Al-Hamadi is injured, isn't he?

Not playing today, but a nice view of Ali Al-Hamadi and recognition that his performances at AFC Wimbledon are the reason he's made this list. [Link]

The Iraqi Lion not even on the bench

Robinson clearly got it wrong at first team management level but that doesn't stop it being a good approach for academies, not only for their football education but also helping equip them for life where 90% won't be professional footballers.

Silk - yes, but his players are at a level where they should (in theory) be able to play without a manager. In our case, we had a load of clueless kids dealing with more experienced pros against them, who were being made to make decisions they shouldn't have been

REPD/Kentish - Carlo Ancelotti has had a successful, winning career allowing players freedom to work it out for themselves. He once famously said how can I tell Zidane how to play attacking football. He sets up structures to allow his greatest threats the freedom to work it out for themselves.

I picked up Papers in my headlights as i drove from Eastleigh's ground to the main road.

REPD-Ashford(Kent)and Chipstead are the only 2 venues that Papers took a lift from me in my car as I feared for his safety due to lack of pavements

Curtis wins goal of the month for the 4th time in a row, January was Mansfield, Feb was Barrow, March MK and April Walsall

I'm sure the pub near Robinhood gate start of kingston hill has been gone for a long time Lurks. As for Cove Sparters,maybe the fireworks blinded you from seeing the lovely pub (thatched Cottage) on the road very near the ground😂 and the monkey puzzle pub near chessington and hook,we went there to warm up after seeing the tarmac tented bar in sub zero temperatures at the ground😂

Kentish - getting the players to work it out themselves when they're playing against other Academy kids is one thing. Doing the same against grown adults (on the pitch and in the dugout) who are a hundred times smarter is another...

Nice Guardian article but it also brings back memories of Mark Robinson standing on the touchline saying nothing as the players worked out new and exciting ways to toss away a League 1 lead.

Morning all. I seem to remember Ashford in Kent being slap bang in the middle of nowhere.

Debenham certainly had a pub not far from their ground. I had a pre-match drink and meal in it.

Big article in the Guardian on our academy today, spotlightling Michael Hamilton with comments from Robinson. [Link]

Huddersfield in 1986 was my first dons away game outside London, my dad decided to go because he said that Wimbledon getting this chance would never happen again and we went in his FX4 early that morning from Witney and it took forever, the journey there and back was an odyssey - I’d never git that wet before but great memories of going to football with my dad.

How how how are the premier league going to approve Everton’s takeover [Link]

Horley and Hartley Wintney were in the middle of nowhere too, as were Reading Town and Bedfont

Spartan, bashley had the rising sun a mere 5-10min walk from the ground

Spit is the cavern the nearest? There’s another if you walk the other way down the A3 near Robin Hood gate that might be nearer.

Salisbury City was miles from a pub

Spit - there must have been a few clubs in our CCL days that had a pub further away than CWUFC I would have thought. I don't remember seeing a pub near Cove, Chessington & Hook or Ash Utd.

Are we getting new kits for the coming season? looking on the online shop all 3 kits are listed as 23/24 yet they are all still on sale at full price, usually when we’re going to change a few weeks before the end of the season there’s a sale on all the old kits

Spit. I'm guessing a bar at their ground doesn't count as a Pub? Were they to insert a spiral staircase to the roof, then that may be sufficient to upgrade to a pub. Template the Phoenix.

Is Colliers wood united the furthest ground from any pub? CAVERN probably, but now thinking grounds with furthest pubs.