Youth Team Gunning For Glory - New crop of stars eager to impress

AFC Bournemouth's youth team have started the season in a positive frame of mind with promising results against Academy Clubs Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth.

A late goal sunk the Cherries against Charlton in a 3-2 scoreline and a strong Portsmouth side were held to a 1-1 draw.

Youth team coach Brian O'Donnell said, "Everyone is settled in they're all working really hard. It's been a high tempo pre-season training programme and the lads have gone into games accordingly.

"We ran Charlton very close and you only have to look at Portsmouth to see the gap between us. They have thirty-one players in their Under 18s many of which have been scouted from abroad and in some cases the club has paid money for them.

We have a young squad primarily of first year's and for a young team we performed brilliantly. we matched them and we were better team in second half."

Four second year scholars from last season's youth team (Vokes, McQuoid, Partington, Pryce) were awarded professional contracts while four others including new second year players Hutchings (pictured) and Davidson featured in the first team last season.

There is a lot of excitement regarding the opportunities available and the new crop of players are eager to take their chances. O'Donnell added, "I think the first year players are realy encouraged by what they've seen. They all see what's available to them and lots of them have belief they can make a name for themselves.

I don't think there's any pressure to surpass last season's achievements. Not every team can get same levels through each year, but the curent second year's are good quality and I like to think there's every chance they can be a success."