Charlie Stevens On The Start To Life As A PL2 Player In A Category 1 Academy

After the Development Squad's heart-breaking last minute 4-3 loss to Brentford on Monday, I interviewed the U21's captain Charlie Stevens as part of my News & Storytelling Unit for University.

In that interview, there was a focus on how it felt to see the club come from a Category 3 academy when he joined in his youth days, to now being a Category 1 academy. As well as this, he was asked on what he has made of the start of the season in the PL2, and players he looks up towards as he makes the step to try and break out into Marco Rose's first team squad.

The Welsh under-20 international has been at the heartbeat of this impressive start of coach Alan McConnell’s side. The Poole born midfielder has started every game this season. He has also picked up two goals and two assists in the last two games.

Stevens impressed in pre season for Cherries, as he was one of the five Academy players that went on tour with the first team, and now that he will be playing against better opposition in PL2, which will give him an even better chance of getting first team minutes soon.

He said: “Becoming a Category 1 Academy is something that the club have been striving to do for a long time. I think we have risen to the challenge well as a side.

“To be given the captaincy for this season is a pleasure and something I am enjoying a lot.”

As a side, Stevens has said that their goal as a team this season is to "compete with the best teams in the league". They have already done by beating Chelsea on the opening game of the season.

The academy’s elevated status is aimed at seeing an increase in homegrown players representing AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League and in Europe, which American owner Bill Foley wants to be a regular occurrence for the club, and not just a one off Europa League campaign.

The last homegrown player to break through and play for AFCB’s first team was Jaidon Anthony. He joined Brentford in the summer.

Stevens said: “Jaidon is someone that as a team we all look up towards. To see him playing Premier League football five years after his debut for Bournemouth is something we all want to achieve.”

Stevens hasn't been the only player that has impressed so far this season in PL2, As Malcom DaCosta Gonzalez has had a great start in the middle of the park, with Eugene Nyarko also scoring 2 goals in his last 2 games.