After U18 player Gunner Elliott made his first international appearance, for Malta against England, Justin Tellus, head of academy recruitment, provided an update on Gunner’s development.
He said: “It’s great for Gunner, I’m really pleased for him and his family.
“He’s a Buxton and Derbyshire lad and to be the first Chesterfield player to represent a national team against England at that level is a real honour for him and a big honour for the club as well.
“We’re really proud of him and we got to watch the game as well. We were supporting him from afar and he had a good 65 minutes, managed a good shot on target and worked really hard.
“Obviously England are a class act and he can benefit hugely from that experience.”
Speaking on Gunner’s time at the club so far, Justin added: “He’s been with us for about a year. We picked him up from grassroots then he went into Derbyshire Schoolboys.
“He only turned 16 a couple of months ago. He’s gone from grassroots through to schoolboys, onto Chesterfield Football Club and now to a national team game against England. So it’s just great, we’re all behind him.
“It’s a massive honour for us, a massive honour for him.
“Just the experience and development of playing at that level with those type of players is just going to be hugely beneficial for him personally and his development pathway.”
Justin played in Malta professionally for a host of clubs and featured in the UEFA Cup for both Birkirkara and Valetta.
On how the Maltese link helped Gunner’s international call-up develop, Justin said: “It was a bit of a coincidence, really. I was speaking to his mother when he was coming in and she mentioned that her cousin had played with me in Malta.
“We sort of tracked back the heritage and the grandmother and the grandfather were Maltese, so it started from there really and we flagged it up to the Maltese FA.
“They came to watch him a few times. Funnily enough, he bagged two against Walsall when they came to see him, which helped him.
“Then they started the procedure of obviously getting his EU passport, a Maltese passport, which was quite quick and swift.
“Next thing he’s on a plane and trying to get into the squad, which he did. Fantastic to get from the 36-man squad down into the 20 and then actually starting the game and just goes to show what effort and mindset he’s got to go abroad and represent himself and the club so well.”
After beating Walsall in the Youth Alliance League a few weeks ago, the U18s face them again in the FA Youth Cup this Tuesday.
Looking ahead to the game, Justin said: “It’s a big game for the lads, Gunner won’t be here because he’s playing the last game against Latvia.
“Hopefully we can have a good run in the FA Youth Cup. They’ve been fantastic in the league, unbeaten in the last seven games, so we’re looking to carry that into the FA Youth Cup.
“We urge all supporters to get down to Alfreton on Tuesday night and get behind the lads.
“Hopefully we can replicate our league form in the cup as well.”
The FA Youth Cup fixture against Walsall is taking place at Alfreton’s Impact Arena, with a 7pm kick-off next Tuesday evening.
Prices
Over-18s: £3
Under-18s: £1