Keenan Gough reflects on the early days of his career, playing for Kings Hill FC as a child before moving to Sky Bet Championship outfit Charlton Athletic.
The midfielder has spent most of his life at the Addicks, progressing through the academy ranks and captaining the U21s team before signing his first professional contract in June 2023.
The 20-year-old has played five times for Charlton and is now at the Gas after signing on loan during the summer transfer window, impressing in his starts against York City and Newport County.
Looking back on his time in football so far, Gough shared his football firsts...
What was your first pair of football boots?
"I think it would have been the Copa Mundial boots."
What was your first football kit?
"I remember a little England top. I've still got it in my room! It's tiny, and it has the number four and my name on it. So it would have been that."
How about the first team you ever played for?
"A little local club where I grew up called Kings Hill Football Club. Great club. I was there from U6s to U9s, and then I moved on to Charlton from there."
What was your first football memory?
"I don’t remember the exact game, but we went with Kings Hill, actually. We went and watched an England game together, and it was pretty cool because it was my first time at Wembley, just watching it. It was an eye-opener, so it was good."
Who was your first football idol?
"I think it was Zinedine Zidane, to be fair. I think my dad used to show me clips of him, not that I play anything like him, but I think he was definitely an idol. I liked the way he moved with the ball. He was unique in the way he did things and an unreal technician."
What was the first piece of advice you remember?
"It was something like, ‘tough times don’t last, tough people do.’ I think that was one of the first bits of advice."
Who was your first friend in football?
"It would have been one of my schoolmates back in Kings Hill days, back in primary school. I have two close mates I used to play with at Kings Hill, who I still talk to now, so that’s good.
"They don’t play football anymore, I think maybe some uni teams. They definitely would, if we were to have a kick about, but no, they don’t."
What was your first senior appearance?
"My first senior appearance would have been for Charlton against Cambridge in one of the cups. I came on for the last 15 minutes or so. I had nerves and excitement on the bench. I was just ready to come on. The manager made quite a few subs before, and I was ready. Then he put me on in the end, and it was a really good moment for me."
When was the first time that you were recognised in public?
"I can’t remember the exact first time, but I remember I was in a JD Gym back home, and a Charlton fan came up to me, and he wanted a picture at the gym. So that was quite cool."
