Never read that before. Sounds like a fantastic deal / investment we have going there and the board (or Peter Varney?) should be praised for their foresight.
I just wonder whether we'd be able to afford to continue what is obviously a good thing if we're in league one next season, where money will be much more tight.
It's still going, we have four and are signing another 3 very soon (including Gohi Bi Cyriac who was talked about). Hopefully we're only around a year away from getting the first player or two in our first team squad.
It was explained a bit more in the annual report.
Overseas partners
A further aspect of Charlton Athletic that differentiates us as a football club is the development of our overseas partnerships, which provide an international awareness of both the football club and its extensive community activities. These relationships also provide opportunities to identify talented footballers within these partner clubs.
Most prominent is the agreement with ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast where the football club makes an annual payment to sponsor the ASEC academy in return for first call on its youth players. The ASEC academy has in the past produced a number of players who went on to play for the national side and a number who currently play with clubs in the Premier League.
This year we have signed two 18-year-old players from ASEC Mimosas, and these players have been loaned to clubs in France to continue their development, as current United Kingdom employment regulations prevent them from immediately joining the playing staff of our football club. In total, there are four young players from ASEC Mimosas playing in Europe on loan with other clubs where Charlton Athletic has obtained their registrations and there are a further three players who will complete their registrations in the near future.
Our overseas development projects in South Africa were started in 2002 in the Alexandra townships in Johannesburg and were extended to Cape Town in 2005 and Durban in 2008. This initiative aims to divert children away from crime and disorder while providing education on topics such as citizenship and health. The project delivers coaching courses for children and provides training for teachers and community volunteers to attain the Football Association's Level One coaching standard. This leaves a permanent legacy in the townships where these activities take place. These projects are delivered in partnership with the community Trust, the Metropolitan Police, British Airways and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It is our intention to extend these activities to other parts of South Africa.
Those involved have all reported that this has been the most rewarding and emotional work that they have undertaken. There are also links with football clubs in Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland and Spain.
One is joining us this month I think, but will prob be loaned out somewhere in Europe. A second one (Left Back) was due to join this month to play for us but has done his ligaments or something...
Comments
I just wonder whether we'd be able to afford to continue what is obviously a good thing if we're in league one next season, where money will be much more tight.
It was explained a bit more in the annual report.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=33556&newstype=n
Or at least I think that is what I heard?