Football talent receives a boost

FLEDGLING football talent in the area has for so long found it difficult to make their way in the game, almost exclusively for geographical reasons.

But the Southern Association Football Academy's link up with Charlton Athletic has made the peak of the mountain seem far closer.

The Horntye Park Leisure Complex, a facility frequently used by SAFA, was officially unveiled as a development centre for the Barclays Premiership club on Monday, although it has held that title for around 12 months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Addicks have 15 such sites around the south east, the reason being to filter the finest young players from throughout the region into the club. The Hastings branch currently has one player - Jack Shonk - training with Athletic at Sparrows Lane, New Elton, although others have been previously forwarded.

More than 80 pre-selected players aged 6-14 travelling from as far as Tonbridge are part of the advanced group whose skills are fine-tuned at the complex every Monday.

"We're trying to give our boys from Hastings a chance," said SAFA coach Jim Colston. "The support we get from them (Charlton) is very, very good. We have to work to strict guidelines (to replicate conditions at Charlton) and there's a great desire to see one of the boys from around here get signed."