Jake Reeves Interview: “Playing For A Supporter-Owned Club Is Playing For The Fans”

Jake Reeves Interview: “Playing For A Supporter-Owned Club Is Playing For The Fans” Jake Reeves is a Midfielder currently on loan with Barnet in League 2; the 33-year-old is a product of the Tottenham Hotspur academy. In 2009, he moved across to West London to join League 1 Brentford. He made his debut for the Bees in a 4-4 against Huddersfield Town in May 2011. He was part of the team that celebrated promotion to League 1 at the end of the season. The South London-born player went out on loan to AFC Wimbledon in 2012. Although he made only 5 appearances that season, he developed a special bond with the fans and the club, which became part of his legacy as a player. After a spell with Swindon Town in 13/14, the 1.73m athletic player, who is highly regarded for his distribution and commitment, was permanently signed by the Dons ahead of the 15/16 season. Reeves went on to make 109 appearances, scoring 4 goals for the club. An unsettled spell followed, with the player playing for Bradford City, Notts County and Stevenage between 2017-23. In 22/23, Reeves earned promotion with the East Anglian side Stevenage to the third tier as second-placed finishers. Returning to the Cherry Red Records Stadium for his third spell at the club for the 23/24 season making 103 more appearances, in which he scored 5 goals. Reeves was recognised as Wimbledon’s Player Of The Year that season. I spoke to the London-born player ahead of his 250th appearance for Wimbledon in the League Cup against Newport County. Reeves transferred to Barnet on August 19th; the club sit at the top of the table 7 games into the 26/27 season. Jake, what positives did you take away from the pre-season with Wimbledon that give you confidence the side will be out of the danger zone this season? “Preparation has been good; it was a long, hot summer, but the side is in good shape and have been playing well; we scored in every pre-season game. “I’m especially pleased for Sas [Aaron Sasu], who got 4 in the league and added another 3 in pre-season; he needed that confidence booster. Overall positive signs for the season ahead.” What was missing in 25/26 that had you fighting until the last day of the season for survival? “You can see how tight this league is. We started off well; we are at a better level now than we have been in recent seasons, but we narrowly missed out in a handful of games by just one goal (9 games). “It’s such a competitive division that you cannot afford to slip up like that. If we had picked up those points, it would have been a lot less tight last season. We now know the quality we are up against this season will be different.” Wimbledon is one of two clubs in the UK, Motherwell being the other in the SPL, that have adopted the fan ownership model, similar to the Bundesliga’s 50+1, meaning that the club are majority fan-owned . What does that mean to you as club captain? “It’s a huge thing; the club is tremendous. There are a lot of clubs not run like this, as it’s a sign of the loyalty the club has towards their fans. “For us players, we know we are playing for the fans, for their badge, and they obviously have all the love in the world for their club. It is part of the community, and that is a great feeling.” You gained promotion with Wimbledon twice and lifted the trophy as captain. What does that mean to you as, by now, something of a club legend? “I felt a great sense of pride, almost like being a father to your kids; this club means a lot. You take on so many responsibilities as club captain, which adds additional pressure but also insight, and it takes a lot to gain promotion. Promotion is an amazing feeling.” You are 33 now and have played with great clubs and achieved a lot. Do you have plans for a future after football? “I’d like to play as long as I can. I love the game; I have plenty to give to football. I am also doing my UEFA coaching badges at the moment and would like to be able to take on more responsibilities; let’s see what comes up. For now, I would like to play another couple of seasons.” You grew up in South London; you grew up watching Charlton on the terraces. What is unique about playing at Wimbledon? “I grew up on a council estate in Greenwich called Horne Park, and that will always be part of you. It’s very much like that here at Wimbledon; I still recognise faces in the crowd from when I first played here at Kings Meadow. This is a special club.” Let me ask you two questions about international football. Wimbledon players Moritz Volz, Lutz Pfannenstiel, and Dean Thomas all played in the Bundesliga . Do you have a German team you follow? “I do watch some German football; there is more of it on TV now. Dortmund is a club I would love to go to sometime; the yellow wall is stunning.” You have had a career in football over the past 20 years, including with top clubs like Spurs and Brentford, and have seen many changes in that time. The last World Cup was something very different to past World Cups: 48 teams, more prize money, and across three countries. FIFA recently proposed selling off part of the World Cup to investors; is that something you would support? “I think it’s ludicrous, frankly; the World Cup works the way it is. I hope they don’t go ahead with this for the sake of the game. It’s not like FIFA really needs even more money, is it?”