Harry Waldock thought that Gillingham showed some positive signs in their pre-season fixture against Charlton Athletic at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Gills lost 1-0 in what was a tight fixture, but the academy graduate believes that they were starting to carry the work that they have been doing on the training pitch into the games, as they provided a tough test against a team two leagues above them.
On the hour, the hosts made ten changes, where many players who are products of the Football Club's academy entered the game. Waldock, an academy graduate himself, was one of those players and was delighted that those who followed the same pathway as himself were able to get an opportunity in and around the first team.
Thoughts on the performance...
I thought that it was a good performance. Obviously, you want to win every game, but it is a pre-season fixture. I thought that there wasn't much between the two sides. In leagues, you can say that there are two divisions, but it didn't really look like that out there today. I thought that it could have gone either way.
I thought that we showed what we have been starting to show in training. Our patterns of play, our energy and our combative attitude. Hopefully, throughout pre-season, we continue to build on that and keep on showing that.
On seeing a large contingent of the Football Club's academy players feature...
I am very proud. About two years ago, they were in the exact same position that I was, and as I have come through the academy, I have obviously seen them come through with me. The fans obviously saw Sully [Booth] at the back end of last season, but then having Cruz [Beszant], Louie [Dayal], and the likes of Sully. Even Zack Whitelock coming into the side today. I am not only proud for them, but proud for us as teammates, because they have come through the system in the exact same way that we have.
It gives them an early look into what first team football looks like. They have played against Championship Charlton today. They will know that they are a good outfit, and for them to get that experience early on as a squad is still massive for them.
On the positive response to conceding the goal moments after making the wholesale changes...
I think that it comes from within ourselves. We want to show what we're about. Not just to the Gaffer, but within ourselves. We want to show that we are good enough to be here. The goal is a set piece, which are the small details in the game, but our attitude to go and succeed hasn't ever not been there.
Throughout the academy, even in a game like at AFC Wimbledon away in the winter, it was always a fixture that we all spoke about. It was a miserable day, but we always had the same attitude to go out there and impress as much as we can.
