Travelling Jack

Charlton youngster Jack Clark is set for a first taste of senior football action - after signing a loan deal with Bognor Regis Town.

Jack Clark has joined Bognor Regis Town on loan

The left-back, who signed his first professional contract last summer, will join the Ryman Premier Division Rocks until early December.

And he goes straight into the squad for the Sussex-coast Isthmian League Cup derby at Worthing on Tuesday night.

Clark, 18, travelled with the first team on their pre-season trip to Ireland, and has represented the U18s and the reserves this season.

The tall defender, nicknamed Sticks, has yet to break into the first-team fold, however, and will follow in the footsteps of winger Scott Wagstaff, who dropped down the football pyramid last season to get some games under his belt at Northwich Victoria.

Sidcup-based Clark made more U18 appearances than any other player last term, and was a regular in the reserve ranks.

He was also a shock inclusion on the first-team bench for Charlton's FA Cup fourth-round clash at Sheffield United on January 24th.

Quick and dynamic, Clark can also play in the centre of defence and has been with the Addicks since being spotted on one of the club's community coaching courses as a nine-year-old.

Bognor lie second from bottom in the Ryman Premier Division, three rungs outside The Football League, having shared six goals at runaway leaders Dartford on Sunday.

The Darts, managed by former Addick Tony Burman, looked set for a first league defeat of the season after a hat-trick from Jason Prior had Bognor 3-2 up in added time. But four minutes into stoppage time Dartford snatched a leveller to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Bognor were relegated from the Blue Square South in a turbulent 2008/09 season, following a defeat by Charlton's near neighbours Welling United in April.

The club suffered financial problems, was docked seven points for fielding an ineligible player, one of the 54 they used in the campaign, and had three managers.

Stalwart general manager Jack Pearce, a former player and manager in his 39 years at the club, also suffered a cancer scare and an arsonist burned the Nyewood Lane clubhouse to the ground.

Clark's potential first league match on Saturday will see him come up against a familiar face in the shape of academy mentor Joe Francis, who is on the management staff at Cray Wanderers.

The first home game in Clark's spell in Sussex is against Harrow Borough on Tuesday, November 17th, and four days later Sutton United are the visitors to Nyewood Lane.

Essex side Aveley play host to Clark and co at Mill Field on Monday, November 23rd, before the Rocks host Tooting & Mitcham the following Saturday.

The one-month stint ends after the away match at Waltham Abbey on Saturday, December 5th.