AFC Wimbledon captain Barry Fuller dropped in for a chat with young footballers at Ursuline High School for Girls on Tuesday April 25.

The comprehensive, which teaches girls aged 11 to 18, has already won the under-16’s Surrey County Cup, and has a team in the under-18’s final. The Wimbledon captain took part in a question and answer session with year seven girls as part of the English Football League’s Community Day of Action.

Mr Fuller said: “It has been great to come here and see the enthusiasm of the girls. Getting girls into football should be promoted a bit more. There are a lot of girls who enjoy playing football, but a lot of them feel there are not enough opportunities for them. Having three girls myself, I am all up for trying to promote it.”

“The AFC Wimbledon Ladies team are flying at the moment, winning trophies all over the place, and it is good to see our Foundation coaches coming into schools to help out.”

AFC Wimbledon Foundation Coach Emma O’Connor has been coordinating student football opportunities at the school for the last three years.

Rachel Corrigan is a PE teacher at the school. She said: “It has been great having Barry with us. The girls are really inspired by his story because Barry has had barriers in his career and it is good for the girls to hear that these can be overcome.

“The appetite for football at Ursuline School is very big. We have successful teams from years seven and eight right the way through to year 13.

“AFC Wimbledon have done a great job in helping to coach our year seven squad this year. This is an excellent end to a great season for us.”

AFC Wimbledon are competing in League One this season for the first time in the team’s history. Captained by Mr Fuller, the football club beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0 in the League Two final at Wembley last May.