CAST member Steve Garvey has just returned from Macedonia where for the ninth consecutive year he has run a Charlton Athletic themed football tournament for children of primary school age.

It was fifteen years ago that Steve first set up a tournament in former Yugoslavia when he ran an indoor competition in West Kosovo which, at the time, was still recovering from the effects of the Balkan war. There was very little in terms of resources and very few opportunities for schoolchildren to play sport but, with support of local people, Steve managed to pull together a competition between twenty schools.

After three years in Kosovo Steve set up a tournament in the town of Negotino in North Macedonia with the help of an academy run by former player Zoran Nedev. The tournament has grown and grown and is now held at the home of FC Vardar with help from former Yugoslavia professional Illja Stojanov. This year's competition attracted 500 children and was contested by 42 squads of up to twelve players each. It also included for the first time a trophy for girls' teams - of which there were six and additionally there was a match for adults with special needs. Steve provided sixty Charlton shirts as prizes for the winners of each different age group, including six goalkeeper shirts. As they had been playing in 90 degree heat they had certainly earned their prizes.

When going through customs Steve is routinely asked why he is visiting Macedonia. When he explains that he supports Charlton Athletic the response is usually: "Didn't they used to be good?" He is quick to explain that the club is on the way back and, thanks to his efforts, the great name of the Addicks is becoming well known in the Balkans.