Young Gun: Henry Jeffcott

Throughout the season, we catch up with our young Gunners in the matchday programme to find out more about their route to our academy. This week, Henry Jeffcott explains the dangers of the toe-punt technique, starting at Chelsea before signing for Arsenal, and a loan spell at Derby County.

I grew up in Weybridge and my earliest memory of football was when I would toe-punt the ball over and over again in the garden when I was younger. My mum tells me that I did it so much that my toes would bleed out and I even had to take a month out because my toes were in so much pain. Not to worry – I eventually got my head around it and changed up the technique! 

As I was growing up, it was mainly my dad who recognised that I was a decent level. At the time he was already running a football team so he became my coach at home in the garden and also when I was playing with the local lads. I looked up to players like Lionel Messi of course and I think he’s the greatest of all time, and I liked Paul Scholes as a kid. I don’t know if it’s because I was ginger as well but he was top!

"You get to see the first-team players and it sinks in that your dream isn't too far away"

In my school days it wasn’t just football I was into – I was good at cross country and long-distance running, and won some events. I’m also a huge Formula One fan. I watch that a lot on the weekends and my favourite driver is Lewis Hamilton. 

The move to Chelsea came about through a scout watching me when I was playing Sunday League. He followed me around for four games and then invited me to their development centre. While I was there, they ran a big tournament with all the players and offered a trial to two players, and luckily enough I was one of them. Not long after my trial I signed a two-year deal with them.

At the same time, I was also training with QPR, who liked me a lot and wanted to sign me, but given that Chelsea was right next to where I lived I decided to go to them. I was really excited at the time as a lot of my friends were Chelsea fans and it was a surreal experience.

After a couple years I got released, which was tough because I was there for around six years given that I was at their development centre before I signed. In my last season I barely played due to injuries, which was really difficult because I wasn’t able to prove myself. But then Arsenal reached out and invited me in for a trial so I just moved on with the next challenge.

"Saliba and Gabriel are everything a defender needs to be"

When I arrived, the energy was better and I knew I wanted to be here. They were very talented at the time with guys like Charlie Patino, who I’d seen on the news as a superstar 12-year-old. Other guys I remember who were there at the time I signed were Khayon Edwards, James Sweet, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Taylor Foran and Charles Sagoe Jr. 

The highlights of my time at Hale End were the tours. I remember going to Malaysia and Singapore, winning both of the tournaments. That was really cool, going to countries that I wouldn’t usually get to visit, winning and playing football with your best mates. It doesn’t usually get much better than that. That’s what really stands out from the Hale End days. Moving to Sobha Realty Training Centre when I got my scholarship was a great moment because you get to see the first-team players and it sinks in that your dream isn’t too far away. 

Also, training with the first team is an experience. The levels are high – it’s demanding. Mikel is a very technical and tactical coach, and the way he sees football is so detailed. You have to be switched on and dialled in at all times. You have to be ready mentally and technically. I look up to the two centre backs, William Saliba and Gabriel – I think they’re class and are everything a defender needs to be in terms of aggression, 1v1s, winning aerial duels. Also, on the ball they are so composed, which is very important in our system.

Joining Derby on loan was a great experience. It was good from a playing point but also a personal standpoint because it took me out of my comfort zone, going to a club where I didn’t know anyone within miles, to a new coach, new system, new players and a whole new environment. I definitely felt I learned a lot about myself and I grew as a person. It was a different way of playing so I had to adapt quite quickly and I’m happy that I got the chance to go there. 

Representing my country was a big accomplishment and was a big deal in the Jeffcott household. All of my mum’s side of the family are Northern Irish so when I was playing for them all the family were there watching and it made them really proud. My mum’s family are from Enniskillen and I hadn’t seen a lot of them for years so it was amazing to see them all. 

For the rest of the season, I want to play and win as many games as possible, hopefully getting myself in the best shape possible to make the step up into senior men’s football.