Sussex striker makes history for new club

The 18-year-old giant striker from Horsham has ensured whatever happens in his burgeoning career in the future, his treble will go down in the record books.

The goals, two towering headers and an outrageous Beckham-esque lob from the halfway line, added up to the first hat-trick by an AFC Wimbledon player.

It was an astonishing league debut by the 6ft 4in frontman who a couple of months ago was turning out for Forest in County League division three.

But then everything about football's newest kids on the block borders on the unbelievable. The fans of the club previously known as Wimbledon and now dubbed Franchise FC are turning up in their thousands to support the team they acknowledge as the Real Dons.

Said Russell: "It is amazing. We are playing in front of crowds of 3,000 to 4,000. The fans are just incredible. When you play in an atmosphere like that, it makes you a better player because you want to give so much back to the supporters."

Most of the players in the AFC Wimbledon team have never experienced anything like it but Russell has made the biggest step up of all from performing in front of the proverbial two men and a dog.

Yet he would never have been involved at all last Saturday if he had not had a change of mind.

Earlier this season, the Combined Counties League club announced Russell as a new signing, then that he had left the club without kicking a ball for them.

Explained manager Terry Eames: "Ali wanted to play a few midweek games for us and still play for Forest, but I said that was no good to me. I told him to go away and think about it, but I thought that was it.

"He had never played outside of Horsham and I think he was worried about leaving his mates behind and going somewhere where he didn't know anyone. But he came training with us and enjoyed it and said he wanted to come back."

Russell has no regrets now about the move.

"The whole team are brilliant. It's like they are a big family. There is an amazing spirit at the club. The players are all like brothers."

Russell, who got his chance because of an injury to former Chelsea player Joe Sheerin, put AFC ahead after eight minutes against Cobham, added another on 17 minutes and completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half.

The second goal would have brought the house down on any Premiership ground.

This was how Russell saw it: "The goalkeeper came out to the edge of his area to head the ball clear. It was a spur of the moment thing, but I knew if I hit the target it would go in. It just sailed over his head into the net."

Russell's treble doubled his tally since he joined the club. He had previously netted twice after coming on as a substitute, including a late winner when the Dons came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 against North Greenford.

He was also on the scoresheet when he started in a London Senior Cup tie against Brimsdown and then hit the goal which won the match in a penalty shoot-out.

If the names of the opposition, teams like Frimley Green, Hartley Wintney and Walton Casuals, are unfamiliar to followers of Sussex football, it is also part of a learning curve for the players of the game's newest and brightest outfit, and for their fans, who not long ago were watching Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

The fact that AFC have now gone ten matches unbeaten, including seven league wins on the bounce, since losing to Withdean at Worthing at the beginning of September suggests they are learning fast.

Eames, who has just been made director of football as well as manager, believes the club could emulate the old Wimbledon and go through the ranks to join the Football League.

"We are looking to the future. It is onwards and upwards from here, and I can really see us going places.

"If we finish in the top three in the Combined Counties, we could get promoted to Ryman League one next season and in the Conference in three years."

Eames, a former Wimbledon player, coincidentally has followed the same route as Russell to the new Dons.

He lives in Horsham and six months ago was coaching Forest. He believes Russell has the ability to go a long way in the game.

"He has come on three-fold in the last year. I could see he had a bit of talent, and we worked on that last season at Forest. I liked his attitude and his application.

"There are a lot of players in County League three who have been through the mill, but he always handled himself well and wasn't intimidated.

"He isn't afraid to go in where it hurts, and if he keeps on progressing in the same way he could go all the way with us or even move on to a higher standard."

Eames makes no secret of the fact that the former Forest schoolboy and Roffey Robins youth team player with the trademark white boots will have a battle on his hands to keep his place in the side when club captain Sheerin is fit.

"Joe Sheerin and Kevin Cooper are my No. 1 strikers, and I have just signed a 17-year-old from Arsenal, Chris Theodore, but it's all about building up a good squad of players. It's a long season. We've probably got another 30-odd matches to play."

For the time being at least, however, the burly security guard looks destined to play an important role.

He is determined to make the most of his chance while Sheerin, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, is on the sidelines.

"Football is my life, and I want to play in as high a standard as I can. Hopefully that will be with AFC Wimbledon. "