I've recently graduated university in English, and my ideal job is to write the matchday programmes for Charlton one day, combining English and my love of CAFC. I have emailed both Gary Haines and Matt Wright at their CAFC emails several times and never had a response. Can anyone offer any advice on how to get in touch with them? or how to pursue a career like theirs any other way?
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You're more than welcome to to start writing some articles for this site, door is open to everyone. Send me a private message if you fancy it.
Highly unusual for Club personnel to not respond to emails.
Good luck for the future and hope you fulfill your ambition.
As an aside, I have, tucked away in my loft somewhere, a very nice letter from Airman Brown from about 17 years ago, politely turning down my request for work experience when he was sports editor at The Mercury - could have been the next Henry Winter by now if it wasn't for that (and the umpteen other less polite rejections I got)!
I have been in touch with both Gary and Matt in the past, both of which had turned down work experience, simply due to the "lack of resource" to make it happen. (think their jobs are quite safe to be honest!)
Gary has phoned me before and written an article about me in a programme once, called "Mr. Brightside", after i was spotted with my "Always look on the bright side of life" banner in the north upper. Apart from a picture in the Mail on Sunday and an article in the programme, it hasn't lead to anything else.
Stay true to Charlton Life, and maybe you'll one day become the site administrator! Haha, seems a more realistic dream for me, at least!
Good luck to you
COYR
They lead you on, let you do a column for a few years then chuck you when they get a better offer from an Arsenal fan. Not that I'm bitter :- )
Consider AFKA's offer to write for Charlton Life. It will bring you to a wider audience and give you some feedback (mostly constructive) on your style and content. You'll also have a body of work to show to other outlets.
You are better off going to lower non-league games and writing for a local paper for them to get some experience.
And almost all trainee journos want to be sports writers you really have to think about how/why you will suceed where most fail.
One last warning - be careful what you wish for, this season might be good but consider how you would have felt in a relegation season, watching your club fail every week and having to write about it. Theres a reason Gary's a west ham fan...
I have tried to contact my local club (Cambridge United by the way), but haven't heard anything back. With the CL site, I felt there was more to offer working with Charlton. Thanks for all the advice everyone, it's also reassuring to know there are others out their in similar positions. Could provide some interesting competition