An excellent Q&A and thanks to all who made it happen.
I found Tracey's answer about the importance of helping players and their partners settle into the club and the local area (with the added difficulties of Covid) particularly illuminating. It can be a big ask for young players and even more so for their young partners (some with babies and very young kids), who have moved away from their families and local support networks. Like most supporters, it's not something that I tend to think that much but it's clearly vital on both a human level and in terms of getting the best out of the players. We're certainly fortunate to have Tracey looking after this area for us and you only have to watch at that video clip of Jonathan Leko arriving on deadline day to see how good she is at it.
This sort of support for players and their families probably didn't exist 20 or 25 years ago. I think that Sam Allardyce was one of its early proponents during the halcyon years at Bolton, when they were signing overseas stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Djorkaeff and Campo.
An excellent Q&A and thanks to all who made it happen.
I found Tracey's answer about the importance of helping players and their partners settle into the club and the local area (with the added difficulties of Covid) particularly illuminating. It can be a big ask for young players and even more so for their young partners (some with babies and very young kids), who have moved away from their families and local support networks. Like most supporters, it's not something that I tend to think that much but it's clearly vital on both a human level and in terms of getting the best out of the players. We're certainly fortunate to have Tracey looking after this area for us and you only have to watch at that video clip of Jonathan Leko arriving on deadline day to see how good she is at it.
This sort of support for players and their families probably didn't exist 20 or 25 years ago. I think that Sam Allardyce was one of its early proponents during the halcyon years at Bolton, when they were signing overseas stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Djorkaeff and Campo.
Tracey is a legend IMO. I had a chat with her once and it made me realise what an important job she does. Basically like a Mum to the players.
I made 6 domestic and international moves with the same company in the space of 14 years with a young family. It was always easy for me, as I just had to turn up to the local office and get on with the job. Always harder for the spouse looking after young kids in a new location, knowing no one and without the support of grandparents close to hand.
If the spouse is unhappy it does make it harder for the working partner to concentrate on their job. Luckily for me, my wife was pretty good at integrating quickly as we didn’t have the equivalent of a Tracey Leaburn. It must really help to have someone with her skills to help players and their families when they relocate.
An excellent Q&A and thanks to all who made it happen.
I found Tracey's answer about the importance of helping players and their partners settle into the club and the local area (with the added difficulties of Covid) particularly illuminating. It can be a big ask for young players and even more so for their young partners (some with babies and very young kids), who have moved away from their families and local support networks. Like most supporters, it's not something that I tend to think that much but it's clearly vital on both a human level and in terms of getting the best out of the players. We're certainly fortunate to have Tracey looking after this area for us and you only have to watch at that video clip of Jonathan Leko arriving on deadline day to see how good she is at it.
This sort of support for players and their families probably didn't exist 20 or 25 years ago. I think that Sam Allardyce was one of its early proponents during the halcyon years at Bolton, when they were signing overseas stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Djorkaeff and Campo.
I had two goes at moving to Canada. One was a short lived (was never really meant to be permanent) to Calgary when I was 26. With my wife back in the UK I was left almost completely to my own devices every evening and weekend for the 10 weeks I was there except for one invite to one persons house to watch a CFL match. Some peopel would've loved that, but it wasn't for me. I still enjoyed the experience of being in another country but morale in that office wasn't great and I went home again. Three years later I got the chance to return, this time to Edmonton, but my wife had to stay home again, for a whole year this time. This time the team, and in particular the manager of the office, made a huge effort to help me settle in, I even got invited to his house for thanksgiving dinner. The morale in the Edmonton office was high, staff retention was high and I'm still there 10 years later. The way the manager made me feel welcome and wanted was huge at the time, and I'll always be grateful to him for it as it helped me lay a strong foundation for what has become a new life for me and wife. That kind of human stuff is massive, and something I believe Charlton have always been good at. Tracey seems to particularly excel though.
Was a real privilege to host the event. And thank goodness we avoided the controversy of motion 17 (iii) though worried we were on thin ice at 7 (ii) for a while…but we got there.
Jacko was an excellent guest. Tracey added insight too - reckon we should get her along for a Q&A in her own right in future.
If someone had told me a couple of years ago I’d be doing stuff like this, I’d have said ‘dream on’.
An excellent event. Though I feel a bit (professionally) guilty that I didn't actually look at the accounts, to uncover the Range Rovers and bitches you've been spending my £5 on
An excellent event. Though I feel a bit (professionally) guilty that I didn't actually look at the accounts, to uncover the Range Rovers and bitches you've been spending my £5 on
Oh come on. We’re far more likely to spend it on nice bread.
Was a real privilege to host the event. And thank goodness we avoided the controversy of motion 17 (iii) though worried we were on thin ice at 7 (ii) for a while…but we got there.
Jacko was an excellent guest. Tracey added insight too - reckon we should get her along for a Q&A in her own right in future.
If someone had told me a couple of years ago I’d be doing stuff like this, I’d have said ‘dream on’.
Thanks all for turning up and joining in.
Thanks to you for hosting a highly enjoyable AGM/Q&A. I thought you and Sam handled the IT glitches very professionally!
"Some of the things I witnessed during the Southall era beggared belief but I'll leave the details until my autobiography comes out. The less breath wasted on those people the better"
No JJ we want to know .....bring out a paperback advance version of the autobiography
Thanks to Weegie and Sam for dealing with JJ zoom issues in a very relaxed yet professional manner.
An enjoyable two hours even the AGM. (That must be worth a LOL ?)
Some questions couldn't be answered by JJ as he is an interim manager but he made the point about being a coach down, and with Johnnie he is very straight forward but wouldn't throw Nigel under the bus, but quite rightly said he sets up differently which is patently clear to see.
Thanks to Johnnie Jackson who has been the conduit between the mismanagement over many years and the fans, also superb from JJ on saying let's not waste any more words on Southall and Co. (Until JJ's best seller comes out !)
Tracey was a great quest as she pointed out the isolation players can feel plus their wives if they are away from family in the North (unless you have a Dale Stephens Satnav then it's the south !)
If Charlton's future from mid December doesn't include Jackson as full time manager, it will be a worse own Goal than we saw at Wembley the last time we graced the National stadium.
Comments
Edit: thank god
I found Tracey's answer about the importance of helping players and their partners settle into the club and the local area (with the added difficulties of Covid) particularly illuminating. It can be a big ask for young players and even more so for their young partners (some with babies and very young kids), who have moved away from their families and local support networks. Like most supporters, it's not something that I tend to think that much but it's clearly vital on both a human level and in terms of getting the best out of the players. We're certainly fortunate to have Tracey looking after this area for us and you only have to watch at that video clip of Jonathan Leko arriving on deadline day to see how good she is at it.
This sort of support for players and their families probably didn't exist 20 or 25 years ago. I think that Sam Allardyce was one of its early proponents during the halcyon years at Bolton, when they were signing overseas stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Djorkaeff and Campo.
I had two goes at moving to Canada. One was a short lived (was never really meant to be permanent) to Calgary when I was 26. With my wife back in the UK I was left almost completely to my own devices every evening and weekend for the 10 weeks I was there except for one invite to one persons house to watch a CFL match. Some peopel would've loved that, but it wasn't for me. I still enjoyed the experience of being in another country but morale in that office wasn't great and I went home again. Three years later I got the chance to return, this time to Edmonton, but my wife had to stay home again, for a whole year this time. This time the team, and in particular the manager of the office, made a huge effort to help me settle in, I even got invited to his house for thanksgiving dinner. The morale in the Edmonton office was high, staff retention was high and I'm still there 10 years later. The way the manager made me feel welcome and wanted was huge at the time, and I'll always be grateful to him for it as it helped me lay a strong foundation for what has become a new life for me and wife. That kind of human stuff is massive, and something I believe Charlton have always been good at. Tracey seems to particularly excel though.
https://www.castrust.org/2021/11/jacko-the-turnaround-is-down-to-the-players/
Jacko was an excellent guest. Tracey added insight too - reckon we should get her along for a Q&A in her own right in future.
Thanks to JJ, Tracey and CAST for organising.
Can't imagine why JJ mentioned this Miles kid who's never played in the first team!
PS December 9 Steve Brown, the new defensive coach, live at Bromley Addicks. Free entry.
No JJ we want to know .....bring out a paperback advance version of the autobiography
An enjoyable two hours even the AGM.
(That must be worth a LOL ?)
Some questions couldn't be answered by JJ as he is an interim manager but he made the point about being a coach down, and with Johnnie he is very straight forward but wouldn't throw Nigel under the bus, but quite rightly said he sets up differently which is patently clear to see.
Thanks to Johnnie Jackson who has been the conduit between the mismanagement over many years and the fans, also superb from JJ on saying let's not waste any more words on Southall and Co. (Until JJ's best seller comes out !)
Tracey was a great quest as she pointed out the isolation players can feel plus their wives if they are away from family in the North (unless you have a Dale Stephens Satnav then it's the south !)
If Charlton's future from mid December doesn't include Jackson as full time manager, it will be a worse own Goal than we saw at Wembley the last time we graced the National stadium.
https://www.castrust.org/2021/11/johnnie-jackson-at-cast-agm-recording-available-here/