GLEBE HAVE A HOMEGROWN EURO STAR IN LIONS' EMILE

WHEN Emile Smith Rowe held aloft the European Under-21 Championship trophy for England in Batumi last Saturday, it wasn’t just his club Arsenal bursting with pride.

- Jon Couch

Smith Rowe, 22, has represented the Gunners since 2010 but it was Southern Combination side Glebe FC who first discovered his talents.

“The kid had everything,” recalls the club’s founder Rocky McMillan.

“His parents lived nearby, in Thornton Heath, and one of our coaches, Jerry Dolan, spotted him and brought him along.

“He was with us for two years, for Under 8s and Under 9s, and right from the start you could see he was something special. Just the size of his legs, his pace, strength and composure in his finishing.

“He also had good parental guidance around him, from his Dad, and that ensured he had a fantastic attitude to the game and to those around him. He was just a fantastic kid all round.

“It was obvious to everyone he was going to be a serious baller. Teams were putting six men across the back to stop him but with one touch he was away from them all!

“Word soon got around and we literally had every top club in London come down to watch him.

“He went to Chelsea first but I don’t think his Dad liked it there so he came back here and then immediately went off to Arsenal, and the rest is history.”