Adrian's a true Blue

04 January 2007

By Tom Harvey

WHEN asked about his hopes for the future, Chelsea starlet Adrian Pettigrew insists: "I just want to be the best."

A former England youth international, Hackney-born Pettigrew is now in his fourth full-time year at Chelsea.

And despite the club's influx of foreign talent, he believes he has the ability to succeed at the top level.

He told the Advertiser: "My main objective in this game is just to be the best. I love turning up every day and having the best facilities at the best club with the best coaching staff.

"We've got one of the best managers in the game here in Jose Mourninho and being young at 20 hopefully I can get some experience, take it on and become a good player."

Pettigrew has played regularly in defence for Chelsea's reserve team this season, captaining the side on several occasions.

And in the next phase of his development, the defender is poised to join League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on loan this month in a deal that will keep him at Adams Park until the end of the season.

It's the second time that Wycombe manager Paul Lambert has raided Chelsea for their young talent, having signed 19-year-old defensive midfielder Anthony Grant on a season-long loan in the summer.

Pettigrew, who still lives in Hackney, said: "Things are going great for me at Chelsea and I've been playing regularly for the reserves but I'm about to go on loan to Wycombe.

"This will be my first loan move but Anthony Grant is already there and he's someone I know well. I'm going there in January and I'll stay until the end of the season. I'm really looking forward to the chance of getting some first-team football under my belt. I'm really excited about the whole experience."

A former trainee at Stamford Bridge, Grant made his first-team debut for Chelsea in May 2005 when he came on as a last minute substitute against Manchester United.

That is something Pettigrew has yet to experience - although he is confident he has what it takes to eventually make that step up.

He said: "At the moment I want to be going out on loan and doing well for myself, for Wycombe and also for Chelsea as I'll be representing the club.

"I'm just looking to get some experience but in the long run I want to be the best. I don't want to settle for anything else."

As a youngster, Pettigrew attended St Matthias Primary School in Hackney before moving on to Raine's Foundation in Bethnal Green in 1998.

He had not competed in any sports before going to Raine's but once there he broke into the sporting field like no other pupil had ever done before.

By the end of his first year, Pettigrew's school team were unbeaten in the borough basketball championships. Outside of school, he also led the East London Royals team to the English National Basketball Championship title.

As a result, he was selected for the under-14 England basketball team when they played their first competition against Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and France.

Back at Raine's he helped their under-16 team win the English Schools National Basketball Championship title.

Not content with that, Pettigrew was also a London athletics champion at hurdles, high jump and as part of the 4x100 metres relay team.

As well as this, he represented England's under-16 team at the age of just 14 and competed in internationals against the likes of Spain, Scotland, Germany and Holland.

After being named in the Hackney & Tower Hamlets Schools district side, trials with Chelsea, Charlton and Arsenal followed and it was at this stage that Pettigrew decided to concentrate on football.

He explained: "I saw an avenue for myself with football which I didn't see with the other sports. I thought they would be more of a long shot, more of a risk. Plus, I love the game so it was an easy decision for me to make.

"Along with Chelsea, I was scouted by Arsenal and Charlton. I had a week at Charlton but didn't really like it. I went to Chelsea, the coaches and players were all really friendly and I decided it was the place to be.

"I've been at Chelsea since I was in year eight at school. I came up through the Academy and it's been a gradual progression for me. Now I just want to make the grade with the first team.