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The Best that Never Was (Charlton Academy)

24

Comments

  • Ross
    Ross Posts: 4,413
    James Walker. Scored for fun at youth level and in friendlies, but never got his chance.
  • C_A_F_C
    C_A_F_C Posts: 3,867
    Myles Weston was a standout player in the England youth teams but ended up never making an appearance for us. Has had a decent career in the lower leagues and at the age of 36 has just gone on loan to Hornchurch from Bromley.
  • pettgra
    pettgra Posts: 1,574
    C_A_F_C said:
    pettgra said:
    In our youth team we had Solly, Wagstaff and Shelvey. We also had a centre forward who West Ham nicked off us. He looked really lively, for the life of me I cannot remember his name.
    Danny Uchechi also known as Chima Orelaja.

    Was really good on one of the Football Manager games.
    Ah that’s the fella. Thanks for that.
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,349
    Who was the kid that scored for fun in the youth and decided to go to a US college a few years back?

    I thought Rurik Gislason was going to be the absolute nuts as well
  • Fumbluff
    Fumbluff Posts: 10,143
    Ben Gotobed
  • Gisappointed
    Gisappointed Posts: 1,000
    Alex Willis was the US guy
  • Starinnaddick
    Starinnaddick Posts: 4,351
    edited November 2024
    I thought Jamal Campbell Ryce would be a top player. Had a decent career  but not reached the top.
    Callum Harriott looked very promising at times. 
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,974
    edited November 2024
    I was surprised when Curbs sold Kevin Nicholls, as he looked very promising. He went on to have a decent EFL career,  becoming a bit of a Luton legend.
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 94,735
    sam3110 said:
    Who was the kid that scored for fun in the youth and decided to go to a US college a few years back?

    I thought Rurik Gislason was going to be the absolute nuts as well
    To be fair Rurik went on to have a pretty decent career, as went to the 2018 World Cup with Iceland

    Became quite popular on Instagram too for some reason

    Picture of Rurik Gislason
  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,504
    Ben Odoje.

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  • Athletico Charlton
    Athletico Charlton Posts: 14,298
    Scoham said:
    Athletico Charlton said:
    I thought Semi Ajayi would be offered longer than a 6 month contract and was disappointed when he left.  

    Kasey Palmer I thought would go on to bigger things than a Championship player.

    The first lad I remember hearing about on the radio as being poached was taken off us by Spurs in the 1990's I reckon.  Ford maybe?  Assumed he would be a star when he joined Spurs but he disappeared without trace.

    Recently Adigun I thought would become a regular for us.
    Spurs lad was Owen Price.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Price_(footballer)

    Ford is probably you remembering Simon Ford who was in our academy around the same time.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Ford

    Owen Price was the one.  Don't know where I got Ford from TBH as I don't remember Simon!
  • tangoflash
    tangoflash Posts: 10,788
    Matt Eliott
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,640
    tangoflash said:
    Matt Eliott
    Wasn’t an academy product and neither can you say he didn’t live up to his potential, far far from it.
  • Addick_in_Exile
    Addick_in_Exile Posts: 403
    mart77 said:
    I was annoyed when Sean McGinty left for Man Utd but he didn’t go on to the career I thought he would. 
    I remember he was a highly touted prospect and was gutted when he left for Man U.
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 36,102
    AndyG said:
    In recent years the one that really suprised me was Charlie Barker. He didnt look out of place when he played in our 1st team when we went through that terrible injury crisis. I thought he was nailed on to progress through to our 1st team as a regular
    I'm not sure Barker was ever touted as one who would make it, but i agree when he was thrown into the side (was it because we couldn't register senior players or something?) he didn't look out of place originally. 

    Pleased to see that he's made his way back into the EFL.
  • Raith_C_Chattonell
    Raith_C_Chattonell Posts: 5,700
    Gisappointed said:
    Alex Willis was the US guy
    https://www.charltonafc.com/news/academy-star-returns-scholars-talk
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,289
    For different reasons but Pierre Bolangi
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,671
    https://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/53602/the-youth-team-when-i-was-growing-up/p1

    This linked thread could be relevant to this thread.
  • Algarveaddick
    Algarveaddick Posts: 21,180
    edited November 2024
    masicat said:
    Was a Vietnamese boat boy many years ago, Da Vin Nguyen ( sic ). Story at the time was that he was going to be a superstar. Was then discovered he wasn’t 13 years old, he was 16. That changed everything. Maybe someone on here can confirm if that’s true as it was a rumour.

    Jermaine Darlington was another. Manager at the time chose Millwall away for his debut as a 16 year old. Again, I’m not sure how much is true and how much is rumour. 
    About twenty-five years ago a new family took over the chip shop that used to be opposite my flat in Penge. First time I went in the oriental bloke running it saw my Addicks cap and made a comment (exactly what was said I can't recall now), but a few words were exchanged and I said "Hang on, are you Vinny?". He was very surprised I had remembered him. He said he had been working in the USA as a coach, but had come home because of family (I think). The chippy didn't last long, and I have no idea where he went after that. I have never heard the age story before, or anything about him not being legal.       
  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,504
    John Stenson.

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  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 1,653
    Ross said:
    James Walker. Scored for fun at youth level and in friendlies, but never got his chance.
    Remember doing a powerpoint presentation on him for my school.
  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 1,653
    edited November 2024
    Barry Fuller? Was never going to be a primary player (for us) but with the career he has had- could of done a decent job for us.
  • JustFloydRoad
    JustFloydRoad Posts: 1,653
    9goalswentpastperry said:
    golfaddick said:
    Addick_in_Exile said:
    Over the years the Charlton Academy has continued to produce Addick starters, England Internationals (Jermaine Defoe, Scott Parker, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa) and even a Ballon d'Or nominee (Ademola Lookman).  Has there been an Academy product that you thought was the next Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard that never quite lived up to their hype or potential?  Or ever put on a first team shirt?
    I take offence to the first line which includes the words "addicks starters" and "Jermaine Defoe".


    Me too. It's Jermain. 😀
    Showing the same level of respect to the man that he gave Charlton.
  • charltonnick
    charltonnick Posts: 3,063
    Super titch , Johnny Harrison
  • DaisyEdwards
    DaisyEdwards Posts: 123
    Seem to remember Mark Lawrenson tipping Stacey Long for a big career. 
  • charltonbob
    charltonbob Posts: 8,287
    thai malaysia addick said:
    John Stenson
    Bloody hell remember the name, wasn't he 60s /70s ?
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,743
    DaisyEdwards said:
    Seem to remember Mark Lawrenson tipping Stacey Long for a big career. 
    The one thing that Stacey lacked was pace, he was captain of many England youth teams. He’s married the daughter of the man who owned the Venue. Saw him recently driving a BD8, he’s involved with Glebe FC.
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,057
    Remember Stacey long and osei Sankofa being hyped up at the same time
  • Dazzler21
    Dazzler21 Posts: 51,432
    Ishmael Demontagnac 
  • Big William
    Big William Posts: 3,849
    Ross said:
    James Walker. Scored for fun at youth level and in friendlies, but never got his chance.
    Didn’t he have a heart problem that forced him to retire?

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