New signing Jon Meades on joining the U's
New arrival Jonathan Meades can't wait to get started after making his move to the Kassam Stadium. The former Cardiff and Bournemouth midfielder or full back, AFC Wimbledon's Young Player of the Year last season, joined the U's on a two year deal yesterday and told Yellow Player in an exclusive first interview that it's now just a case of waiting to report back for pre-season:
"I’m really looking forward to becoming part of the club and really looking forward to pre-season and getting started" the 21-year-old Welsh under 21 international said . "I’ve had a look at the stadium and the training facilities. The club’s definitely set up to get promoted and that’s definitely the aim this season."
Jon was part of the Bournemouth squad beaten by United in the Capital One Cup last season, although he was a spectator in that game:
"I had just joined Bournemouth a couple of days before and unluckily the papers hadn’t gone through, but I came here and sat in the stand and watched and it was a really good performance".
Jon is another of a good crop of youngsters to come through the ranks at Cardiff, which he believes has given him a solid grounding for a successful career:
"I joined the Academy at Cardiff at about eight or nine and progressed all the way through to the first team. Unfortunately it didn’t work out because of a couple of injuries but I learned a lot there, it’s a great club with great facilities and coaches and they progressed me as a player. I think they’ll have to get a bit more quality in after promotion, but obviously they’ve done amazingly well to get promoted from the Championship and if they get one or two in they’ve got a good chance of staying up next season."
Unusually, Jon had a loan spell in Norway at the start of his career, three months abroad which he thinks helped him develop on and off the pitch:
"I was only about 17 or 18 when I went out there and it was a bit different living on my own. The football was slightly different as well but I think I grew up and really improved as a player out there. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Jon now gets a summer to prepare before joining up with his new teammates at the end of June.
"I’m looking forward to meeting the lads here, I’ve heard they’re a great bunch. I know Tony Capaldi quite well from Cardiff, so I’ve spoken to him and he’s said great things about the club. I like to think I’m quite technical, I like to pass the ball but I’ll give 100% every game, I’ll work really hard for the team and hope I can add something going forward as well.
"I’ve got a training programme so I’ll stick to that and obviously relax as well and get the body back to where it’s supposed to be for the start of next season and I’m going to try and hit the ground running."
See the whole interview plus exclusives with Deane Smalley and Scott Davies, all in Yellow Player right now.