It was a proud moment for the Chin family on Tuesday night as academy graduate Richard Chin earned his full league debut.
The 19-year-old featured for 72 minutes against Forest Green Rovers and left the field to loud applause from the Charlton faithful.
“It was a great privilege,” Chin told CharltonTV. “Ever since I was a little boy, joining the Charlton academy, it was always my goal to play in the first team.
“When I was younger I thought, ‘I really just want to get into the U18s.’ That was the target I always had in the lower age groups of the academy, but when I achieved that milestone I had my eye on making my debut in the league.
“To actually make my debut in the league, it was just a dream come true and I had to remind myself that I actually have got to where I set out to when I was a little kid," beamed the full-back. "Obviously I want more but at the same time it was a really good experience just to remember.”
Chin had several family members and friends in attendance at The Valley to witness what waas a special night for him personally.
“I had about 10 to 15 people that came to watch, so it was a really good experience and a nice moment after the game to see everyone that came to watch," he said.
“It brought people together; normally we only meet up at Christmas or for a birthday, so the fact that they can all come to watch at The Valley and see me make my dreams come true is a really good moment for everyone.”
The midfielder-turned-defender, who joined the club at the age of six, detailed his footballing journey to date.
“My Sunday league team came over for a round-robin tournament because Charlton obviously thought our Sunday league team was quite good. There were coaches there watching and from there we just had a little training group and that’s how that age group started.
“I remember my mum just took us down some wrong turn. We were just driving and driving and we realised it wasn’t the training ground! But we got there on time in the end and that was the start."
The youngster reserved particular praise for the club's academy staff, who have overseen his progression over a 13-year period.
“All of the staff that have helped me on my journey." he added. "I really appreciate all of their help and support. The likes of people like Rhys Williams [the Academy's Head of Coaching] that have been there since I was six and come up with me through the academy. It’s been really good and it’s just really nice to see them still here.
"The fact that Anthony has now come up just makes everything a lot smoother. I’ve been working with him since I was an U15 and having the same messages and the same expectations really helps. They know what to expect from me and they obviously know me very well as a player in terms of what areas of my game I need to improve on, so it’s just made the whole process really smooth.”
When asked about how helpful his senior teammates have been while settling in, Chin said: “They've been really good, really warm and really welcoming. They’ve just made me feel really comfortable. It’s a good group, there’s a good spirit and just positive vibes.
“Every experience I get at high levels and playing around the first team, I just naturally want more and more of it but at the same time I just have to take each day as it comes in training, do the best that I can and take my next opportunity when I’m given it."
(Article by Tyler Rowlinson)