Cobham Kids: Continued

Lets pay some attention to how good Cobham is just for a little while...

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gents,

Today I am continuing a series that I have been writing for a few weeks now, I am looking back and in to the future on how our academy creates excellent professional footballers, whether that is for Chelsea or anyone else.

Lets please not use the comments to slate the board or anything about the young signings we have made over the last couple of years and just appreciate Cobham for being Cobham.

So todays ‘Cobham Kid’ in questions is none other than current ‘Cobham Kid’ and current first team squad member…… Alfie Gilchrist.

The first two players in this series, had short term spells with the club and in the first team and so far Alfie has as well, but needless to say there have been no rumours around any form of departure and he is one of a couple that I can really see sticking around the first team squad for years to come.

Alfie joined Chelsea as an under-11 from local rivals Queens Park Rangers, He was born into a massive Chelsea supporting family and that is where his love of the blues stems from. Midway through the 22/23 season he was appointed as Chelsea FC Mens Under-21 team captain.

During that season he tallied up over 30 games for our U21s and he was then handed a place in the squad for the first teams penultimate game of the season away to Manchester United under the management of Frank Lampard.

He was then rightfully taken on the mens’ first team tour of the USA in pre season of 2023/24, he featured in 2 of the 5 games during pre-season and impressed Mauricio Pochettino for him to promote him to the first team squad for the upcoming season.

So far this season he has made 11 first team appearances and has really impressed the fans with his no nonsense and ‘bleeding blue’ approach to defending.

He can play anywhere along a back 3 or 4 and versatility is a massive part of his game and a big reason for his involvement with the first team squad this season.

He is 20 years old and under contract with the club until the summer of 2025, there seems to be an option to extend from both sides, so there is less panic involved with contract situations currently.

I hope you all enjoyed this.

Thanks for reading.

Luke Rushbrook