AFC Wimbledon captain Alex Woodyard was a season-ticket holder at Charlton – and still achieved Valley dream despite rejection as a kid

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Wimbledon midfielder Alex Woodyard used to be a season-ticket holder at Charlton Athletic.

And the 27-year-old, raised in Dartford, has revealed how his loyalty to the SE7 outfit backfired when he was in their academy.

Woodyard was on Charlton’s books from the ages of 11 to 16 but was not offered a scholarship.

“It wasn’t very nice to be released,” he said. “Going back a few years before that I had the opportunity to go to another club, they offered me a scholarship straight away, but I chose Charlton because I supported them.

“It was gutting. It would have been a dream to have gone in full-time. But I have played at The Valley – just against them. It was one of my goals to play there.

“Of course I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bit more special when you play against the team you support. Because of my position my favourite players as a kid were Scott Parker, Matt Holland and Zheng Zhi.”

Asked if he was let go because of his physique or size, Woodyard said: “It was probably just they didn’t think I was good enough at that moment. When clubs say you are too small it often tends to be a lot of lies. Half the time they just don’t think you are going to make it, but it helps to soften the blow. I just used being released as motivation to get better. I’ve gone on to have a decent career so far.”

Woodyard has been skippering Wimbledon since Mark Robinson was appointed head coach.

“He’s not said I am the captain in an official capacity – he’s just given it to me. It’s nice that he obviously sees a player in me.

“We have quite a young team, so it is about helping the younger players and making sure they feel relaxed before the games. Quite often it is those lads who are fearless. They don’t think too much and just play their football.”