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There’s a quiet buzz among our students about the boy from Hampton High who made it to Chelsea FC. Here’s the face – and the story – behind that journey.

Ted’s path started right here at Hampton High, where he balanced school life with his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He joined Chelsea’s academy at just six years old, starting out as an outfield player before finding his true calling in goal. By eight, he’d officially signed – but his success came through years of commitment, sacrifice, and support.

“Looking back, I’m really grateful for the way Hampton High supported me,” Ted says. “I was training one full day a week, two evenings, and all weekend — so I was missing quite a bit of school. But I never felt like I was falling behind. The teachers were great at helping me stay on top of things, always sending work through so I could catch up.”

It wasn’t just the support in the classroom that stood out — it was the sense of being part of something.

“I remember more than just the lessons. There was a real sense of camaraderie — the school football team, PE with Mr Crossan, even the ski trip which is off-limits now that I’m playing professionally.”

That feeling of belonging helped Ted stay grounded, even as his football journey began to move at pace.

At 14, he took the big step of joining Chelsea full-time in Cobham. It meant leaving Hampton High, living with a host family, and adapting to a completely new routine.

From there, Ted’s journey picked up momentum. He’s played in every major Premier League youth tournament, winning titles with Chelsea’s U13s to U16s. He’s been named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at international events in Portugal, Poland, Italy, and Switzerland. At 15, he made his debut for Chelsea’s U18s and played ten matches that season.

He’s also represented England at every youth level, winning the Golden Gloves at a tournament in Paris, competing in the U16 European Championship, and playing in the U17 World Cup. One highlight was a tournament featuring Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Portugal — England came third, the highest-ranked European team.

At 17, Ted had loan spells with Hashtag United and later, Hampton & Richmond — his hometown club.

“Playing there was special and an honour because I grew up watching them with my family. Both loans were brilliant experiences that helped me develop as both a player and a person.”

Today, Ted plays regularly for Chelsea’s U21s and has been on the bench for the first team. He trains with players like Reece James, Cole Palmer and Robert Sánchez — experiences he still finds surreal.

Another highlight came in September 2025, when he was invited to train with the England first team at St George’s Park.

“I got to train alongside Jordan Pickford and meet all the senior squad including Harry Kane. Then a few weeks later, I was on the bench for Chelsea in a Champions League game at Bayern Munich — and I met Harry again. That was a big moment for me.”

But through all the highs, Ted has remained focused on developing — not just as a player, but as a person. At 18, he launched his own business, Playas, designing custom sports kits for clubs across the UK. He’s continued his education too: strong GCSEs, an A Level in Psychology, Spanish, and has started a degree course.

“Football’s a huge part of my life, but I’ve always tried to keep learning and exploring new things. You never know where it might lead.”

He’s also discovered that real progress can be slow — and that’s okay.

“I’ve realised that dedication, hard work, and focus are everything – even when it takes 100% effort for just a 1% improvement.”

Ted’s advice for others is: “Dream big, set clear goals, work hard, and embrace challenges. Learn from the experts around you – your teachers, coaches, and parents – and be grateful for those who support you on your journey. Most importantly, learn from your mistakes. If you do all that, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.”

Looking ahead, Ted stays focused on what really matters to him — improving every day, staying grounded, and remembering where he started.

“Hampton High gave me an amazing start, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

We are incredibly proud of Ted and everything he’s achieved. His journey is a quiet but powerful reminder that with the right support, belief, and community around you, there’s no limit to where a dream can go — both on and off the field. We look forward to welcoming Ted back to Hampton High in the future to share more of his journey and inspire the next generation of students.