Charlie Colkett: "Coming out on loan is a whole new experience for me."
Charlie Colkett spoke to Bristol Post about how Bristol's recent cup tie against Chelsea played him make the decision to join on loan.
"I was there watching the game that night and Bristol Rovers produced a very impressive performance," Colkett said.
"With that fresh in the memory, it didn't take me long to decide that it would be a great move for me when it was put to me by technical director Michael Emenalo a few days afterwards.
"The supporters were also great that night and I have had a lot of positive feedback from them since it was confirmed that I was coming here.
"Coming out on loan is a whole new experience for me and I'm very excited to get this chance to play senior football for the first time. It also helped that Jake (Clarke-Salter) is coming here too.
"He is a good friend of mine and we are both in the same boat in terms of playing away from Chelsea and experiencing senior football for the first time."
"We have done alright at Chelsea over the last couple of seasons," Colkett said.
"We've won the FA Youth Cup twice and the UEFA Youth Cup twice so we both arrive here with a winning mentality and eager to learn about what is needed and what it takes to succeed at senior level.
"The transition between Under21s football and senior men's football is very difficult regardless of what club you are at. Coming out on loan is a big step that all young players usually have to take if they want to make the breakthrough to become a professional footballer capable of playing competitive games week-in-and-week-out.
"We need to learn about the realness of competitive men's football and that is what I am hoping to take away from my experience here between now and the end of the season. I'm willing to give it my best shot and do the best I can."
"I've trained with the Chelsea first-team on a few occasions," Colkett said. "I remember feeling really nervous and had butterflies in my stomach when I was called over for the first time.
"Once you get over there and you start playing it becomes just like any other training session. The first-team lads at Chelsea are a great bunch and they always have time and words of advice for younger players like me."
