Grassroots talent the key for Charlton and Luton

As I predicted, the resolution of the Premier League season is going to the wire. But life for the 72 clubs outside the elite is almost over for another season. Two of my former clubs, Charlton Athletic and Luton Town, have been relegated.

I am naturally disappointed. Both clubs have a proud tradition, a loyal fanbase, not to mention a strong record in producing fine black players; Ricky Hill, Chris Powell and the Stein brothers spring instantly to mind.

I played for both teams in the 1980’s. I was involved in the Luton game when Millwall supporters rioted in front of a television audience of millions in the infamous FA Cup tie in 1985.

I also turned out at Kenilworth Road for a game in which eight black players were fielded by manager David Pleat. This was a pioneering move at the time and particularly for a club of Luton¹s modest stature.

My time at Luton Town was the happiest period of my playing career. But it was Charlton Athletic that gave me the bug. The council flat I grew up in overlooked the ground and I remember sneaking into The Valley as six year old.

10 years later, I made by debut for them against local rivals, Crystal Palace. Ironically, the club were forced to sell me to raise some much needed funds. The team that came in for me? Luton Town.

The reason for the demise of both clubs comes down to mismanagement. At Luton, financial issues led to a 30-point deduction before the season had even started.

Who knows whether or not the authorities were looking to make the club a scapegoat. Either way, reversing this would always be an uphill struggle. At Charlton, it was a number of honest errors of judgement.

In Alan Curbishley and Peter Varney, the club had two men of talent and integrity. Their departure, followed by an inexperienced choice of replacement and subsequent restructuring, helped accelerate the club’s fall from Premier League to League One in three years.

I feel for the supporters of both clubs and the staff who work behind the scenes.

I’ve used this blog to talk about the positive work done by Charlton with the CARE project; the same can be said about Luton who use their Football in the Community department to engage particularly with the local Asian population living in the streets surrounding Kenilworth Road.

It’s now vital for both clubs to look to their academies and unearth the players that can help them recapture former glories. Charlton’s parachute payments have now ceased which means they’ll be relying even more on the likes of youngsters such as Grant Basey, Josh Wright and Jon Joe Shelby.

In Luton’s case, their financial woes and non-league status mean they’ll be looking inward for raw local talent. But they can take heart at their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win at Wembley last month.

The talent shown on the pitch that day, coupled with the terrific support in the stands, shows that the ingredients are in place for league status to be restored.