Joe Edwards enjoyed a dream start as Millwall head coach last weekend but it was not the first time that he had represented the club.
The 37-year-old, who was raised in New Malden and schooled in Surbiton, joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of 16.
But Edwards told the South London Press this week that he had one match as a junior for the Lions.
“Me and my dad were talking about it the other day,” said the Millwall boss, who watched his new team thump Sheffield Wednesday
4-0 on Saturday. “When kids are eight or nine then they do the rounds and play for everyone.
“As a right winger, I represented Millwall against Tottenham. It’s likely that I would have been eight years old. I believe I scored a couple goals, which wasn’t typical of me.
“I ultimately joined Chelsea.” The club has its headquarters in Cobham, so we’ll put it down to location that I ended up going there.
While with the Blues, Edwards switched to a holding midfielder before being cut loose at the age of 16.
AFC Wimbledon was his next destination.
“In terms of my physical development, I was a very late developer,” said Edwards, who briefly served as the England U20 head coach prior to taking over at The Den from Gary Rowett.
“When I played a few games for the U18s, I probably had the body of a 13-year-old, just like you do in the U16 age group when they are evaluating you.” I was up against guys who had thick facial hair, massive quads, and were just starting to grow. I found it to be difficult.
“I went through a rough time when I was sixteen. I wasn’t making changes to the game or developing it. My athletic development occurred when I was 17, 18, and 19, and it cost me a spot at Chelsea. It was unquestionably the proper choice.
“I had some issues with my knees, which weren’t career-threatening. I joined AFC Wimbledon during the club’s very early stages. I can’t remember now what division they were in, but it was lower league stuff.
“I was probably spoilt with how good football looked and felt for me as a young kid. Although Chelsea’s academy kicked on even more once the Roman Abramovich reign went into full flow, and the investment came in, it was still a great academy before that.
“The coaching I was receiving and the players I was playing with were way ahead of my friends at school. I found the drop, without sounding disrespectful, tough to take. I had that transfer from playing academy football with some top players, England internationals, and football with a very certain style, to that level.
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