AFC Wimbledon transfer window recruit on tough baptism at Portsmouth and his target after Sunderland loan switch

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

“I got thrown in very early,” is some understatement from new AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass on his first exposure to first-team football.

The 25-year-old stopper was just 16 when he was named on the bench as a 16-year-old in Portsmouth’s EFL Cup win over Peterborough in 2014.

Loan spells at Salisbury and Torquay followed before he made his first start for Pompey two years later, aged 18, in an EFL Cup defeat to Coventry.

After being an unused sub 76 times in the league, Bass made his first start in a 2-0 win at Peterborough before the 2017-18 campaign ended.

“It was a tough one,” Bass told the South London Press of his wait for his league debut.

“I bided my time and kept working hard and luckily, in the end, I got there. It did feel like a bit of a slog before I got that first appearance.

“It was something that I learned a lot from. It is a position where you only really get a chance when there is an injury or something comes up.”

Bass’ first prolonged run in the starting line-up came at the start of 2020 when he displaced Craig MacGillivray.

“It came out of the blue,” explained Bass, who was 21 at the time. “The manager pulled me in on New Year’s Eve and told me I would be playing. I was a little bit surprised. Craig had been good the year before and established himself.”

But 13 games into his extended spell in the Portsmouth first team, Covid-19 brought football to a halt. The final League One table was decided on a points-per-game basis.

“It was a real shame how the year ended with Covid,” said Bass.  “It was a tough time for everyone. I had just started my first run as an established goalkeeper, only for it to be cut short.

“I had personal highlights from that year – everyone kept telling me I had a good save percentage.”

Bass’ emergence alerted Premier League clubs, with Crystal Palace reportedly keen at the time on bringing the keeper to Selhurst Park.

“No one knew what was going to happen because of covid,” said Bass. “Football came back but it was at a stage where no one wanted to pay big money for anyone. I wasn’t too fussed because I thought I was coming back to play at Portsmouth.”

But Bass dropped out of the side and was forced to leave on an emergency loan to Southend halfway through the campaign.

“It was an annoying time for me,” he said. “But it’s something I have learned from. I didn’t come back in the right frame of mind.

“I wasn’t getting any games or playing after where I felt I had done well. It was strange to be out on the sidelines again, watching people time. It was a frustrating time.

“It’s a spell I have come back stronger from.”

Bass’ Portsmouth career came to an end after another loan away from Fratton Park at Bradford under Mark Hughes. He made a permanent switch to Sunderland at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Bass spent the entire Championship campaign on the bench – pushing young England keeper Anthony Patterson. He made just two appearances – both in cup competitions – for the Black Cats.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my year at Sunderland – it was a great time with a great fanbase and squad,” said Bass. “We overachieved massively from where we thought we would be.

“Pato had the season of his career – he had never played 46 games straight off from the off before. Out of those 46 games, he barely put a foot wrong.

“He’s so calm and composed. If things don’t go his way, he doesn’t get in a fuss – he carries on with it.

“Weirdly, from such a young keeper, I learned a lot. We bounced off each other really well and pushed one another in training.”

Bass has joined the Dons on a season-long loan and started the final pre-season test – a 2-0 win at Wealdstone last weekend – before tomorrow’s League Two opener at Grimsby Town.

The fact he was the pick between the posts for the match against the National League side – with boss Johnnie Jackson talking pre-match about approaching it like it was a competitive fixture, indicates he is set to be the number one.

“The main goal for me is to come down here, see how it goes, and if I get in the team, then take the opportunity and see where it takes me,” he said.

“I have been in football for so long now that it feels like I’m getting old! But I’m still only 25 and my best years are ahead of me.

“I would love to settle down at a club where you feel valued and set up a base and a home where I can stay and enjoy playing my football.

“It’s a great club and great people here, so hopefully we can do well this season and be successful.”