Farewell and good luck Charlie Freeman:

Spurs announced today that a number of Academy players have left the club upon the expiration of their contracts. One of those players who has left the young ‘ Lilywhites ‘ is 19 year old Charlie Freeman. The talented goalkeeper who once went on a training camp with England (he is also eligible to represent Denmark) at under 16 level, leaves the club who he has been with since he was a boy. An excellent shot stopper and sweeper keeper, Freeman signed scholarship terms with the club in 2016 after enjoying an excellent 2015/16 campaign for our under 16’s. That summer Charlie would go on a youth loan to Newcastle United who he would represent at the prestigious Super Cup in Northern Ireland, where he impressed the local media by putting in a string of solid performances. However, having previously been on the bench for our under 18’s during the 2015/16 season, Charlie would have to wait until December of 2016 before he made his competitive debut for our under 18’s. That came in a 3-2 league defeat to Norwich City. Freeman would go onto play one more competitive game that season, a 2-1 league defeat to Aston Villa. It was extremely difficult for the then first year scholar to get game time that season as he was competing with Brandon Austin, Alfie Whiteman and Jonathan De Bie for a starting berth in our under 18 side. Freeman would finish the season out in Germany with our development side where he played two games in the post season Stemwede tournament. The next season (2017/18) started well for Freeman who helped our development side to win the Tournoi Europeen out in France, having previously been involved in a pre season friendly against Ebbsfleet United however, it would prove to be a nightmare campaign for the Goodmayes born goalkeeper who would be tormented by injuries for most of the season. After missing large parts of the season with an arm injury, Freeman would go onto make only one competitive appearance for our under 18’s that season. That appearance came in an unfortunate 5-3 league defeat to Norwich City. Despite not playing a competitive game of football in over a year Freeman still managed to make some important saves in that game, under difficult conditions. Freeman would finish the 2017/18 season by competing out in Germany with Wayne Burnett’s development side. 

The recent campaign (the 2018/19 season) started with Freeman playing a half for our development side against Enfield Town in a pre season friendly. Freeman would then travel out to France with our development side as they looked to retain the Tournoi Europeen. Charlie played one game, a 2-1 win over French side Nice. The first year professional then played a number of games for  a Spurs under 19 side out in Germany at the Oberndorf tournament. However, Freeman would not make a single competitive appearance for Spurs during that season and he only made the bench for our development side on four occasions last season, his only game time came in behind closed doors friendlies. The former West Hatch High School pupil is a very talented and highly rated young goalkeeper who despite his injury problems has a very bright future in front of him in football and in whatever else he wants to do. As a goalkeeper he is commanding, composed and charismatic. And as shot stoppers go he was in my opinion one of the best in the Academy. It also should be noted that Charlie is a really nice lad and he would always make a point of saying hello and speaking to me whenever I saw him at youth matches. That was something I greatly appreciated. It’s always a sad time of the year when some of our young players depart the club but as I say to all of them, I wish them all the very best of luck for the future. And for Charlie I wish him all the very best for the future. I am sure that him and Spurs will cross paths again at some point in the future as he progresses as a goalkeeper.