From kicking a football around at Jarvis Brook from the age of four to now making a real impact in the first team, Alfie Gilder’s journey is one that perfectly demonstrates what the club is all about.
Having progressed through every age group at the club, Alfie is now establishing himself in senior football and has been one of the standout young players in the first team this season. Comfortable on the ball, confident in possession and increasingly influential going forward, he is showing that the pathway from junior football to senior football at Jarvis Brook is very much a reality.
At just 18, Alfie has already experienced some memorable moments in a Jarvis Brook shirt, including captaining the U15s to a treble and making his first-team debut. Now playing at the highest level the club has ever reached, he is hungry to see just how far he and the team can go.
We caught up with Alfie to talk about his journey, his development, his favourite position, the people who have helped him along the way and his ambitions for the season.
Q: How does it feel playing at this level for the club you’ve been with since the age of 4?
Yeah, I’m loving it. After playing for every age group at the club to now be playing for the first team in the highest league the club has ever played in is brilliant.
Everyone involved with the first team has been so welcoming and encouraging to me since I first trained with them nearly three years ago. It was a great environment to come into from the start and that is still the case today.
Q: What’s gone well this season? You look so confident on the ball and a player who believes in himself.
It takes a while to get used to playing men’s football and there is still a lot to learn, but I am getting more confident with every game.
The backing of the coaching team and the other players, along with the experience I have gained so far, has helped me start to perform how I know I am capable of.
Q: You’ve played in a number of positions. What is your favourite?
I have always been used to playing in CM, but recently I have been really enjoying it in the 10.
Q: Who do you get on with best in the current squad?
Ashton Miles.
Q: What’s been your favourite JBFC moment in all your years as a player here?
There’s been so many. Winning a treble as captain of the U15s and making my first-team debut both stick out.
Q: What’s your ambition for this team?
I want to work hard and help the team push as high as we can go in the league. It’s a great group and I’m loving being a part of it.
Q: You’re getting in among the goals this season, but what’s better — scoring or assisting?
100% scoring!
Q: If you could thank one person at the club, who would it be?
I’m very grateful for everyone at the club that I get to have around me week in, week out, but Raffy is someone that I couldn’t thank enough.
He encourages me to trust in the process and pushes me to be the best possible version of myself.
However, picking just 1 person is very hard. Two others definitely need to be thanked. Carl Berwick who coached me through the age groups from the age of 4 all the way through and gave me the support and backing to keep pushing and progressing. And of course, my dad, Dan Hare who not only is my biggest fan but also was involved in the coaching of various age groups that I played in.
Q: Do you set yourself targets for the season?
Not really, but it would be nice to get 10 goals this season!
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