by Steven Kennedy

THE meteoric rise up the leagues of Charlton Athletic new boy Chris Dickson has come as no surprise to two of the men who gave him his break in football.

Dickson, who started his career at Kent amateur side Erith & Belvedere, joined the Premiership strugglers from non league Dulwich Hamlet after impressing during a trial.

Former Erith & Belvedere reserve team manager Wayne Baldachinno gave Dickson his first taste of football as a teenager.

He said: "My first meeting with Chris was in the Bexley junior league where I signed him as an under-16 for the club I was at.

"I then took Chris with me to Erith & Belvedere where he played for me in the reserves for two seasons before the first team manger realised his ability and took him up into the first team."

He added: "I possibly hand on heart never thought he would reach Premier League football, but certainly league football at the highest standard, as he was always that bit better than everybody else in his age group as he has so much raw talent.

"Character and ability wise, he is absolutely identical to players like Ian Wright.

"A big memory I have of Chris was at an Erith & Belvedere song night where he had everybody in the club house rocking with his moves and his singing.

"He is a real crowd pleaser and a likeable lad, so I'm really hoping everything goes well for him."

Mick Acland was in charge of Erith & Belvedere's first team when Chris made his move from the reserves and always expected big things from the hit man.

He said: "I think Chris has always been capable of reaching the level he is at now, early on he had a bit of an attitude problem, but on the whole he was always an exceptional talent."

He added: "I definitely think he can succeed at Charlton so long as he gets the breaks.

"Football is as much about luck as anything else but he has great skill and great pace and is a really talented kid.

"I just hope he makes it and goes all the way at Charlton so I can go watch him."