HENRY Hearn has Millwall in his DNA. His father, Charley Hearn, played for the Lions for four years and has been with the academy since the age of eleven. Now an under-21 star, Hearn has his sights set on fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for Millwall’s first team.

Hearn, 20, sat down with NewsAtDen to discuss his journey so far with the Lions and how his development is going.

He was first spotted by Millwall playing grassroots football, and he was soon on trial.

“I started playing for the Phoenix Tigers and towards the end of the season I moved to VCD,” Hearn said. “I was there probably about a quarter of the season and then I got on trial after about five games.

“I was eleven years old when I was tried for the first time. I think it was the under-12s (I joined) when I first came to the club and obviously went through the trial phase, and I’ve come all the way from the under-12s up to the under-21s now. I have been here for almost nine years. »

According to Hearn, being at the club for so long has helped make him a “Millwall footballer”.

“It’s different,” Hearn said. I think from a young age you are taught how to be a Millwall footballer, introducing you to the technical side. Then as you get older it progresses through the age groups in a more tactical and obviously physical way.

The modern academy system can be difficult for young players, but Hearn has not let the competitive nature of the industry affect him.

“Football is very fierce,” Hearn said. You really have to focus on yourself and try to improve and become a better player yourself.

“Of course, there are times when you might even be a little worried about decisions or something like that, but if you just keep it in your own headspace and play your game, it doesn’t There won’t be anything wrong with that.”

Hearn has distinguished himself among the Under-21s this season, scoring seven goals in nine appearances in the Premier League Professional Development League, including three from the penalty spot.

Despite his young age, Hearn has a mature approach to penalties

“I don’t think it’s about staying calm,” Hearn said. “I think it’s just picking where you want to go before and making sure you hit the ball clean and it has to go in.”

Now in his second year at the under-21s, Hearn has developed a close relationship with his team manager Kevin Nugent and assistant manager Paul Robinson, and he attributes much of his improvement to the work done with them on the pitch training.

“Nug and Robbo are very supportive,” Hearn said. “I think they are both very good managers as well.

“Even watching the games with me and doing things on the field. After training, they accompany me, they do a little shooting, a little hold-up. Anything I need to work on, they’re really good with that.

Hearn also benefited from having older players in the squad. Several Millwall first team players returning from injury have played for the under-21s, including striker Tom Bradshaw, who played against Brenford’s under-21s on Monday.

“Yeah, it’s good because you get that experience that they bring,” Hearn said. “So everything is very professional, everything is fine. It’s good to train with them, you learn from them, they help you, it’s just better football.

“Just participating in little mini-games or training with them, they always come to the side and they just give you advice. Bradders, for example, anything related to shooting, delays the game. They’re always there just to talk.

Despite his success this season, Hearn is constantly looking for ways to improve. When asked what he needed to work on most, he replied: “I think about my link-up play because when I was younger I was very greedy with the ball, trying to score , to mark, to mark.

“But I think I’ve gotten better, but again, nothing’s perfect, you just have to work at it.”

As Hearn continues to improve, he has one goal in mind: following in his father’s footsteps.

“Well, I base myself as a Millwall striker,” Hearn said. “I was raised by the club to be a Millwall striker. I have also always supported Millwall. My dad played for them, so what I want to join is obviously the first team and play for them.