Dorking Wanderers can today confirm that first team player and academy scholar Joshua Hebert has signed a professional contract with Charlton Athletic following a successful trial period with the club over recent weeks.
Joining Dorking Wanderers at 12 years old following spells with Burgess Hill Town and Brighton & Hove Albion Academy as a young player, Joshua’s development and progression within the Elite Youth Section at DWFC culminated in playing a key role in the U16s side winning the Surrey County Cup in 2024. Joshua was subsequently offered a coveted scholarship place on the academy post-16 education and football programme that summer, undertaking a BTEC Level 3 Qualification in Sports Coaching alongside a full-time schedule of academy football, including representing the Dorking Wanderers B and National League Academy South U19 sides.
An ankle injury disrupted the first half of Joshua’s opening season with the academy, but at the turn of the calendar year he quickly settled into the respective teams, going on to play an integral part in the B team securing a top 4 finish in the Southern Combination League Division One, and winning their first ever piece of silverware with the League Challenge Cup. Making 40 appearances across both teams in the 24/25 season, Joshua helped the National League Academy South squad achieve their highest league finish to date, and caught the attention of many with an outstanding performance in the 4-1 league victory over Aldershot Town at Meadowbank in March of that campaign, scoring a memorable hat-trick.
Establishing himself as a left-sided, direct winger with excellent ability carrying the ball and advancing forward, in late February of that season, Joshua earned his maiden call-up to the Dorking Wanderers first team squad, making his debut coming off the bench in the Surrey Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie against Merstham at Meadowbank. This was followed up by inclusion in the Surrey Senior Cup Final squad against Walton & Hersham, Joshua again appearing as a substitute during the second half of the contest.
Officially confirmed as part of the Dorking Wanderers first team squad ahead of this current 25/26 campaign, Joshua featured prominently during the pre-season run of fixtures and netted his first goal on the very first matchday – scoring and also registering an assist in the emphatic defeat of Bourne Town on July 5th. Just over a month later, Joshua made his first competitive league appearance for the club as a substitute in the opening home fixture against Hampton & Richmond Borough on August 16th, and went on to score his first competitive goal, and a crucial one at that, as Wanderers secured an important point away at Chelmsford City with a 1-1 draw on October 4th. A first National League Academy South start followed for Joshua at home to Weston-super-Mare on December 16th.
Alongside making 13 appearances this term for the Wanderers senior side, Joshua has played a vital role for the U18s squad, who matched their previous best finish in this year’s FA Youth Cup competition. Netting braces in both the second and third preliminary rounds away to Camberley Town and Wingate & Finchley respectively, and scoring the decisive penalty in the shoot-out victory against the latter, after unfortunately being ruled out of the first round tie proper against Cambridge City due to injury, Joshua returned for the second round and a visit to Swindon Town, playing under the lights at The County Ground. Trailing 2-0 in the second half, Joshua scored the goal which halved the deficit with several minutes left to play, setting up a grandstand finish for Wanderers who ultimately couldn’t quite force extra time and penalties on the night.
In mid-February, Joshua was presented with the opportunity to trial with Charlton Athletic, and following a period which has seen Joshua train and feature for The Addicks’ U21s side right up until the current month, as a trialist Joshua has gone on to score goals against Millwall, Swansea City, Peterborough United and Bournemouth.
Incredibly proud of Joshua’s journey through the ranks at Dorking Wanderers as a youth, academy and senior player, Academy Director and First Team Coach Jordan Clark says:
“I’m very pleased for Josh – he is a product and example of what can be achieved being part of Dorking Wanderers Football Academy. All of the coaches, especially Bobby-Joe Taylor and Charlie Dunne, need to take a lot of credit for the progression, but the biggest credit of course goes to Josh who has worked very hard, taking opportunities when they have come his way, and has performed brilliantly on and off the pitch for the academy in his two years with us. We wish Josh nothing but success at Charlton Athletic, and we hope Josh’s example is followed by many other students and players with us in years to come. Our academy continues to go from strength-to-strength with our learners benefiting from a really well-rounded, comprehensive post-16 programme, and gaining more senior football experience and opportunities to train and be around the first team environment. Josh is a leading example of this and we really look forward to seeing him continue and progress his football journey.”
Everybody associated with Dorking Wanderers would like to wish Joshua the very best with his move and career continuation at Charlton Athletic.