CAFC Soccer Espana

Launched in May 2004 by former Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, the CAFC Soccer Espana programme boasts an impressive infrastructure that allows football and community initiatives to be delivered to Spanish children as well as the expanding expatriate community.

Soccer Espana director Dave Greene, who is employed by the club, has a team of experienced and qualified coaches under his remit, and has successfully been promoting the Addicks community scheme programmes as well as raising the general awareness of Charlton Athletic.

Greene and his team of coaches are running successful schools coaching programmes, holiday football courses and the popular Charlton Challenge along the Costa Blanca.

With English and Spanish-speaking coaches, Soccer Espana is able to cater for all aspects of the community. And with more than 500 children per week going through the programme, it was important to add an advanced coaching programme, so in 2006 a talent identification concept was introduced that allows gifted and talented players to receive advanced coaching. This has led to children being sent back to Charlton's academy in England for trials and monitoring.

In the same year, following extensive meetings with Valencia and the signing of a collaboration agreement before a pre-season friendly between the two clubs, Soccer Espana started working closely with the Primera Liga giants to maximise the opportunity of bringing through talented players.

CAFC Soccer Espana also has eight teams in local Spanish leagues. They play under the Charlton name and wear replica Charlton football kits, and also provide playing opportunities for adults, with a successful Friday night adult league that has more than 180 players.

In 2005, when the club was keen to expand its Spanish programme, a long-term agreement was signed with ESDE Idiomas language school, which is based in Malaga.

Under the leadership of Andrew Bonich, the language school provides football and educational programmes.

This provides Spanish children with the opportunity to learn English and understand the culture, and with a talent identification programme also being run in the area, under the management of ex-Bristol City boss Brian Tinnion, it will give Spanish children the perfect grounding should they come across to Charlton's academy - a fantastic opportunity to fit in with the knowledge they can speak the language and understand the culture.

Charlton have seen the long-term benefits of this programme, and have fully committed with funds and key personnel to support this venture.

With such an expansive and exciting project running in Spain, and with the sponsorship for the club from Spanish property company Llanera plus the backing of kit manufacturer Llanera, trips back and forth to Spain for key Addicks staff have become essential.

Following one of these trips, a partnership was formed with Malaga Tourism Board that will give Charlton fans a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of heavily reduced weekend breaks.

In addition, in partnership with the local Malaga authorities, the tourism board will support CAFC Soccer Espana and the ESDE Idiomas residential summer holiday camps that run in Malaga every year, and provide fantastic playing and education opportunities for young people.

All of the activities run in Spain are delivered by qualified coaches, who have received Criminal Record Bureau clearance and have gone through inductions on child protection and first aid.

The CAFC Soccer Espana concept is an extension of the award winning UK-based Charlton community scheme programme, and with support from the club and sponsor Llanera, aims to maximise the opportunity to expand the Charlton brand throughout Spain.

CAFC Soccer Espana will also be the official partners of Llanera in providing football and playing opportunities plus education in the fantastic facilities Llanera are building in Spain.