Charlie Kelman at Queens Park Rangers

Of note from that article is how U.S. Soccer found out about him:

For Kelman, I was contacted by his club [Southend United] telling me that Charlie had an American passport and probably deserved to be seen. So I asked to see a video and I've seen them now.
​

His not-particularly-active Twitter page mentions a "Hebron, TX" which is Dallas-area.

https://twitter.com/charliekelmann

In January he scored a goal. This is kinda funny:

And his equalising effort came following a humorous pre-match chat with youth coach Dave Huzzey.

“Before the game Charlie was asking if he was going to come on and if he was going to get more than five minutes because that’s all he ever got,” said Huzzey.

“He’s quite outspoken but I gave him 12 minutes instead of five so maybe he was right and he deserves a special mention.

“I think this was his fifth appearance and it was great to see him get the goal because he’s another young player we’re all very excited to have at the club.”​

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/bl...uth_team_goal_as_Blues_draw_with_Northampton/

 

🇺🇸

Congratulations to Charlie Kelman who has been called up for a @ussoccer_ynt U18 training camp 🔵⚽️

👉 https://t.co/cQEl0fL5cA pic.twitter.com/7UMDWPS1sl

— Southend United FC (@SUFCRootsHall) June 1, 2018

“My dad is an American citizen and I lived out there for six years so that’s how I qualify."

 

Kelman started against USL's Swope Park Rangers for our U18s and apparently scored in a 1-1 draw. Here he is (#20):

 

Safe to say I didn't expect the American striker from Texas playing in an English academy to be the shortest player on the team!

 

Confirmation he scored for the US U18s while in KC. And this article says he scored 61 goals (!!) last season in Southend's academy. Kelman mentions that the new U.S. Soccer training facilities in Kansas are amazing -- hopefully that will continue to be somewhat of a selling point for other dual-nationals interested in the US.

Charlie Kelman scored 61 goals for Blues last season and is keen to kick on after impressing with USA's under 18 side this summer https://t.co/4kEiMqj3ZK

— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) July 3, 2018

In preseason, he started with the U18s but soon moved up to Southend's U23s, their coach saying that was done on merit.

📸 | SNAPSHOT: Charlie Kelman scores the first goal of the 2018/19 pre-season campaign as #Blues U18s take the lead against Fulham on Saturday morning. Dave Huzzey's side eventually lost 8-4. pic.twitter.com/kFwrahSIuT

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 8, 2018

https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2018/july/southend-united-u23s-2-1-fulham-u23s/

 

Blues’ under 23 team beat Avanti Wilskaracht 4-0 in Holland last night. Norman Wabo, Isaac Hutchinson, Lewis Gard and Charlie Kelman, who is only 16, got the goals.

— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) July 19, 2018

If worst comes to worst and Soto isn't released for U-20 WC perhaps Kelman could sneak in, just throwing it out there, no idea how much he's on Tab's radar or if he's a deserving candidate to be moved up

 

Kelman (bottom right) in preseason. Gotta love the Shrimpers:

 

Scored a brace in a friendly:

FT: #Blues U18s 4-4 Brighton & Hove Albion U18s (Pre-Season Friendly). An entertaining #MTBD2018 encounter ends all square. #Blues goals were scored by Charlie Kelman (2), Jimmy Wallace and Freddy Eastwood.

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

 

Was very active, including a brilliant strike from 25 yards out.

26: GOAL! #Blues equalise quickly through Charlie Kelman. A set-piece is retrieved by Miles Mitchell-Nelson at the far post and, when his effort is parried out, Kelman is on hand to half-volley home. 1-1. #MTBD2018

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

36: #Blues respond to that little spell of pressure though skipper Stewart, who draws a save with a skidding strike following good build-up play by Sam Brogan and Kelman. (1-1) #MTBD2018

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

63: GOAL! 3-1 #Blues! Charlie Kelman is enjoying his afternoon in front of the #MTBD2018 crowd and he brilliantly turns to fire into the net from 25 yards out.

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

65: Kelman almost turns provider as his left-wing centre is only cleared as far as Benton on the edge of the penalty area and he smashes over. (3-1) #MTBD2018

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

68: #Blues are right on top now and Benton drills a shot across the face of goal with Kelman inches away from stretching and reaching the ball. (3-1) #MTBD2018

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) July 29, 2018

 

Here's some video of him playing, including a few of his goals - https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl--Fa2AFlZ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=gqchoi1ukw0z

 

If there is one, what’s the normal progression for a kid excelling at a lower division academy in England? Fast tracked to the first team? Picked off by a bigger team?

 

He gets his own article in the local paper:
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/16690640.defeat-leaves-southend-uniteds-charlie-kelman-frustrated/

Apparently, the Shrimpers U18 squad has not been doing well despite his early-season heroics that have been mentioned in this thread (3 goals, 2 assists in 4 games).

Snippet from article:
“There has been some complacency in the team but once we sort that out we’ll start creeping up the league.”

And the final scoreline also meant Kelman took little satisfaction from his goal.

“It was another goal but it’s not all about me, it’s about the team,” said Kelman.

“I’ll keep on scoring goals but it’s the results I care about because I’m a winner.

“I want to win and I want the team to win, and that’s all that matters."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Good player and good head on his shoulders. Excited to see him (hopefully) with the YNT over the next few years.

 

Starts:

#Blues U18s vs Newport County: Seaden, Chandler, Osimeh, Stewart, Mitchell-Nelson, Knock (c), Brogan, Benton, Kelman, Rush, Egbri.

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) September 12, 2018

71: #Blues make a double substitution. Issa Mpangea and Jimmy Wallace come on for Charlie Kelman and Sam Knock. (5-3)

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) September 12, 2018

 

Started:

#Blues U18s vs Peterborough United: Seaden, Chandler, Osimeh, Knock (c), Mitchell-Nelson, Wallace, Stewart, Benton, Kelman, Rush, Egbri.

— SUFC Academy (@SUFCYouth) September 15, 2018