Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) is pleased to announce that Welling Town, of the Southern Counties East Football League, are to become the official Player Development Partnership club for all CACT Post-16 Football and Education players for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.
The link will offer students the opportunity, where needed, to train and play with a semi-professional non-league outfit, helping the transition from youth to senior football. Alongside their education, Monday to Friday players currently train eight hours a week with CACT UEFA/FA qualified coaches. Through this link, players can further develop as part of the Welling Town FC setup.
Kevin Oakes, Welling Town FC's Chairman, said:
"We're delighted to agree a partnership arrangement with CACT, who are one of the largest provider sof Post-16 Academy Football and Education in the South East London and Kent area.
"As part of our plans to continue growing on and off the field and become a large part of the local community, as well as find our own home in due course, having these sort of foundations is very important to us.
"The opportunity to work with some of the exciting prospects playing at CACT as they move from youth to senior football is one that will benefit our football club long term."
Seven CACT players have already trained with the club's reserve team, with two of these players making their debuts, Danny Tinson, 16, was one of those players and he spoke about how the link is helping him develop as a player:
"Training is very good, everyone there takes it very seriously and it is a very professional environment. It has helped me realise the importance of being vocal on the pitch and also how I need to improve my technical side of the game."
Michael Ward, CACT's Head of Football and Sports Development, said:
"We have longed for a football club in the South East London region to partner with to enable players to experience football outside of CACT. Players can now enjoy the game outside of their education at a weekend, whether it be with the first-team at Welling Town or the reserves in the Kent County League, playing at weekends is a great way for players to improve physically and technically, and this link enables players to do this even after they finish their education and football with us."