The boy done good - CAFC U9 Academy

And what a lovely sandwich you make!

What desk you on Dave

Give boof a slap round the chops from me please mate

Good luck to Alfie mate, absolutely ridiculous, some people need a Long hard look at themselves

Wow, some people .... best of luck to Alfie

Shame to see these reports going as found them hugely insightful and it was a different spin hearing about the younger kids when clubs are unable to mention them.

Best of luck to Alfie though and hope to read about him again when he's in the First Team

PL54 said:

What were the club's concerns ?

A. That a parent of an U9 player had used a fans website to express some questions over his son playing out of position and stating that the (U9) keeper had been at fault for some conceded goals

B. Subsequently a few people said that at U9 level the pressure seems too much, it's not all about winning and that blame should not be an issue

Genuine question.

Drop it now, you've said your piece mate

Terry said the keeper was pony, so what , are we now in a world where no criticism is allowed

Thanks for the insight you gave us Terry

I have also read this thread with interest and would like to say well done Alfie and thanks Tel for your updates. Alfie is clearly a very good prospect and I know that the club were very pleased to retain a lot of the current u9's squad.

My son has been with Charlton since he was 7. Even at that age there was huge pressure on the boys. I remember being in the car park a few months after he had started there. His coach and one of the scouts were telling me that they were going to be having an assessment the following Friday and would be looking to release 6 boys. This was said in front of my son. The following Friday I had a phone call from the school asking if I could pick my son up early as he had stomach cramps. He didn't' make the assessment night, but was retained. To be fair, I had already been told that he was safe , but try telling that to a 7 year old!!

I have removed my son from the Academy this year and will probably keep him out next year as well. I removed him for two reasons. Firstly my shifts at work changed and I was struggling to get him there as often as they would like. Secondly, I didn't like a lot of the pressures being placed on my son.

For your son to be at an Academy is a great honour and privilege. It is also a great adventure and we have had some great times. It is, however, very much on their terms and as a parent you very much have to balance what is best for your son against the wishes of the club.

Clearly Tel has had a little taste of that with the 'request' from the club to stop the updates on this thread!!

Anyway you can find an accommodation with the academy as to what you might becalmed to post on here? Given the number of academy players in the first team I'm sure many fans would be interested in updates and parents views on the whole process.

Thanks TN.