AFC Bournemouth
Coach Shaun Cooper knows his AFC Bournemouth development squad players will benefit greatly if they get the chance to lock horns with former Cherries striker Sam Vokes.
Wales international Vokes could feature for Wycombe Wanderers when they meet Cooper’s team at Brockenhurst’s Grigg Lane headquarters on Friday (7.45pm).
The pre-season friendly is the first of a double-header for the Chairboys during a mini-break in the New Forest with Gareth Ainsworth’s team facing Southampton B at Staplewood on Saturday.
Cooper played alongside Vokes as the Lymington-raised frontman progressed through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth under the tutelage of Joe Roach.
Now 32, Vokes had just turned 17 when he was handed his first-team debut, the teenager playing his part in a 2-0 win over League One leaders Nottingham Forest in December 2006.
Cooper, who also started as struggling Cherries recorded a shock victory over high-flying Forest, wants his young players to savour the opportunity to pit their wits against Vokes.
He told afcb.co.uk: “I remember the Forest game but I can go further back than that with Sam.
“Before he made his debut, I was coming back from injury and we played together in a reserve-team game. It was the first time I had come across him.
“I just remember thinking he had good movement and made good runs in behind. I was playing centre-back and it was easy for me to clip balls into him. I saw his intelligence straight away.
“He was a big lad for his age and he played up front with Brett Pitman so we had a young strike-force but both very good players.
“Sam’s attitude was brilliant and he was always unfazed by anything that came his way. I think that’s why he’s gone on to have the career he has. You could see very early that he had strong attributes for a striker.
“It’s perfect timing for a player like Chris Francis to come up against him and these are the challenges he needs at his age and at this stage of his career.
“For everybody in the team, even the midfielders looking to screen him, it will be a good challenge but I’m looking forward to seeing Chris up against him.”
The fixture came about due to links between Wycombe assistant boss Richard Dobson, local referee Gary Parsons and Brockenhurst secretary Matt Parfect, who all live in the New Milton area and have an association with Hordle Spurs Youth.
It was arranged some time before the Chairboys were linked with a move for Brockenhurst’s Christie Ward, brother of former Cherries goalkeeper Calum Ward, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder signing for Wycombe earlier this month.
Previewing the game, Cooper added: “We have played them during international breaks in the past couple of seasons and it’s a tough game for us and a tough challenge for the lads.
“There are times when we have good spells of possession but breaking down their physical barrier has been very hard.
“On the flip side, any time we give away a set-piece or something like that they are a real threat and a handful.
“They have big, physical players and very experienced players. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to and one I know the players will enjoy and certainly learn from.”
Click here for information on how to purchase tickets for the game.
