Raised in the EFL: Kelman on Southend wondergoal, Charlton move and USMNT dream.

As the EFL commemorates Youth Development Week, Charlton Athletic’s American forward Charlie Kelman exemplifies how the League enables young players to grow, learn, and succeed.

Kelman made his professional debut at the age of 17, and since then, he has had to adapt rapidly to the demands of adult football. “It’s been tough,” he acknowledges. “You need to learn on the job.

It’s been an up and down trip, but you learn to accept the lows alongside the highs. Never too high or too low. Work hard, try to work harder than anybody else, and it will eventually pay off.” His breakthrough came at Southend United, where he struck a wondergoal from beyond the halfway line.

“We were 3-0 down, my family was there, and I was nervous,” Kelman explains. “I noticed the custodian leave his line and told Simon Cox, ‘If you grab the ball, have a dig.’

Sometimes things simply happen; the ball fell perfectly, and the rest is history. That moment introduced him to the football world, but it also highlighted what the EFL is all about:

giving young players the opportunity to step up, make their mark, and learn lessons that will last their entire careers. Kelman has witnessed firsthand the intensity of the EFL and the foundation it provides young professionals.

Those experiences have been important to the Texas-raised attacker as he pursues his dream of playing for the US Men’s National Team. “It means everything,” he explains. “I grew up in Texas, so wearing the shirt – especially in Dallas, where my family still lives – would be amazing.

But simply putting on that clothing in general would signify everything.” Kelman, who currently plays in the Championship for Charlton, credits the EFL with influencing his mentality and game.

“Hard work and determination – they’re the foundations,” he tells me. “If you don’t put in the effort week after week, you won’t see any results. That’s what the EFL has given me, and that’s how I intend to play.

 

As Youth Development Week emphasises, the EFL continues to serve as a springboard for emerging talent. Charlie Kelman believes that growing up in the EFL has given him the strength and determination to pursue his football aspirations.

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