I believe category 1 will be guaranteed once the complex is finished! When the slide show was over and Tony (can't remember surname?) asked the boys if they had any questions? An under 8 put his hand up and asked can the U8 use the swimming pool?? Lol
There's a lot more to category one than the building, although that's not to say the club won't meet the other criteria.
I believe category 1 will be guaranteed once the complex is finished! When the slide show was over and Tony (can't remember surname?) asked the boys if they had any questions? An under 8 put his hand up and asked can the U8 use the swimming pool?? Lol
There's a lot more to category one than the building, although that's not to say the club won't meet the other criteria.
Can you outline the other criteria, please Airman?
My understanding from Paul Hart was that at the time of the last audit we got cat 2 easily due to having the policies and number of qualified coaches in place and it was only the facilities, or lack of, that prevented us getting cat 1. Assuming that side is still in place we should be ok.
But July 17 is just under two years away.
Plenty of time for some more player poaching : - (
I believe category 1 will be guaranteed once the complex is finished! When the slide show was over and Tony (can't remember surname?) asked the boys if they had any questions? An under 8 put his hand up and asked can the U8 use the swimming pool?? Lol
There's a lot more to category one than the building, although that's not to say the club won't meet the other criteria.
Can you outline the other criteria, please Airman?
It's a massive subject, but it includes staffing, funding, coaching time per trainee and education arrangements.
I believe category 1 will be guaranteed once the complex is finished! When the slide show was over and Tony (can't remember surname?) asked the boys if they had any questions? An under 8 put his hand up and asked can the U8 use the swimming pool?? Lol
He'll go far!
Great news for the club in the long run. Looks like a fantastic facility.
Excellent news, but a pity that....'although as previously reported here the community element has been dramatically scaled back from what was agreed last year'. at least for the local football community, but I always found that part of the submission was a little 'aspirational', hopefully Charlton will in time be able to share some of these resources. After all it is these very clubs where the aspiring academy players are largely selected from. But that aside excellent news for CAFC, and the Community trust, as well as all supporters.
I think the plans for the adjoining former Bardhill club included "Sports pitches for a range of age groups to participate in various sports". I'm not sure if a decision on those plans has been reached but perhaps that, along with building relationships with the neighbouring footscray rfc (and not sure if any plans for the former co-op ground) this could be a way of fulfilling the initial aspirations.
Well I should get a good idea tommorow as my sons are playing at the Footscray RBG, Saturday Afternoon, and infact were due to play at 'Metrogas' the other side of the Sparrows lane site the following week. Played a friendly at Footcray RBG ( about 5 weeks ago) and the pitches there were being refurbished ( I think CAFC will be using these pitches).
Let's not get distracted from the planning project, I am sure in time CAFC will be prepared to consider allowing the pitches to 'affiliated football clubs', even if it is for the proposed 3g pitches. Mention was in the original Mk1 application, and although a bit vague in detail, CAFC have in the past allowed there resources to be used, to much appreciation. (My own sons obtained there level 1 coaching badges there years ago, as have others, and enjoyed some of the training ground resources.) That whole area has traditionally had many football clubs based around there, and although I stepped down from local football clubs management last season, spend most Saturday's, at local grounds such as..... STC, Metrogas, Eltham town, Lessa etc, literally bordering on to that area, when not down at the Valley watching my twin son's, and former local players.
"Some preparatory work has already taken place on site at Sparrows Lane and the club should soon be able to proceed in earnest, subject to Duchâtelet underwriting most of the cost, which is expected to run into eight figures."
What are they doing, cladding the building in gold?
Good news.
No but the accommodation suites will have gold-leafed egg and dart cornice and Osborne & Little* silk wall coverings. (With a Class 1 surface spread of flame rating of course).
* I'm sure Boris could ask George to ask his Dad for a discount.
Cat 1 won't stop player poaching anyway. We'd get more 'compensation' money, but still trivial amounts when compared to an 8 figure investment in this facility, plus the running costs!
It's the better facilities combined with the chance of 1st team football that will make our Academy attractive. Why join Chelsea, and get lost in the system, when you can join Southampton where you'll have a realistic chance of first team football, make a name for yourself and then get a big money move?
Can't pretend to know anything about the whole planning process but this just has to be very good news for the medium to long term future of the club; RD certainly appears to be planning long term. Surely this is money better spent than £12,000,000 on a forward that doesn't gain you promotion.
Can't pretend to know anything about the whole planning process but this just has to be very good news for the medium to long term future of the club; RD certainly appears to be planning long term. Surely this is money better spent than £12,000,000 on a forward that doesn't gain you promotion.
The better question is whether there is £12m (or whatever) of value over and above the approved facility that could have cost the club nothing and would have had an ongoing revenue contribution from community partners. That's harder to judge, although this is clearly a better facility for the club when looked at in isolation.
Anyone know how well / neutral / badly the Trust have come out of this?
My understanding is the the Community trust gets a much better facility than it currently it terms of offices, etc. It also has some access to the CAFC facilities. Certainly I was told the relationship between CAFC and CACT was very positive.
Airman alludes to it but would the original plan where there was far more integration of the two and which was paid for by grants etc have been better for CACT? I can't say.
Roland made a decision, it appears, to fund it himself rather than being tied to certain conditions of use and access that would have come with the multi-million pound funding from partners and agencies.
You can look at that as giving CAFC freedom and control and an even greater sign of commitment from RD
Or you can see it as a wasted opportunity for a closer link CAFC with CACT as well as missing out on up to £6m in funding. Academy funding doesn't impact on FFP but in theory at least that could have meant more money in Rolands pocket/less debt for CAFC/more money in the transfer pot. It is unlikely to be that simple or cut and dried though and I don't have anything like all the facts.
Excellent news - and good to hear from Roland direct, which is a rare occurrence indeed.
I don't think anyone can now seriously doubt his commitment to the club (although I'm sure we can find one or two). Of course, he is clearly a man who does things very in his own way and on his own (largely uncommunicative) terms but the proof of the pudding is his decision to fund this very substantial development. A very good day for CAFC.
I certainly get that we could have had something different, on different terms, and that there is going to be good or bad in that. However what will endure is the facility itself, and there is no downside in that whichever way I look at it.
so is Roland gifting this facility to the club by paying for it or is it friendly debt or does the value of the club and the asset of a better training ground hold true value on the books i haven't a clue about any of this
A landmark day for CAFC, best news since the north stand was built IMO.
I assume our owner will fund it initially? I do have concerns as many other lifers do if Mr Duchatelet loads all of the building costs onto a loan on CAFC accounts. As has been pointed out, 3% interest of £10 mill'n is £300k/year before paying off any capital.
I'm no accountant but this deal, (however its funded) is now the only horse that's running, so I'm for it.
To repeat what Blucher said, glad our owner has finally broken cover with some positive public comments.
Lots of building work going on at SL. Lots of mud and big machines (you can see I don't work in construction) but no idea if it is on schedule. No reason to think not though
I think the machines and the big holes in the ground are just to bury ex coaches and players from the network who have exhausted every club in the network and have been humanely disposed of. RIP
so is Roland gifting this facility to the club by paying for it or is it friendly debt or does the value of the club and the asset of a better training ground hold true value on the books i haven't a clue about any of this
so is Roland gifting this facility to the club by paying for it or is it friendly debt or does the value of the club and the asset of a better training ground hold true value on the books i haven't a clue about any of this
Tongue firmly in cheek?
No , I'm wondering how it will be paid and if it's more debt on the club
so is Roland gifting this facility to the club by paying for it or is it friendly debt or does the value of the club and the asset of a better training ground hold true value on the books i haven't a clue about any of this
Tongue firmly in cheek?
No , I'm wondering how it will be paid and if it's more debt on the club
So £10m costs to improve the Academy will raise our value as a club by £10m
The value is keeping good youngsters that would be taken by Cat 1 clubs for free and developing them ourselves. One good player could clear that in one hit.
It is one of our objectives as a club going forward.
Comments
But July 17 is just under two years away.
Plenty of time for some more player poaching : - (
Great news for the club in the long run. Looks like a fantastic facility.
Let's not get distracted from the planning project, I am sure in time CAFC will be prepared to consider allowing the pitches to 'affiliated football clubs', even if it is for the proposed 3g pitches. Mention was in the original Mk1 application, and although a bit vague in detail, CAFC have in the past allowed there resources to be used, to much appreciation. (My own sons obtained there level 1 coaching badges there years ago, as have others, and enjoyed some of the training ground resources.) That whole area has traditionally had many football clubs based around there, and although I stepped down from local football clubs management last season, spend most Saturday's, at local grounds such as..... STC, Metrogas, Eltham town, Lessa etc, literally bordering on to that area, when not down at the Valley watching my twin son's, and former local players.
* I'm sure Boris could ask George to ask his Dad for a discount.
;-)
It's the better facilities combined with the chance of 1st team football that will make our Academy attractive. Why join Chelsea, and get lost in the system, when you can join Southampton where you'll have a realistic chance of first team football, make a name for yourself and then get a big money move?
Airman alludes to it but would the original plan where there was far more integration of the two and which was paid for by grants etc have been better for CACT? I can't say.
Roland made a decision, it appears, to fund it himself rather than being tied to certain conditions of use and access that would have come with the multi-million pound funding from partners and agencies.
You can look at that as giving CAFC freedom and control and an even greater sign of commitment from RD
Or you can see it as a wasted opportunity for a closer link CAFC with CACT as well as missing out on up to £6m in funding. Academy funding doesn't impact on FFP but in theory at least that could have meant more money in Rolands pocket/less debt for CAFC/more money in the transfer pot. It is unlikely to be that simple or cut and dried though and I don't have anything like all the facts.
I don't think anyone can now seriously doubt his commitment to the club (although I'm sure we can find one or two). Of course, he is clearly a man who does things very in his own way and on his own (largely uncommunicative) terms but the proof of the pudding is his decision to fund this very substantial development. A very good day for CAFC.
However what will endure is the facility itself, and there is no downside in that whichever way I look at it.
i haven't a clue about any of this
I assume our owner will fund it initially? I do have concerns as many other lifers do if Mr Duchatelet loads all of the building costs onto a loan on CAFC accounts.
As has been pointed out, 3% interest of £10 mill'n is £300k/year before paying off any capital.
I'm no accountant but this deal, (however its funded) is now the only horse that's running, so I'm for it.
To repeat what Blucher said, glad our owner has finally broken cover with some positive public comments.
Where are with this now ?
It is one of our objectives as a club going forward.