“I had tears when my daughter sent me photographs of him wearing a Charlton shirt that first time he played for them. If he ever walks out for the first-team then I’ll be an absolute wreck!”
Keith Hayward is a proud grandad after Josh Hebert signed for the Addicks last week. The 18-year-old winger, who had been with Dorking Wanderers, earned his deal after impressing on trial.
But South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition can reveal that Hebert has worn the club’s kit long before the south-east London side decided to run the rule over an exciting non-league talent.
Josh Hebert produces an acrobatic celebration after scoring for Charlton - this terrific picture was captured by Tom West
When Hebert completed his move to the Championship side, it was a case of history repeating itself.
His grandad has strong connections to the club too. Hayward was an apprentice with the Addicks and holds the record of being their youngest-ever goalkeeping debutant at the age of 17 years and 23 days, featuring in the old Second Division in December 1968.
Crawley-based Hayward also represented Charlton’s Ex-Players’ Association and is a member of Bromley Addicks. Before we caught up at the start of this week he sent me a picture of Hebert in a Charlton kit - aged two. Hayward took Josh and younger brother Connor to their first match at The Valley in December 2017.
Josh Hebert kicking the ball in Charlton colours and before a 2017 game with his grandad, mum Louise and sibling Connor
“My daughter Louise went out to live in America and she met her husband in California. Josh was born there. I thought I’d send out a football kit - of course the only one I was going to send over was the Charlton one,” Hayward told South London Sport.
