Twelve new first-year scholars join U18s

With the majority coming from internally, there will be 12 additions to the squad next season.

Two goalkeepers have joined the under-18s’ ranks with Noah Crisp and Mack Allan stepping up having been with the club from a young age.

Born in Poole, Crisp featured both in the league and the FA Youth Cup for the U18s last season. He is a mature character who is comfortable playing out and is also capable of making big saves.

Allan is the grandson of 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball and has been in the academy since under-8s. The stopper is dedicated and focussed, also capable of making important saves.

Amongst the new intake of 12 first-year scholars, five of them are defenders. Those being Jack Holman, Harry Redknapp, Oliver Eagle, Ollie Morgan and Nat Boot.

Having joined the academy at under-7s level, Holman has been with the Cherries ever since. He is an attacking right-back who has an impressive range of passes and crosses.

Redknapp is the grandson legendary Bournemouth manager Harry and nephew of former Liverpool midfielder Jamie. The centre-back is strong and athletic, and looks to lead the backline.

Eagle and Morgan both originate from Essex and are familiar with one another having played for the same Sunday league team in Romford. The former joined the club from West Ham United in March and the latter has been with the Cherries since under-10s.

Eagle is an intelligent footballer that can play anywhere across the backline or central midfield, while Morgan can play either full-back or as an outside centre-back, he’s intelligent, two footed and very hard working.

Boot, meanwhile, is an athletic centre-back who aims to use his attributes to dominate opponents and is able to play out from the back.

The midfielders amongst the new first-year scholars are Charlie Osborne and Karlos Gregory, while Remy Rees-Dottin can play out wide or as a forward.

Having grown up in Ringwood, Osborne has been with the club since joining the under-10s and is a hard-working, intelligent and forward-thinking player.

Gregory previously spent six years in Southampton’s academy before joining the Cherries’ under-13s. The midfielder is combative, while being technically capable and an intelligent passer.

Rees-Dottin also previously played for the Saints before moving to Bournemouth and is a powerful and exciting player who likes to take people on and create.

The list is completed by Ashley Clarke and Jonny Stuttle as two forward options amongst the 12 players.

Clarke joined the Cherries in the summer of 2021 after playing grassroots football for local teams in Portsmouth. He is an exciting, direct forward that can play right across the front line.

Having started his football journey with Weymouth at the age of five, Stuttle joined the club as an 11-year-old. Last season he had a prolific campaign for Dan Carroll’s under-16s, scoring 42 goals in 35 games. He is a mobile centre-forward who loves scoring goals.

Congratulations to all of the new first-year scholars on joining up with Connell’s under-18s and we look forward to watching their development continue with the Cherries.