While Paul Ince and the first team flew to Portugal for their pre-season training camp, Mike Dove's Under 18s hit the East Sussex coast in preparation for the new season.

The Dons Director of Youth and Community, his assistant Paul Heald and academy physio Paul Collins took a party of 12 to Eastbourne for a week for some hard work and team bonding.

All but one of the 11 scholars for this season travelled, goalkeeper Kurt Fox the only absentee, along with first-year pro Sam Collins and second-year pro Sam Page as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

"It was arranged at short notice," said Mike. "Once it was decided that the first team would be going to Portugal I thought it was a good opportunity to take the boys away. Paul Collins knew the area well after going to university there so he made a few calls and we travelled on the Tuesday afternoon.

"We stayed in a fantastic little B&B, we pretty much had the run of the place and were very well looked after by great hosts.

"We gave them some free time in the evening but most of the boys decided to stay in and play cards (for minimal stakes!)."

Wednesday saw the players given the chance to use a brand new sports facility nearby, but Mike had something far less technologically advanced lined up for them in the afternoon.

MK Dons Under 18s in training last week.

 

"In the afternoon we took them for a three-mile run along Beachy Head but there were no moans and groans, they got on with it and were very professional about it.

After a tough day's training, the players were treated to a night out at the local cinema. Despite going to see the action-packed Die Hard 4.0, the excitement wasn't enough for Paul Collins.

"I thought the players would be tired but they were all fine, it was Paul who was spark out next to me," said Mike. "He slept through most of the film."

Paul Heald joined the party on the Thursday morning just in time for another busy day, starting with the pool and a milestone for striker Stephane Koffi.

"We used the pool to do some fitness work on Thursday morning which is good for the players conditioning and is less high-impact than running.

Mike Dove gives some guidance to his under-18 side.

"As a non-swimmer, Stephane completed a full width of the pool unaided and he was congratulated by everybody afterwards."

After lunch, the group took part in a crazy golf tournament with the bottom four players facing a forfeit play-off. The quartet was reduced to a duo by a reactions arcade game, leaving the bottom two with the uneviable task of a dance-off for bottom place.

Koffi and Ollie Thorne it was that slipped on their dancing shoes for battle, again on an arcade game, but Mike refused to reveal the winner. After all - what goes on tour, stays on tour!

"After a football session in the afternoon, Healdy and I chatted over a few orange juices while the boys were off winning cuddly toys for their girlfriends on the pier.

"We did a recovery session in the pool on Friday morning before travelling home in the afternoon.

"It was an excellent week, we achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve. It gave the new lads a chance to mix in with last year's players which is always constructive and the behaviour of every single player was exemplary.

"I must again give a mention to Paul Collins, who did very well to arrange such a good trip at such short notice."

Travelling party: Laurie Walker, Miles Mitchell-Coop, Tom Williams, Charlie Shuter, Ollie Thorne, Liam Kelly, Stephane Koffi, David King, Daniel Delderfield, Dan Powell, Sam Page, Sam Collins.