Nickname(s) The Young Addicks Manager Damian Matthew Grounds Sparrows Lane, New Eltham | Chairman Roland Founded 1998 | |
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Full name Charlton Athletic Football Club Youth Academy Training ground Charlton Athletic F.C. Training Ground | ||
Charlton Athletic Football Club Youth Academy are the youth team of Charlton Athletic. Their Under-18 team play in the U18 Professional Development League 2 - South, however the academy takes boys from the ages of 9 upwards.
Contents
- History
- National Team Caps
- Notable Academy graduates
- Valley Gold
- Honours
- Players
- Under 23 Development squad
- 201617 Academy squad
- References
The U21 team also has strong connotations with the Charlton Reserves squad, where senior members of the team may make appearances. The academy is run by the club's Academy Director Steve Avory.
History
The Charlton Athletic Youth Academy was a development of Charlton's commitment to develop young players, a scheme which started in the early-mid-1990s when there was an explosion of young talent under joint managers Steve Gritt. Notable players such as Scott Minto, Kim Grant, Anthony Barness, Lee Bowyer, Richard Rufus, Linvoy Primus, Shaun Newton, Jermain Defoe, Jlloyd Samuel, Jamie Stuart, Kevin Lisbie, Paul Konchesky & Scott Parker all came through the ranks.
This was followed by the creation of the Youth Academy in 1998, aiming to find the best local, and worldwide talent to bring to Charlton at a young age. There are 13 players playing in the top 2 tiers of English football who began their footballing career at the Charlton Youth Academy, including Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson, Bournemouth's Harry Arter, Huddersfield's Tareiq Holmes-Dennis & Kasey Palmer, Norwich's Michael Turner, Newcastle's Robert Elliot & Jonjo Shelvey, QPR's Jordan Cousins, Reading's Callum Harriott, West Ham's Darren Randolph, Liverpool's Joe Gomez, Everton's Ademola Lookman and Sheffield Wednesday's Morgan Foxas well as 5 current Charlton first team players Dillon Phillips, Ezri Konsa, Karlan Ahearne-Grant, Chris Solly and Harry Lennon,.
In June 2010 Steve Gritt's contract at the club was terminated due to financial restraints. The role of Academy manager was abolished following Gritt's redundancy, and control of the youth set up has been handed over to development coach Damien Matthew & assistant academy manager Steve Avory.
Since 1998 38 Players have made it through the Academy to taste first team Football with Charlton.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
National Team Caps
NB: Bold players are playing for Charlton Athletic F.C.
Notable Academy graduates
NB: Bold players are playing for Charlton Athletic F.C.
Valley Gold
The Valley Gold scheme was previously set up to aid Charlton's return to The Valley. When a supporter signs up to the scheme, they now have the opportunity to win up to £15,000 at half-time on home match days, as well as getting £15 off the price of their season ticket and the opportunity to have first priority to away games or high demand home matches.
Since Charlton's return to the Valley in December 1992 the scheme has since used to give financial support to the Charlton Youth Academy, to help nurture Charlton stars of the future.
Honours
Professional Development League 2||National Champions||2015
Players
As of 01 Jul 2016.Under 23 Development squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
2016–17 Academy squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.