Met these two on separate occasions when they played for us, both top blokes and very chatty. Tell them I said hello from Sydney! I really rated Micky, he was such a lively player....Paul's touch of the ball was sublime
The 3rd letter of their first name and the 5th letter of their surname will be revealed in an exclusive article tomorrow, only in your Soaraway Sun Trust
We are pleased to inform you that our special guests for the Christmas meeting will be Paul Mortimer and Colin Clarke.
Paul Mortimer (Morts) is a real Charlton legend who is back with the club coaching. Who will ever forget his performance in the snow at the Den.
Colin Clarke will be making the trip all the way from his Birmingham home especially to take part in the evening.
Colin (Clarkey) can rightly accept responsibility for the development of more Charlton first team players than any youth coach before or after. If you just look at the players in the team who reached the Youth Cup Final back in 1987 you will soon realise the talent that he produced. Add to them, the likes of Scott Parker, Richard Rufus and Lee Bowyer, all of whom he signed, you will spot Clarkey's important but largely unsung contribution to the club.
This looks to be a great evening so please do get along
Arguably not the right thread to post my question but as this is the next event and the topic is related I thought I would.
Has Les Berry ever been invited to these type of events? I know he wasn't our greatest ever defender yet even so he made just shy of 400 appearances which, without looking it up, puts him in, or very close to, our top 10 appearance makers to date.
Would love to be able to come along to this. There are many ex players who I a very warm place for in my heart, but there are a very select few who I come over all misty eyed just at the mention of their name. Morts is firmly in the second category. One of these days I'll get around to learning some basic video editing skills and use my Dads collection of old Charlton videos and DVDs to give Morts the YouTube compelation he so richly deserves (unless anyone knows of one already in existence).
Colin Clarke was great. Morts had a parents evening for the U14s he coaches at the CAFC Acadmey so was running late which worked out well as we had 20 -30 mins of CC on his own.
Grew up in Glasgow playing with a tennis ball in the street five hours a day. All his technique was learnt before he was 14. Very good youth team a lot of whom went to Celtic. Year later he went to Arsenal for two year, then Oxford where he played over 400 games.
Playing with Ron Atkinson who used to sing Sinatra songs hence Tank Sinatra.
When he left Oxford he got £1300 cheque from his testimonial minus the cost of two crates of beer, one for each dressing room
Did his coaching badges at 26 with the likes of Venables, Gould and Atkinson and still uses drills from those days.
Was coaching kids at plymouth where he met Lennie and then came to CAFC
Said the youth set up was a mess. Parents could just turn up with their kids as no scouts so had 120 players. First job was to out 90 of them in three weeks but had to do it. But inherited a good core of players as above.
Should have won the FA Youth Cup as better side but Pitcher tried to dribble out of midfield and Bennett tried to dribble in his own box so we lost.
LL said to CC "produce one player a year but CC didn't think that was enough. He trained then to play faster and at a high tempo so ready for first team.
CC very critical of the FA and coaching in the past as well as the big teams playing "direct" football. He says he blames the FA and Lillishal for the influx of foreign players and coaches. Our coaches taught to work on intellect and clipboard while foriegn coaches work on technique hence their players are technically better.
PM arrived and gave CC a big hug. Clearly fond memories. CC said he was sent by LL to watch PM and came back and just said "Take him".
PM said CC was a good coach as he knew how to talk to you, be honest but not hurt your feelings. PM loved it at CA. Lots of CA old players come back because they like it and are made welcome. "unique and special club".
PM said LL allowed you to express yourself, you could take on a player. Now the pressure in football generally is to survive. Doesn't think he could play now in this environment of football generally. CC said over-emphasis on training programmes over ball work and technique.
With the U14s he tries to explain that he doesn't want to grow a left back or a centre mid but a footballer who is comfortable all around the pitch (see the boyd done good thread for another view on this) and has a "relationship with the ball". PM and CC both constantly talked about time with the ball and not coaching in big group exercises.
Both guests on good form last night. Morts is now the under 14's coach and encourgages the kids to express themselves. Ball work appears to be top of his agenda and here's hoping some of his talent rubs off to some of these kids. Another Mortimer type player in 5 years time would be great to watch.
I can't get over the fact that he is a Grandad of 3.
Thanks guys for your accounts of the evening , sounds like a good night , its great to hear that Paul Mortimer is involved at Charlton coaching our youngsters , its great to have continuity, the guy was a class player with the ball at his feet.
Comments
Will let you know ASAP
Morts and maybe one or two others from that era.
Conservative Club
27 Elmfield Rd
BRomley
BR1
3 mins walk from Bromley Sth station or Covered End's House.
Proper ale and other beers, no smoking in the toilets, 70s porn film styling, auction prizes.
Starts at 8.00 pm but bar open from 6.30 pm
Members only but you can join on the night.
Who might the one or two others be?
SunTrustWhat was it I was forgetting again? I don't remember.
Not that I'll remember what he said or be able to report it on here : - )
Paul Mortimer (Morts) is a real Charlton legend who is back with the club coaching. Who will ever forget his performance in the snow at the Den.
Colin Clarke will be making the trip all the way from his Birmingham home especially to take part in the evening.
Colin (Clarkey) can rightly accept responsibility for the development of more Charlton first team players than any youth coach before or after. If you just look at the players in the team who reached the Youth Cup Final back in 1987 you will soon realise the talent that he produced. Add to them, the likes of Scott Parker,
Richard Rufus and Lee Bowyer, all of whom he signed, you will spot Clarkey's important but largely unsung contribution to the club.
This looks to be a great evening so please do get along
Bromley Addicks Committee
Ben, Ian, David, Mark, James and Tony
ADMIN, Can you change the heading
Admin, can you change the title, please?
Has Les Berry ever been invited to these type of events? I know he wasn't our greatest ever defender yet even so he made just shy of 400 appearances which, without looking it up, puts him in, or very close to, our top 10 appearance makers to date.
Len, don't know about Les. I will ask Bernard Wickham tonight.
Excellent guests in Colin Clarke and Paul Mortimer. Strong opinions on coaching and football in general and the evening flew passed.
A few funny stories too for the 60 people there to enjoy.
More later but lots of other lifers there who can jump in.
Leaburn, Bennett, Brown, Minto, Pitcher, Barness, Watson - amazing record when we had shithouse facilities.
Grew up in Glasgow playing with a tennis ball in the street five hours a day. All his technique was learnt before he was 14. Very good youth team a lot of whom went to Celtic. Year later he went to Arsenal for two year, then Oxford where he played over 400 games.
Playing with Ron Atkinson who used to sing Sinatra songs hence Tank Sinatra.
When he left Oxford he got £1300 cheque from his testimonial minus the cost of two crates of beer, one for each dressing room
Did his coaching badges at 26 with the likes of Venables, Gould and Atkinson and still uses drills from those days.
Was coaching kids at plymouth where he met Lennie and then came to CAFC
Said the youth set up was a mess. Parents could just turn up with their kids as no scouts so had 120 players. First job was to out 90 of them in three weeks but had to do it. But inherited a good core of players as above.
Should have won the FA Youth Cup as better side but Pitcher tried to dribble out of midfield and Bennett tried to dribble in his own box so we lost.
LL said to CC "produce one player a year but CC didn't think that was enough. He trained then to play faster and at a high tempo so ready for first team.
CC very critical of the FA and coaching in the past as well as the big teams playing "direct" football. He says he blames the FA and Lillishal for the influx of foreign players and coaches. Our coaches taught to work on intellect and clipboard while foriegn coaches work on technique hence their players are technically better.
PM arrived and gave CC a big hug. Clearly fond memories. CC said he was sent by LL to watch PM and came back and just said "Take him".
PM said CC was a good coach as he knew how to talk to you, be honest but not hurt your feelings. PM loved it at CA. Lots of CA old players come back because they like it and are made welcome. "unique and special club".
PM said LL allowed you to express yourself, you could take on a player. Now the pressure in football generally is to survive. Doesn't think he could play now in this environment of football generally. CC said over-emphasis on training programmes over ball work and technique.
With the U14s he tries to explain that he doesn't want to grow a left back or a centre mid but a footballer who is comfortable all around the pitch (see the boyd done good thread for another view on this) and has a "relationship with the ball". PM and CC both constantly talked about time with the ball and not coaching in big group exercises.
More later
I can't get over the fact that he is a Grandad of 3.
Have to give plaudits to the 'Tank Sinatra' nickname!