, but The Dons couldn't find a new club for the winger meaning it would have to be left until now to leave. He agreed an £80,000 deal with Oxford United.

Meades was a decent back-up for October, until Sean Newton arrived. Meades was then told he was going on loan to fellow League Two side Luton Town for the remainder of the season, which the former Cardiff man wasn't happy about.

But the left-back ended up really enjoying his stay at Luton, and has now signed for the new League One side for a fee of £43,000 on a one-year deal.

Jer

9 years

So many updates! Shame about the departures but you've had some nice additions for next season

Jack

9 years

Wimbledon Announce Preseason Schedule

AFC Wimbledon have officially began planning for the 2015/16 season as they announce their preseason friendlies today on the club's official website.

The Dons will face eight teams before they begin their season against Carlisle United on 8th August.

The schedule will involve two foreign teams, both from Central Europe, but the rest will derive from England, in both higher tiers and lower tiers than Wimbledon themselves.

Last seasons Play-Off semi-finalists will play two teams from Level 9 of the English National League System in Buckingham Athletic and Bedfont Town from the Spartan South Midlands Football League. The Buckingham Athletic fixture will be played at Stratford Fields, while Bedfont Town will play at Wimbledon's temporary home ground in Griffin Park.

However, The Dons will start preseason with a glamour friendly against Premier League holders Chelsea on 7th July at Griffin Park, with the club expecting a near-sellout for that match.

After Chelsea will be League One side Colchester United, at home again before the visit of Belgian Second Division side Royal Antwerp FC.

The Buckingham Athletic and Bedfont Town fixtures will then take place after Antwerp's visit.

AFC Wimbledon will then play two more League One outfits as Scunthorpe United and Gillingham travel to Griffin Park to take on Dave Beasant's blokes.

The Dons will complete their preseason schedule with the visit of 1. FC Koln II from Germany, at home.

Jack

9 years

Dons Finalise Deal For Former Spurs Defender

AFC Wimbledon have today announced their seventh signing of the summer as preseason nears the end.

Grant Hall moved to Tottenham Hotspur aged 20 years old, for a fee of just £35,000 from Brighton & Hove Albion - of whom he only made one league appearance for.

The centre-back joins Paul Huntington as Dave Beasant's second signing in that position - with Karleigh Osborne also extending his stay at Kingsmeadow for another season.

The 23-year-old spent all of last season on loan to Sky Bet League One outfit Swindon Town, making 44 appearances in all competitions for The Robins.

However on return from a successful loan spell at The County Ground, Hall was left to find out that his contract would not be renewed by Carlo Ancelotti.

On arrival at Wimbledon's training ground Moatside, the new signing spoke to local press upon his move to Kingston upon Thames: "There's a great feeling about this place - I mean, I could tell as soon as I walked into the boss' office that I wanted to be a part of this growing team.

"We got all the contractual issues sorted and I was raring to go. I definitely think we're among the favourites to go up, we've got a top, top side for this level, along with a great manager as everyone knows. I don't see why we can't go up this season."

Hall signed on a free transfer, penning a two-year deal with Beasant's Dons.

Jack

9 years

Trials Offered to Five By Wimbledon

After English Trial Day ended, it was time for the clubs needing recruits to pick up their men for the new season.

For AFC Wimbledon, though, instead of going straight into deals for these young players they have offered trials to five of them players.

Premier League youth dropouts are now in the process of finding a new club for themselves, but for Dave Beasant, they must perform for him before having a chance at a permanent deal at Kingsmeadow.

Alex Davey, released by Chelsea looks to be one of the hottest prospects on trial at Wimbledon this preseason as the 6'3" centre-back has looked solid when called upon in the past few games.

Daniel Akindayini from Tottenham and George Glendon from Manchester City have also seemed to impress Beasant during their trial spell at Moatside.

Alex Bray and Ryan Hedges - both released from Swansea City have not seemed to be the calibre of player Wimbledon seem to be looking at though, and it looks increasingly likely that them two players will be released when their trial period expires.

Jack

9 years

Wimbledon Lose Out to Powerful Chelsea

In AFC Wimbledon's summer glamour friendly over at Griffin Park, Dave Beasant's side lost 3-1 to the current Premier League holders.

Chelsea had control of the game all the way through, but it didn't stop Beasant's trademark attacking tactics from coming into play in front of a 10,600 crowd at Griffin Park.

It was pretty much a full-strength Chelsea team out there on the pitch, and Wimbledon's defence did excellently to keep the forceful attacking trio of Loic Rémy, Bertrand Traoré and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at bay, with Diego Costa coming on for the last thirty minutes.

It was a great experience for young goalkeeper James Shea, signed for Wimbledon from Arsenal's youth squad before Beasant's regime. He did well to limit the scoring down to three from what is a world-class front three.

Warren Bentley also made his first appearance in a AFC Wimbledon shirt after agreeing a move from Winchester City earlier in the transfer window.

It was Loic Rémy who opened the scoring in the third minute for The Blues, after a top-quality long ball to Bertrand Traoré set the winger free on the right, to get past Mooney and feed a low ball into the French striker to open his account this season.

It then became a nightmare debut for new Wimbledon signing Lloyd Isgrove as the ball ricocheted off a James Shea save onto his ankle, to find the back of the net and extend Chelsea's lead to two goals.

It then got bad to worse for Dave Beasant's side as they conceded a third in the 43rd minute thanks to Bertrand Traoré's rebound goal from John Terry's initial shot.

It incredibly only took Damian Reeves of Wimbledon 15 seconds into the second half to get one back for Wimbledon, as Lloyd Isgrove sent a low cross into the near post, finding Reeves' run and scoring a consolation goal for his side.

All in all, you can't argue with 3-1 to the Premier League holders, and it was no doubt a great day out for fans to see some of the world's best players play in real life against their team.

Jack

9 years

Davey, Glendon and Akindayini Sign On

AFC Wimbledon's trialist trio have all ended their spell at Wimbledon in a positive fashion as Alex Davey, Daniel Akindayini and George Glendon all agree contracts at Kingsmeadow.

After playing four games for Dave Beasant's Dons, three of the five trialists taken on by Wimbledon have now agreed permanent playing deals after impressing head coach Beasant.

As Wimbledon try to offload surplus strikers going by the names of Tom Elliott and Adebayo Azeez, former Spurs graduate Daniel Akindayini agrees a two-year deal with Wimbledon.

Other squad strikers like De'Jaune Taylor-Crossdale and Danny Whitehall have both agreed season-long loan deals with Conference National sides Tranmere Rovers and Ebbsfleet respectively.

However, with the apprehensive fitness of club captain Andy Frampton, the club have signed up 20-year-old centre-back Alex Davey to cover his place should his fitness play up again like last seasons events, leaving him out for almost the entirety of the season, managing only five appearances.

As for Man City dropout George Glendon, the likelihood for the central midfielder is that he will be loaned out due to the overflowing amount of central midfielders already in the first-team squad, with two already joining earlier this transfer window in the name of Michael Tonge and Jonny Rowell.

Jack

9 years

I must say, that has to be one of the best preseasons I've ever had. We had wins to boost morale, and we had losses to prove that we're not unstoppable and that we must work hard in this league - a great preseason, and because of it I feel very confident about our opening day fixture against Carlisle. We struggled against Chelsea and Gillingham, yes, but wins like the one against Antwerp show that we have the quality, but we just need to use it to it's full potential.

FIXTURES

AFC Wimbledon 1 - 3 Chelsea

7/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea, Fuller (Smith 45), Hall (Frampton 45), Osborne, Mooney (Vicars 45), J Reeves (Jenkins 62), Rowell (Tonge 45), Isgrove, Hunt, Bentley (Azeez 45), D Reeves

Goalscorers: Damian Reeves (46)

AFC Wimbledon 1 - 0 Colchester United

11/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea, Fuller (Vicars 72), Osborne (Frampton 83), Hall, Mooney (Smith 45), J Reeves (Bulman 90), Rowell (Tonge 45), Isgrove, Hunt, D Reeves (Azeez 51), Bentley (Elliott 45)

Goalscorers: Jake Reeves (56)

AFC Wimbledon 9 - 0 Royal Antwerp FC

14/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea, Smith (Vicars 57), Hall, Frampton (Osborne 57), Mooney (Bulman 69), Rowell (Jenkins 57), Tonge (J Reeves 57), Bentley (Fuller 57), Isgrove (Hunt 57), Azeez, D Reeves (Elliott 57)

Goalscorers: Adebayo Azeez (3, 4, pen 62), Damian Reeves (21, 54, 57), Ross Jenkins (60), Tom Elliott (68, 73)

Buckingham Athletic 0 - 3 AFC Wimbledon

17/7/2015
Stratford Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea, Fuller (Vicars 56), Osborne, Frampton (Hall 61), Smith (Mooney 61), Rowell (Jenkins 56), J Reeves (Bulman 61), Isgrove, Hunt, D Reeves, Bentley

Goalscorers: Karleigh Osborne (12), Damian Reeves (40), Lloyd Isgrove (61)

AFC Wimbledon 4 - 0 Bedfont Town

22/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea, Vicars (Smith 60), Davey (Hall 60), Osborne (Fuller 71), Mooney (Frampton 60), J Reeves (Jenkins 60), Glendon (Tonge 60), Bray (Akindayini 60), Hedges (Isgrove 54), D Reeves (Hunt 74), Bentley (Elliott 45)

Goalscorers: Damian Reeves (23, 60, 73), Daniel Akindayini (88)

AFC Wimbledon 5 - 1 Scunthorpe United

25/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Shea (Alnwick 54), Fuller (Vicars 60), Davey (Osborne 66), Hall (Frampton 66), Smith (Mooney 60), J Reeves (Tonge 66), Glendon (Jenkins 45), Bray (Hunt 60), Isgrove (Akindayini 72), D Reeves, Bentley (Elliott 54)

Goalscorers: Jack Smith (pen 24), Warren Bentley (44), Damian Reeves (53), Lloyd Isgrove (60), Andy Frampton (89)

AFC Wimbledon 0 - 2 Gillingham

29/7/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Alnwick, Hall (Fuller 45), Davey, Osborne (Frampton 45), Mooney, Tonge (J Reeves 45), Glendon (Vicars 45), Bray, Isgrove (Hunt 45), D Reeves, Akindayini (Bentley 45)

Goalscorers: None

AFC Wimbledon 1 - 1 1. FC Koln

2/8/2015
Griffin Park
Friendly Match

Lineup: Alnwick, Hall (Frampton 65), Davey (Glendon 65), Osborne (Fuller 81), Smith (Newton 45), J Reeves (Mooney 65), Jenkins (Bulman 54), Tonge (Azeez 45), Isgrove (Vicars 59), Bentley, D Reeves (Elliott 45, Hunt 48)

Goalscorers: Warren Bentley (12)

PLAYER OF PRESEASON

Jack Smith

The 31-year-old has been somewhat of a utility player for us, playing as full-back, centre-back, centre-midfield and even right-wing during preseason. He has done excellently well in preseason and I rate him as one of our best players in the squad this season.

NEXT MONTH: AUGUST:

This coming month I don't feel there will be too much challenge other than Swindon, and of course Queens Park Rangers in the the League Cup. I feel we have an adequate squad to get a lot of points out of this month.

You are reading "AFC Wimbledon: Beasant's Peasants".

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