To produce three players that are now playing Champions League football is mightily impressive. Enjoy your retirement Steve .
Gomez a Champion’s League winner. Lookman a Europa League winner and Balon D’or nominee. Konsa starting for England regularly. That alone isn’t bad is it!
I have just watched the video: Sounds like common sense for a man who is 70 next year to become part time as an academy advisor and travel in maybe 3 days a week.
To spend 23 years at CAFC Academy after being a full time teacher in Crawley and Sidcup was quite a move for Steve Avory when he was already middle age.
Famous and infamous lads like Gareth Southgate and CL own Dave Memhet were pupils of Steve's !
The truth is, very few go on to have full time football careers from academies but we appear to have had more than most plus plenty of other lads who had part time football careers and gone into coaching. Seeing Steve Avory by lads and their parents was a great gateway into Charlton Athletic when wondering about the school education and the football education which lay ahead.
Ademola Lookman and his advisors chose CAFC because they felt he had a chance of 1st team by the age of 18; not assured but many choose Charlton because they will get opportunities.
Despite the Dystopian way that CAFC has been run up until fairly recently it's amazing that Steve just got on with his Job and gave some stability to the Academy at least while Charlton Athletic imploded and became attached to the 3rd tier.
I hope Steve Avory is correct and at last we are making steps forward and not still in the quicksand. He sounds enthused with Nathan Jones and that Rodwell, Scott are finally getting a handle on the big job to restore Charlton to being a Championship side.
I have just watched the video: Sounds like common sense for a man who is 70 next year to become part time as an academy advisor and travel in maybe 3 days a week.
To spent 23 years at CAFC Academy after being a full time teacher in Crawley and Sidcup was quite a move for Steve Avory when he was already middle age.
Famous and infamous lads like Gareth Southgate and CL own Dave Memhet were pupils of Steve's !
The truth is, very few go on to have full time football careers from academies but we appear to have had more than most plus plenty of other lads who had part time football careers and gone into coaching. Seeing Steve Avory by lads and their parents was a great gateway into Charlton Athletic when wondering about the school education and the football education which lay ahead.
Ademola Lookman and his advisors chose CAFC because they felt he had a chance of 1st team by the age of 18; not assured but many choose Charlton because they will get opportunities.
Despite the Dystopian way that CAFC has been run up until fairly recently it's amazing that Steve just got on with his Job and gave some stability to the Academy at least while Charlton Athletic imploded and became attached to the 3rd tier.
I hope Steve Avory is correct and at last we are making steps forward and not still in the quicksand. He sounds enthused with Nathan Jones and that Rodwell, Scott are finally getting a handle on the big job to restore Charlton to being a Championship side.
Even the nut jobs who have recently owned us must have realised just what an asset Steve Avory was and is. He’s survived through shit and shitter and still turning out great prospects for the club. Man must have a very committed attitude to remain when under all of our last sets of owners he could easily have walked.
Hope he has a "testimonial" dinner or similar at the end of the season , it would be great to invite all his "student" players back. It would fill a stand.
Such a shame, and thank you Steve. Would hate for to think what state the club would be in without him. For me, he goes down as one of the clubs greatest ever.
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?
Thanks Steve, a genuine club legend.
This would be great. I'd pay to see it too.
I agree it'd be a lovely idea, but you might have issues with the clubs that those players currently work for allowing them to play.
If anyone deserves to retire and put his feet up it's Mr Avory! Think he should go down as one of, if not THE best servant to the club. He may never have pulled on the shirt on a Saturday, but I'd argue he's probably had more of a long term positive effect than any player, owner or Manager (maybe I'm doing Curbs an injustice?).
I hope his semi-retirement is marked in style by the club, he really should also get to walk onto the hallowed turf before a game and take a well deserved standing ovation and maybe even a covered end chant.
I wish I'd have had a teacher or coach like him when I was young.
One of those times when 'thanks' just isn't enough.
https://www.charltonafc.com/video/player/0_ko9q0gko - Here's the full interview on the Charlton website where Andy Scott talks through what the management structure of the academy will look like with Steve leaving.
Comments
Sounds like common sense for a man who is 70 next year to become part time as an academy advisor and travel in maybe 3 days a week.
To spend 23 years at CAFC Academy after being a full time teacher in Crawley and Sidcup was quite a move for Steve Avory when he was already middle age.
Famous and infamous lads like Gareth Southgate and CL own Dave Memhet were pupils of Steve's !
The truth is, very few go on to have full time football careers from academies but we appear to have had more than most plus plenty of other lads who had part time football careers and gone into coaching.
Seeing Steve Avory by lads and their parents was a great gateway into Charlton Athletic when wondering about the school education and the football education which lay ahead.
Ademola Lookman and his advisors chose CAFC because they felt he had a chance of 1st team by the age of 18; not assured but many choose Charlton because they will get opportunities.
Despite the Dystopian way that CAFC has been run up until fairly recently it's amazing that Steve just got on with his Job and gave some stability to the Academy at least while Charlton Athletic imploded and became attached to the 3rd tier.
I hope Steve Avory is correct and at last we are making steps forward and not still in the quicksand. He sounds enthused with Nathan Jones and that Rodwell, Scott are finally getting a handle on the big job to restore Charlton to being a Championship side.
Many "bigger" clubs would love to have him .
I hope his semi-retirement is marked in style by the club, he really should also get to walk onto the hallowed turf before a game and take a well deserved standing ovation and maybe even a covered end chant.
I wish I'd have had a teacher or coach like him when I was young.
One of those times when 'thanks' just isn't enough.
https://cafc.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=89e549f2-93e0-40a0-ab7f-22854f09c401