How do players get into the Charlton Athletic academy?

CACT Player Development Centres: For U9 to U16 players already at a club. Ten-week programmes, UEFA and FA licensed coaches, curriculum designed by the academy. Players who stand out are invited to the Advanced Centre. The Advanced Centre at Sparrows Lane: Weekly development centre at the training ground that runs alongside the academy. The trust describes it as a realistic pathway into the academy, with players signposted from school programmes and community courses. Scouted in south-east London and Kent: A chief scout and four area coordinators cover grassroots leagues across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley and north Kent. Trials for 9 to 16 year olds follow a recommendation. Primary Stars school sessions: Trust coaches run after-school sessions in local primaries and signpost talented pupils to the Advanced Centre. A real route for seven and eight year olds before academy age.

What should parents do if a Charlton Athletic scout makes contact?

Ask whether it is a Player Development Centre, the Advanced Centre, or the academy. The first two are the trust, the third is the club. Check the travel rule to New Eltham. One hour at U9 to U11. Ask about the school partnership from 14. Charlton places likely scholars in a partner school for extra contact time. Agents appear at 16. The academy says you do not need one then. Ask them, and the PFA, before signing anything.

Category 2ChampionshipU9 to U21

Does Charlton Athletic run academy trials?

Sparrows Lane training ground · New Eltham, south-east London · Checked 5 September 2026

NoTrial information

No open trials, but one of the most productive pathways in the country for its size. Charlton's community trust runs Player Development Centres for U9 to U16 on a ten-week academy-designed curriculum, and its Advanced Centre at Sparrows Lane is the stated exit route into the academy. The scouting operation is small, a chief scout and four area coordinators who know the grassroots leagues, and it works: 72 first-team graduates, and in 2024 twelve of eighteen U16s were offered scholarships.

Got a trial or a scout’s invitation? How to prepare your child →

Practise decisions before the trial: free Look First game →

Category2

First entryU9

FeederAdvanced Centre

Graduates72 to first team

Open trialsNone

U16 to scholar, 202412 of 18

GirlsWSL 2 academy, PGA Category 2

Recruitment and training programmes

How recruitment works

Development centre block, then Advanced Centre, then an academy trial period on recommendation.

01
Club programme
The Advanced Centre at Sparrows Lane
Weekly development centre at the training ground that runs alongside the academy. The trust describes it as a realistic pathway into the academy, with players signposted from school programmes and community courses.
Official page ↗
02
Scouted
Scouted in south-east London and Kent
A chief scout and four area coordinators cover grassroots leagues across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley and north Kent. Trials for 9 to 16 year olds follow a recommendation.
Official page ↗
03
Club programme
Primary Stars school sessions
Trust coaches run after-school sessions in local primaries and signpost talented pupils to the Advanced Centre. A real route for seven and eight year olds before academy age.

Got a trial invite?

What scouts watch, what to bring, what to ask. £19 ($25)

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What to bring to an academy trial

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Boots for the surface (grass = FG, firm ground; 3G or astro = AG, artificial grass), shin pads, a ball, a named water bottle and plain kit (no rival club shirts). Check the club’s trial email first.

Bootsadidas F50 Club kids bootsMost trials are on grass or 3G. These grip on both, so your child can turn and stop without slipping.See price on Amazon Shin padsMitre Aircell shin padsMost clubs will not let a child train without shin pads. The ankle sock keeps them in place.See price on Amazon BallMitre Impel footballA few touches before the session helps nerves. Size 4 for most 8–11s, size 5 from about 12.See price on Amazon

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Charlton Athletic development centre

Paid programmePaid, per ten-week block

CACT Player Development Centres

For U9 to U16 players already at a club. Ten-week programmes, UEFA and FA licensed coaches, curriculum designed by the academy. Players who stand out are invited to the Advanced Centre.

Official page ↗

Where scouts watch

Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley
North Kent
Wider south London
EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16

If a scout calls

Ask whether it is a Player Development Centre, the Advanced Centre, or the academy. The first two are the trust, the third is the club.
Check the travel rule to New Eltham. One hour at U9 to U11.
Ask about the school partnership from 14. Charlton places likely scholars in a partner school for extra contact time.
Agents appear at 16. The academy says you do not need one then. Ask them, and the PFA, before signing anything.

Girls' Professional Game Academy, Category 2

Charlton Athletic girls academy trials 2026/27

Girls' academies are licensed by the FA, not the Premier League. How the girls' pathway works.

Charlton Athletic is listed in the FA's Professional Game Academy directory. The FA also lists Charlton Athletic as an Emerging Talent Centre provider. A centre provides extra training alongside grassroots football. Girls' information checked 5 October 2026.

Club programme

Girls' academy contact

Use the FA's Professional Game Academy directory to contact this club. Ask which age groups it currently recruits and whether it is accepting trial enquiries. A directory listing does not mean trials are open.

Official page ↗

Club programmeFree

Girls' Emerging Talent Centre contact

The FA lists this club or its Foundation in its centre directory. Ask the listed contact about ages, assessments and available places. Centre attendance can run alongside grassroots football.

Official page ↗

Club page ↗

Watch out

What to check before you agree

Category 1 clubs actively recruit from Charlton's area and can sign its players with compensation. Ask how the club handles approaches.

Development centre places are coaching products. The Advanced Centre is the one that matters for the academy.

Older articles describe development centres for seven and eight year olds. The current entry point is via Primary Stars and the trust programmes.

Sources

Compare every club: football trials UK 2026, by club, age and region.

Updated 17 October 2026. Last verified 5 September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.

Also see: Crystal Palace academy trials and development centre

Nearby

Other nearby academies

Category 2

Millwall

Eltham, south-east London · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

Category 1

Crystal Palace

Beckenham, south London · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

Category 1

West Ham United

Chadwell Heath, east London and Essex border · U9 to U21

No open trials

Read the club guide →

How recruitment works

Got a trial invite?

What to bring to an academy trial

Charlton Athletic development centre

Charlton Athletic girls academy trials 2026/27

What to check before you agree

Other nearby academies

Millwall

Crystal Palace

West Ham United

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