The hum of excitement has been growing inside the Charlton Athletic academy.
It started when two of their graduates, Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa were called into England’s Euro 2024 squad and gathered intensity when another, Ademola Lookman, scored a hat-trick to win the Europa League final for Atalanta.
Scholars were all talking about those who walked before them and the inspiration could hardly come at a better time.
Charlton’s Under-18s up against Birmingham City in the Professional Development League Two play-off final on Saturday and have a pair of strikers with an incredible haul of 87 goals between them this season.
‘It’s fantastic for the football club and for the young players,’ said Jason Pearce, senior professional development phase lead coach, who in in charge of the Under-18 team and played with Lookman and Konsa at The Valley.
Ademola Lookman, left, and Ezri Konsa, right, are among Charlton Athletic’s academy graduates to have enjoyed successful seasons
Lookman was the star man as Atalanta triumphed in the Europa League final on Wednesday
The forward scored a stunning hat-trick as Atalanta earned a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen
‘Ademola was one of the best natural talents I had ever come across. He could play off both feet, he could change direction so quickly, had a natural ability to beat people but as well was such a lovely young boy. A nice, genuine, humble boy. I just wanted to see him do well and I think everybody did.
‘As captain, it was my job to nurture Ezri through certain areas of the game he needed to improve like his positioning and communication but he was always brilliant with the way he managed the ball and stepped past people. Again, he had a good mentality. He loved the game and enjoyed training, always laughing and he has taken it all to the top level.’
League One Charlton have been through rough times since they slipped out of the Premier League in 2007 but their academy has remained the envy of many. Other graduates include Alfie Doughty, so impressive in the top-flight with Luton Town and Joe Aribo, aiming for promotion with Southampton in the Championship play off final on Sunday.
Images of these home-grown stars are plastered around the corridors at the Sparrow’s Lane training ground in New Eltham.
‘The academy holds the club together at times,’ says Pearce, and it continues to produce exciting talent.
Miles Leaburn, 20, made a brilliant breakthrough in 2022/23 until injury struck in November. Daniel Kanu, 19, has burst from the ranks to make an impression and scored four in a game during a loan spell at Southend United, last season.
The prolific strike-force for Charlton’s U18s is Patrick Casey, 18 years old with 44 goals and counting, and Micah Mbick, 17 years old and only one goal behind his partner.
Both born in East London, they have made senior debuts for the Addicks and are tipped for successful professional careers.
Lookman’s achievements add to the excitement in Charlton’s academy with another academy graduate Konsa having been called up to the England squad
Joe Gomez is another Charlton youth product to be named in England’s Euro 2024 squad
Casey, who joined the club’s pre-academy at the age of six, is a smooth and easy finisher off either foot, who likes to drop deep from the front line, link up play and thread some passes. His style has been likened to Harry Kane’s and he studies the England captain.
‘I was a number 10 when I was 13 or 14, a bit of a playmaker for the strikers,’ says Casey. ‘Then I just started scoring goals and it felt like that was my strength. Last season was similar when I scored 43, and now I’m passed that by one with just the final to go. I’m looking forward to it.’
Mbick, who scored on his senior debut against Cray Valley Paper Mills in an FA Cup first round replay in November, joined Charlton as a midfielder at U10s. He has been converted into a prolific centre forward since a growth spurt in his mid-teens, using videos of Didier Drogba to perfect the role.
‘It’s old-school, physical, centre-forward play,’ says Mbick. ‘Linking up play as well but always in the box and in the right position.’
Pearce has worked hard with his coaching staff have targeted the mentality of this U18s crop this season.
Miles Leaburn is one of Charlton’s current first team squad to have come through the academy
‘It is a group with good ability but there were areas to improve,’ says the 36-year-old former defender whose playing career started at Portsmouth and featured spells with Bournemouth, Leeds and Wigan before six years at Charlton from 2016.
‘There were inconsistencies in their performances. I questioned their mentality, but throughout the season the mentality has shifted. I think they understand what it takes to be a professional footballer.
‘It’s about driving through standards, making sure they get preparation right every day. We go through the clips in analysis, especially out-of-possession actions because sometimes young players think it’s all about ‘on the football’ no matter what they do out of possession.
‘We’ve tried to drum into them they need to both. Where they were inconsistent, they’re now consistent in everything they’re doing. They’re in a good place and there’s some real talent in the group and looking forward to the final.’