The real Joe Gelhardt - Wigan Athletic head of academy recruitment Kenny Williams

Wigan Athletic head of academy recruitment Kenny Williams gives an insight into Joe Gelhardt - the player and the person - to mark the Young England striker's 18th birthday.
Joe GelhardtJoe Gelhardt
Joe Gelhardt

“He came here as an Under-11 from a team called Marine Whites, where he was pulling up a lot of trees.

“We were playing at St John Rigby, and it took us a few months to get him signed.

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“I remember us playing Liverpool, when he still wasn’t signed here, and I think he scored four or five goals which caused us to panic because you knew they’d be after him.

“He did go to look at Everton when he was 13, he exercised his right, and I actually went over with him.

“He played against Manchester United, scored a goal...but then there was nothing back from Everton.

“His mum hadn’t wanted him to leave here, he came back here and he was the ‘King’ – a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond.

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“And he’s never looked back, he’s continued to progress through the age groups.

"I remember one junior game against Huddersfield, after 15 minutes, one of the coaches said: ‘Joffy could get 10 here’.

“And he did. We won something like 10-7 and he scored the lot!

“I’ve still got his boots and shirt from that game, as a nice little memento.

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“Their manager came over afterwards and said: ‘We’re actually a good side. He’s some player that lad’.

“Most oppositions would ask his name after the game, but we’d be chasing them off the premises!

“He scored four against Manchester United once, Mason Greenwood was playing for them, and Joffy was the biggest star on the field by a mile.

“None of the international scouts had been to Wigan before.

"But we asked England to come and have a look at him – more to see where he was at – and he’s been in ever since.”