He may be a legend but he failed miserably trying to turn me into a footballer when he was my PE teacher. To be fair, he didn’t have a lot to work with.
Serously, was one of the nicest guys that ever taught me and didn’t treat us like the snivelling little shits we were.
@DaveMehmet he was my PE teacher too. Where was that Crawley?
No mate, Hurstmere
Ahh...right! I thought you might be a fellow Crawley Addick, there are a couple on here
If you get the chance I really recommend watching the full 20 min interview. He speaks eloquently and at length about his experience, the academy and what he’s proud of. The thing that comes across most is that he is a tricky decent man that we have had been lucky to have at our club
Weirdly me and my dad were talking bout S'avory (as us kids used to call him) the other day...I got hit in the nuts full on by a cricket ball in games. Was bent double. Couldn't breathe or speak...."McGinty...what's wrong with yer?! Get up. Get on!" was the reply haha! Nice fella.
What a legend. Been loyal to us despite all the graduates of our academy, must have been other clubs interested in offering him a role over the years.
Was always going to happen at some point, hopefully the right people take over and continue building on all the great work he’s done for the club.
I was literally updating his profile for FM25 yesterday, now there’s no role for him in the game!
He's been a legend as long as I've known him, which is 25 years-ish. He gave me some of my love of the game when he was my P.E teacher at Hazelwick school in Crawley. He made me want to play and watch football more than any other male role model in my family and was always kind and genuine with me. He also failed to make me into a good footballer, but I left that school early due to a family loss... So we won't blame him too much.
I was chuffed when I saw he was working with the club. He will always be a proper Charlton legend for me.
He may be a legend but he failed miserably trying to turn me into a footballer when he was my PE teacher. To be fair, he didn’t have a lot to work with.
Serously, was one of the nicest guys that ever taught me and didn’t treat us like the snivelling little shits we were.
Don’t know you, so apologies in advance. I just have visions of Avory doing everything right and you sitting in the corner knocking one out over the page 3 girl and page 7 fella in The Sun.
Weirdly me and my dad were talking bout S'avory (as us kids used to call him) the other day...I got hit in the nuts full on by a cricket ball in games. Was bent double. Couldn't breathe or speak...."McGinty...what's wrong with yer?! Get up. Get on!" was the reply haha! Nice fella.
I made him double up once but with laughter. I forgot my shorts so had to get a pair from the lost bin. The only ones there were about 3 sizes too small (you could tell my religion through them). When he saw me, he smiled and asked if they were too tight, I replied in a put on high pitched voice “yes sir, they’re fine”. He cracked up and got me another pair that fitted.
Steves done a brilliant job for the club down the years, and saved the club an absolute fortune.
I wish him well, have met him, and he’s a lovely guy, and I hope his retirement is as good as the job he’s done for us, he’s helped create, many a players career.
I just finished watching the Steve Avory interview on CAFC website. I was blown away with his intelligent comments, his integrity and vision. Such a club legend, even if it was behind the scenes. It was quite an emotional watch, someone who has put his life and energy into our club. The mantra was he expects everyone within the coaching staff to work as hard as he does, to instil the work effort into the staff and players. I was also interested in his comments about the development of culture, something easy to say, but really tough to achieve. Yet through his leadership, the culture was first class, developing well rounded individuals, as well as first class footballers. Enjoy your semi-retirement Steve, you deserve it.
My son was released from the academy at16 after 5 years there (no complaints). Steve was clearly gutted. 6 years later and now with a sports science degree my son got in touch with Steve who helped him get in touch with a premier league club resulting in a job which he’s still in over a decade later. He didn’t need to help at all, pure class.
One beautiful constant in our tumultuous past decade or so has been Steve Avory. This really feels like a big blow to the Academy and certainly at a strange time in the season. But I doubt he would be leaving us if he felt like it would be hurting us. I wish him absolutely every success in his next chapter because he deserves it but I hope he leaves our outstanding academy in good stewardship. I can’t see him doing anything otherwise!
I don’t know the guy at all but from what I’ve seen if you’re a pupil (is that the right word?), a parent of someone in the academy or a colleague, I can’t imagine you could want a better person than Steve Avory.
Tom's taking up parts of Steve's job, but the club will be hiring a Head of Player Development.
“Tom Pell, who is Academy Manager now, will have more responsibilities. We are looking at the gap that Steve will be leaving in certain areas, and Tom will be taking over some of those. We will also advertise for a Head of Player Development who will take control of our production line, making sure our young players are being developed in the right way. This individual will work closely with our Head of Coaching Rhys Williams and Professional Development Phase Coaches, putting on sessions to allow players to develop.
Steve Avory has done a superb job for our football club and the Academy has been a shining light in some very dark times. He is probably the reason so many of us have continued to support Valley Gold, even when the club was at its lowest ebb under Duchatelet and the scoundrels who followed.
I hope that Steve has some serious advisory input, as his level of knowledge and experience are invaluable. I’m sure he would be an outstanding mentor and sounding board for those tasked with taking the Academy forward.
A bastion of decency and professionalism throughout a period where he must have scratched his head at the lunacy going on above him. Hats off to you Steve. and thanks.
A big thanks to Steve Avory for everything he has done for the academy over such a long period of time. Pleasing to hear he'll still be around in an advisory capacity.
This has been something I've been dreading for a while. I asked him about his retirement plans when he guested at a Trust AGM, probably 5 years ago.
An absolute gent and a massive loss, although glad to see he is sticking around in an advisory capacity.
I remember Gomez making his England debut at Wembley. Of course, Steve was invited but he put the club first and instead went to a youth cup tie down at Exeter. Commitment beyond the cause.
The club must mark his leaving in some way. Surely a testimonial with old academy players taking part?
This has been something I've been dreading for a while. I asked him about his retirement plans when he guested at a Trust AGM, probably 5 years ago.
An absolute gent and a massive loss, although glad to see he is sticking around in an advisory capacity.
I remember Gomez making his England debut at Wembley. Of course, Steve was invited but he put the club first and instead went to a youth cup tie down at Exeter. Commitment beyond the cause.
The club must mark his leaving in some way. Surely a testimonial with old academy players taking part?
He must also have been a massively reassuring figure for parents who were entrusting their lads to our Academy.
Quite rightly, he placed a lot of emphasis on the lads’ education and the need to help them become better, more rounded individuals - so important, given that only a small percentage ultimately go on to make a living in the game.
I’m guessing that Steve will be very involved in choosing his successor. He must have a vast knowledge of who’s who in the world of player development and academies. I think we’ll do ok with this.
Comments
I was chuffed when I saw he was working with the club. He will always be a proper Charlton legend for me.
I wish him well, have met him, and he’s a lovely guy, and I hope his retirement is as good as the job he’s done for us, he’s helped create, many a players career.
Enjoy your semi-retirement Steve, you deserve it.
We should petition Greenwich Council to change the area to Avory Hill, or at least the road.
I hope that he gets a good send off and the club pull together an event for him and invite as many of his protegés to it as possible.
https://www.charltonafc.com/news/view/6274e8896d735/tom-pell-appointed-academy-manager-as-steve-avory-becomes-academy-director
Tom's taking up parts of Steve's job, but the club will be hiring a Head of Player Development.
“Tom Pell, who is Academy Manager now, will have more responsibilities. We are looking at the gap that Steve will be leaving in certain areas, and Tom will be taking over some of those. We will also advertise for a Head of Player Development who will take control of our production line, making sure our young players are being developed in the right way. This individual will work closely with our Head of Coaching Rhys Williams and Professional Development Phase Coaches, putting on sessions to allow players to develop.
I hope that Steve has some serious advisory input, as his level of knowledge and experience are invaluable. I’m sure he would be an outstanding mentor and sounding board for those tasked with taking the Academy forward.
Enjoy your retirement Steve .
An absolute gent and a massive loss, although glad to see he is sticking around in an advisory capacity.
I remember Gomez making his England debut at Wembley. Of course, Steve was invited but he put the club first and instead went to a youth cup tie down at Exeter. Commitment beyond the cause.
The club must mark his leaving in some way. Surely a testimonial with old academy players taking part?
Thanks Steve, a genuine club legend.
Konsa
Grant
Burstow
Harriott
Leaburn
Kanu
Anderson
Josh Wright
Asimwe
Fox
Ruben Bover
Barnes
Quite rightly, he placed a lot of emphasis on the lads’ education and the need to help them become better, more rounded individuals - so important, given that only a small percentage ultimately go on to make a living in the game.