AFC Bournemouth U23’s will provide Gary Johnson’s side with their final pre-season test before the National League campaign kicks off at Plainmoor on Saturday 21st August.
Who’s the boss?
Shaun Cooper previously coached Bournemouth’s under 13s side before he was appointed manager for the under 21’s in October 2018. A former Cherries player himself, he made 240 appearances for the club’s first team between 2005 and 2012.
Cooper enjoyed success during his first year in charge when his side won the Central League Cup and also made the final 16 of the Premier League Cup. The following season his side topped their group in the Premier League Cup and qualified for the final 16 once more.
Player to Watch
Ryan Glover has progressed through the Cherries’ academy since his arrival in 2009; he signed his first professional contract in May 2019.
The 20-year-old has previously enjoyed loan spells at Weymouth and Hemel Hempstead and appeared in the Bournemouth U23’s side that faced United last September.
The midfielder was part of the Cherries’ U21 side that won the Central League Cup following a 2-0 victory over Carlisle in April.
The youngster has spent most of his summer with the first team but captained the U21 side in their friendly against Portsmouth last week. Speaking to afcbTV following the Portsmouth game, Glover described how the current pre-season campaign has been the best he’s ever had.
Played for Both
United summer signing Keelan O’Connell progressed through the academy at AFC Bournemouth, his hometown club. The 21-year-old made six appearances for Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton during a loan spell in 2018/19.
O’Connell was in the Cherries U23’s starting line-up as their number 11 when the two sides met in a pre-season friendly last summer. He was also a part of the U21 side that lifted the Central League Cup in April and scored goals in friendly victories over Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United towards the end of last season.
Previous Encounter
Torquay 3 – 0 AFC Bournemouth U23’s, 15th September 2020, pre-season friendly.
United came out on top when the two sides last met in a pre-season clash in the build-up to the 2020/21 season. Goals from Dean Moxey, Josh Umerah and Olaf Koszela in the second half saw Gary Johnson’s side win 3-0.
Moxey opened the scoring on the hour mark, with Umerah doubling United’s lead with a volley just moments later before Koszela made it three with nine minutes left on the clock.
TUAFC v Bournemouth U23’s | 10/08/21 7:45pm KO | Plainmoor, TQ1 3PS | Online Tickets