We were delighted that Academy Manager Tom Pell along with young players Sam Washington-Amoah and Jack Belton joined us for a Q&A last Thursday.
Tom explained that he had joined Charlton three years ago from Cambridge United and had been Steve Avory's assistant up until last Autumn when Steve stepped down and moved into an advisory role.
Jack introduced himself as a midfielder who felt honoured to win the Steve Clarke award last year. He felt all his hard work had been recognised and rewarded. He received the award before he captained the under 16s in the 2024 Professional Development League cup final at The Valley when he scored a last-minute own goal which took the game into extra time and penalties. He stood up and buried the first penalty and his team won 5-4.
Sam introduced himself as an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. He said he joined Charlton from Spurs a year ago and he didn't see any great difference between the Academies. He said he was very happy to be at a club like Charlton.
Q: Tom - you have big shoes to fill following Steve Avory. Can you tell us one thing you have been keen to continue and one thing you have changed?
Tom: There are lots of processes which are embedded in The CAFC Academy programme and which are crucial in its success. I would say the main one is that we have a coaching and teaching philosophy. In some Academies the philosophy is "let the game be the teacher" but our ethos is based on finding the right interventions to suit individual players' abilities. So we might stop the session or game to look at situations and how to improve a player's options in that scenario. This is quite an old school approach but it is embedded in our philosophy.
On a more detailed note - all Academy players under 18 wear black boots. They are expected to be professional and look the part. We are all equal.
One thing that has changed is that, after our Category One audit was unsuccessful we had to realign with the vision of the new ownership. My job is to drive standards for all the players towards being in a position to be available for selection for the first team. Conversations about Category One continue but it is an aspiration. Our day to day task is to prepare players for League One or The Championship so our game programme seeks to align the club from top to bottom.
It is nice for The Academy to be highly rated by the EFL or The Premier League or Training Coach Guru and that is based on productivity over the last three, six, nine and twelve years but it isn't something that preoccupies us. Our task is to provide as many players for the first team as possible.
Q: Which players do you most admire?
Jack: Conor Coventry. I have a similar playing style. I like to break up play and start attacks. I admire his 110% work effort.
Sam: I admire Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool. I like the way he does a job for the team.
Q: What advice would you give my seven year old son who would like to be a footballer?
Jack: Work hard at every opportunity whether at the club or at home. That way, if you don't make it, you can still hold your head up.
Sam: Always express yourself. Don't be shy. And try your hardest.
Q: Who are the most difficult opponents you have faced?
Jack: Players who are constantly on the move. You need to be tight and aggressive and one or two steps ahead.
Sam: Players who move the ball quickly. It can get frustrating if you just can't get the ball
Q: How important is it for young players to go out on loan and how is it decided?
Tom: It really depends on the individual and his needs. For example Miles Leaburn got into the first team and kicked on. Daniel Kanu went to Southend and scored goals, gained sharpness and adapted to the physical side.
We have a Technical Board comprising me, Nathan Jones, Andy Scott until he left the club, Jim Rodwell, Simon Lenagan, Chris Lock, Jason Pearce and other staff members which meets regularly with Individual Development Coach Dave Hussey. Dave might bring a loan proposal to the Technical Board and all aspects will be discussed - including things like wage contribution. Dave then co-ordinates the process. Last weekend he was up in Scotland watching Zach Mitchell training on Saturday and playing against Celtic on Sunday. Two weeks before he was watching Nathan Asiimwe at Walsall. He helped Nathan cope when he wasn't playing and then he forced his way into the team.
We want to set as high a benchmark as possible for our loans.
Q: Jack - how did you put your disappointment behind you after your own goal ?
Jack: It is a mental thing. I saw taking the first penalty as an opportunity. The own goal was in the past and I had to deal with what was in front of me. I took confidence from hours of practice. I visualised it from standing in the centre circle.
Q: Does Nathan Jones influence Academy football?
Tom: Not in terms of players and formations. Nathan is very "principle-based" in terms of tactics and attitude. He wants the teams to replicate the first team but also so that players can highlight their individual skills.
Q: What particular attributes are you looking for in The Academy?
Tom: We take a four cornered approach. 1. Tactical and game understanding. 2. Resilience. 3. Physical intensity. 4. Technical ability. When boys enter the Academy at nine years old we might look for one of these attributes and hope we can develop the others. When we look at our squads later we identify gaps and it is the skill of the coach and recruiters (scouts) to fill those gaps.
Q: What support does The Academy give to young players who are released?
Tom: This morning I had to inform a young player that he wouldn't be getting a professional contract. It is the worst part of my job. It is always done face to face together with the relevant lead coach and it is a relatively short meeting. We allow the player to digest the information and then we hold a follow up meeting with him, his parents and his agent (if he wishes) to explain the rationale and look at next steps. This might be looking at other clubs, other jobs or training or university. We draw up a player CV and a 4-7 minute video clip which is circulated to all EFL and National League clubs. Three months later the Head of Player Care & Education will check in to see how the player is getting on.
Q: Do you read social media about your performances?
Jack and Sam: It isn't really an issue. There isn't much about under 18s football.
Tom: Across the Academy social media is covered in the weekly player care programme which covers things like diet; financial issues; equality, diversity and inclusion; bullying; sexting etc. Recently the club has worked with Tyreece Campbell as his profile has grown helping him to "cut out the noise" and maintain focus. He's adapted really well.
Q: Outside of football how has the club helped you develop as a person?
Jack: Every Wednesday there is no training as it is education day. I've learned about sports science, nutrition and taking care of myself. Every member of staff helps off the pitch - they know that education off the pitch will be important in later life outside of football.
Q: How important are Valley Gold subscriptions to The Academy?
Tom: You wouldn't believe how valuable they are. The Valley Gold contributions go towards transport, tours and expanding the games programme (for example the recent trip to Sparta Rotterdam). We've taken delivery of two new minibuses in the last six weeks and they'll be transporting the under elevens to a tournament to the north west to play against Liverpool, Manchester United and Preston. We've just booked flights to the Northern Ireland Super Cup in the summer. We are planning to take part in an indoor five a side competition in Germany next winter. We have dug outs financed by Valley Gold. We've been able to decorate the training ground with motivational pictures of Ademola Lookman, Joe Gomez and Alfie Doughty.
All these things are really important in recruiting and retaining young players. We simply couldn't retain our best players without Valley Gold.
Q: When things go wrong do you prefer an arm round the shoulder or a stern word?
Jack: I prefer a comforting arm. I know when I have made a mistake and I value reassurance to build my confidence.
Sam: I value a stern word. Sometimes I take things a bit too lightly and a stern word helps me reflect on it a bit more.
Jack: As captain I need to recognise what approach suits individuals in the team best.
Q: How hard is it to keep players in The Academy?
Tom: Very hard. It is a very competitive environment. We even have scouts watching our under elevens and the more success we have the more attention we get. The Burton game is Valley Gold Academy Day when all the young players parade round the pitch and receive your applause. As I've said - the extras that Valley Gold provides help us offer a progressive environment and the boys and their parents can see that there is a pathway into the first team. We have "real live role models"
Q: Sam - having joined the club later how were you helped with the transition?
Sam: I felt welcomed. All the boys are positive minded and they helped me grow into the team. I didn't feel neglected.
Q: Have you studied the rules of football?
Jack: No, but you learn them from watching on TV and, for example, the offside rule is integrated by the time you are in the under nines.
Sam: I didn't watch much football on TV but my dad taught me the basics like how to take throw-in and the offside rule.
Q: Do we scout other Academy's players?
Tom: We don't have a budget for acquisition from other professional clubs (compensation) so we tend to scout grass roots players up to 15 through the community programme. It was Jason Hogg at Spurs who identified that Sam fitted the profile of a player we were looking for and put us in touch with him.
Q: Did you have a playing career?
Tom: A really average one in The National League South. I was at Peterborough from nine to sixteen and I was already doing some coaching by the time I was nineteen at Cambridge. I did my badges at Cambridge.
Q: Jack - you said you admired Conor Coventry. Have you got as many yellow cards as he has?
Jack: No. Perhaps two or three.
Sam: Maybe one or two for an over-aggressive tackle or a bit of time wasting.
Q: How will you prepare for The Premier League Cup Final against Spurs tomorrow or is that a secret?
Jack: I won't tell you how we will approach the game tactically but we will make sure we eat and drink well in preparation. We need to sleep well tonight and have a high carb breakfast and lunch. The off-pitch preparation is as important as on-pitch.
Q: How much pride do you feel when an Academy player makes the first team?
Tom: It is the reason we do the hours we do. If you want to be a rich man don't train to become a football coach! It is the best feeling ever and it can be very emotional, particularly if you've known the player since he was seven or eight years old. There is also pride if a player leaves the club for a higher level for a fee which helps sustain the club. You may recall how, when they were in the England squad together, Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez came to meet Steve Avory at Wembley. It was very emotional for him.
Q: How much does Nathan Jones rely on you to know if a player is ready?
Tom: He keeps himself well informed through The Technical Board and he invites under 21s to train with the first team regularly. There are always first team coaching staff present at under 21 games. Everything is well aligned. As the first team progresses the demands and aspirations become higher so we don't push any young players unless they are ready for it. However, sometimes unexpected opportunities arise through injury or a transfer falling through so players need to be prepared. We can give them the platform and then it is up to them. Nathan well understands the peaks and troughs of younger players.
Heather McKinlay closed the meeting by thanking Tom, Jack and Sam and noted that, in a recent CAST survey completed by over 1500 fans, The Academy was cited as the top priority and that 95% of respondents agreed that the club were sustaining and developing The Academy as part of the club's DNA.
There was just time to wish the boys well for the Spurs game in which Spurs were somewhat flattered by the score.
https://www.charltonafc.com/news/u17-cup-report-tottenham-hotspur-5-charlton-2
The I Paper published a brilliant article by Daniel Storey about our Academy this week. You may find that it is behind a paywall and that you need to subscribe to read it.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/charlton-athletic-gold-mine-blessing-curse-3640469
If you are not already one of the 2500+ Charlton fans who are members of CAST you can join here for the princely sum of £5 per year:
https://www.castrust.org/join/