Alfie Gilchrist smiles when he recalls a memorable phone call from two weeks ago, one that was far more uplifting than the usual interruptions on the Mail Sport nursery run.

This time, it wasn’t a sales pitch but a warm message from Chelsea legend, John Terry.

The former Blues captain made sure to call after learning that Mail Sport had been asking about Gilchrist, now on loan at Sheffield United.

Terry, always generous with his praise, wasted no time in expressing his admiration for the 20-year-old defender, saying that he sees a bit of himself in Gilchrist’s playing style.

A Dream Come True

Gilchrist, who has grown up admiring Terry, is flattered by the endorsement.

However, he’s the first to admit that he still has a long road ahead of him to fulfill his potential.

Currently on loan at Sheffield United, the young defender is eager to prove himself in the Championship after a promising spell with Chelsea’s academy.

Clubs from Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A showed interest in him last summer, but Gilchrist’s focus remained on Sheffield.

“As soon as I heard about Sheffield United, that’s all I was interested in,” he says, reflecting on how quickly he decided that Bramall Lane was the right place for his next step.

The Sheffield United Experience

Gilchrist’s decision to join Sheffield United came after watching the team’s rise under Chris Wilder in 2019, where he was impressed by their bold style of play with overlapping centre-backs.

“I wanted to get here as soon as possible,” Gilchrist says, adding that he had already been to the stadium last season as an unused substitute in a 2-2 draw.

His time at Chelsea had left him wanting more opportunities, and moving to Sheffield seemed like the perfect way to get the playing time he needed.

Arriving in Sheffield, Gilchrist quickly felt at home, with the added personal touch of a tour of Bramall Lane courtesy of manager Paul Heckingbottom.

His first day was packed—medical tests, paperwork, and then the hunt for an apartment.

“It’s better to be all-in than just staying in a hotel,” he reflects, highlighting his desire to fully immerse himself in his new environment.

Even though he’s just 20 and on loan, there’s no special treatment from the club.

“Everyone is the same, one of his players,” Gilchrist shares, underscoring the importance of every game to the fans and the club.

The Rivalry and the Steel City Derby

One of the standout moments in Gilchrist’s early days with the Blades was the Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday, where he started as right-back in a 1-0 victory.

“It was big,” he recalls, remembering how fans approached him in the street to remind him of the significance of the match.

“You could feel the atmosphere rising. It was a special day.”

The experience of playing in such a high-stakes environment in front of passionate fans was a huge step in his development, something that won’t be forgotten.

The Chelsea Connection

Though Gilchrist now calls Sheffield home, his loyalty to Chelsea remains strong.

He keeps an eye on his parent club’s matches when his schedule allows, though he won’t be able to watch their upcoming trip to Leicester due to Sheffield United’s match against Coventry.

Chelsea is always in touch, with the loan department, led by Carlo Cudicini, keeping track of his progress.

The Blues remain invested in his development, and Gilchrist’s journey mirrors that of other Chelsea stars like Reece James and Levi Colwill, who spent time on loan in the Championship before making it to the first team.

Gilchrist’s brief appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season also made an impression.

Though he only played for a few minutes in a win against Crystal Palace, his first major contribution—a crunching tackle on Jeffrey Schlupp—showed the toughness that Terry himself would have admired.

“I couldn’t even remember what happened after that,” Gilchrist admits, reflecting on his unforgettable goal in a 6-0 victory over Everton.

“The excitement took over. It’s something that fans like.”

A Bond with His Idol

For Gilchrist, having John Terry, his childhood idol, as a mentor has been surreal.

“It was weird the first few times,” he admits, referring to their one-on-one sessions and the advice Terry gave him on defending.

“You get used to it,” he continues, speaking of the strong bond they’ve developed.

Terry’s guidance has been invaluable, especially in helping Gilchrist manage his high-energy approach to the game.

“He’s 100 miles per hour, even on his recovery days,” Terry says of Gilchrist, noting that it’s a trait that will serve him well as he matures as a player.

Terry’s Endorsement of Gilchrist

Terry has been quick to see the potential in Gilchrist.

From their first training session together, Terry noticed Gilchrist’s eagerness to learn and his drive to improve.

“He reminded me of myself,” says Terry, recalling how Gilchrist was always asking questions about defending and picking his brain on different situations.

“You don’t ever want to take that away from him,” Terry adds, praising the young defender’s mentality and work ethic.

For Terry, seeing Gilchrist strive for greatness brings back memories of his own career, and he’s excited to see where Gilchrist’s journey takes him.

“I see him as a centre-back, but he looks very comfortable at right-back in the Championship,” Terry observes.

“He’s very comfortable on the ball, and that’s going to serve him well moving forward.”

Terry believes that Gilchrist has a bright future, and his ultimate goal is for him to return to Chelsea and break into the first team.

“It’s really rewarding for me, being Chelsea through and through,” Terry says.

For Gilchrist, the journey is just beginning, but with mentors like Terry and a clear sense of purpose, he’s determined to make the most of it.

Looking Ahead

As he settles into life in Sheffield and continues his development, Gilchrist remains focused on the goal of promotion with Sheffield United.

“Promotion is the aim for us,” he says, before adding that he’s looking forward to seeing where his career will take him next.

It’s clear that with the support of figures like Terry and the opportunity to play regular first-team football, Gilchrist is on the path to achieving great things—both for Sheffield United and, in the long run, for Chelsea.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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