Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) are delighted to announce a new partnership with Cray Valley Paper Mills FC, expanding the Trust’s Post-16 Football & Education Academy programme ahead of the 2026/27 academic year.
The new partnership will see CACT deliver its full-time football and education programme in collaboration with Cray Valley PM, providing students with the opportunity to combine their studies with a high-quality football development programme in an authentic non-league environment.
Throughout the 26/27 campaign, CACT’s Post-16 players will train and play at Cray Valley PM’s Artic Stadium based in Eltham, just four miles from The Valley, creating a clear pathway for students into the Millers’ youth and senior setups.
Open to male and female students aged 16 to 18, CACT’s fully-funded two-year Post-16 programme combines full-time education with regular training, competitive fixtures and a range of extra curricular opportunities.
Through the partnership, students will become fully immersed in the day-to-day environment of a Step 4 Isthmian League South East Division, with opportunities to represent the Millers in the FA Youth Cup while also accessing exciting pathways into the club’s under-23s side and first team.
The partnership has been developed with the support of former Addicks players Kevin Lisbie, who made over 150 appearances while playing in SE7 and is now Cray Valley PM’s first-team manager, and John Robinson, who made more than 400 appearances during his time at The Valley and is the Millers’ Youth Development Consultant.
Robinson added: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce our partnership with the Charlton Athletic Community Trust. This is a significant step forward for the club and forms an important part of our vision for the future development of our players.
“One of the most exciting elements of our new youth programme is the introduction of the Post-16 Football and Education pathway. As a former professional player, I know how important it is for young players to have access to opportunities that allow them to continue their football development while also gaining valuable educational qualifications.
“To be able to bring a pathway of this quality to the players and families at Cray Valley is something that genuinely excites me. It provides another clear progression route within our player development model and demonstrates our commitment to supporting players both on and off the pitch."
This partnership is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work behind the scenes from our Chairman, the youth leadership team, coaches, and staff who have all shared the same vision of creating an unrivalled youth programme within the area. We are extremely proud of what has been achieved so far, and I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on our players for many years to come.”
Speaking about the partnership, CACT Football & Education Academy Manager Michael Lawrence shared: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for the CACT Post-16 programme. It provides our students with a clear and meaningful pathway into an established non-league club, as well as the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into how a football club operates on a daily basis, fully immersing them in the non-league experience.
“In addition, this collaboration allows us to enhance our education provision through access to the excellent facilities at the Artic Stadium, creating an environment that inspires our students to succeed both on the pitch and in their academic journey.”
Marc Mortlock, Cray Valley PM Chairman, said: "Cray Valley PM are delighted to launch our new partnership with Charlton Athletic Community Trust. “
"We hope that this can be the start of a long and beneficial relationship for both parties, which will lead to more local players being given the chance to progress to our first-team.
We now believe we have one of the premier pathways for young footballers to progress from youth football into the adult game. Adding CACT to the equation only reaffirms our commitment to offering the best we possibly can to our local area. Thank you to CACT for their assistance in setting up the partnership."
