Chatham Town
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Integration
“Progression of youth into the senior club is critical for any
club that is looking to lay good foundations and we are no
exception. There is fluidity throughout the club and managers
at all levels liaise to ensure that the players are encouraged to
play at the highest level possible.
The first team, reserves and U18s youth team all train
together which encourages harmony and we ask our senior
players to take an active role taking younger plays under their
wing. This creates a family feel element which in turn creates
a bond which is very important when young players are
introduced into the senior game.”
Community
“We like to consider ourselves a community club and
work closely with local and national charities to help make
a difference. Our annual sponsor is Wisdom Hospice who
provide a great service for people in their time of need. We
are in partnership with a local charity ‘MAPS’ who are great
supporters of the club also.
We regularly do charitable days at the club and have raised
money for Cancer Research, Age Concern and One Big Family
to name a few. We recognise the ‘halo effect’ a football club can
have on the local community and whilst success at the club is
important to us it is equally rewarding when we see what a
difference we can make to people’s lives by tapping into the
power of sport and community spirit.”
Challenges/Ambitions
Youth
“Youth football is the lifeblood of this club, we now can
boast 16 youth teams which we expect to rise to 19 next season.
Several of our youth players have made great strides and can
boast first team experience and one of our youth has been
picked up by Colchester United and is currently on trial there.
Next season we will have one of the best youth set ups in Kent
and that is a great achievement for all those involved.”
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“I think our biggest challenge will be to try and ensure that
both success on the pitch is matched with improvements off the
pitch and vice-versa. It’s a difficult task but far too often clubs
don’t get this right and progression is halted prematurely.
Time will tell and it is critical that our plans that we introduce
now are right as we don’t want to get caught out like other
clubs have in the past.
Thinking ambitiously, I would like the club to be challenging
in the Bostik Premiership within 5 years both on and the off
the field to ensure that we are one of the biggest clubs in the
division. I would like in excess of 50 teams covering every age
group in all youth teams for boys and girls and also ladies
and senior teams so we can offer football for every person no
matter what age.”