Valley Gold enables supporters to play a pivotal role in the future of Charlton Athletic by helping the club to unearth talented footballers through its youth system.
The organisation launched in 1989, with its original aim being to aid the club’s return to The Valley. When this was achieved in December 1992, its focus switched to helping Charlton’s academy to thrive.
No less than 72 academy graduates have gone on to represent the Addicks’ first-team since Valley Gold’s inception and five of those – Lee Bowyer, Paul Konchesky, Scott Parker, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Gomez – all went on to become full England internationals.
Fourteen graduates have made more than 100 senior appearances for Charlton and in 2009, with the club struggling financially, Valley Gold was vital in keeping the academy afloat.
WHY JOIN VALLEY GOLD?
As well providing substantial, financial support Charlton’s academy, Valley Gold also contributes to our women’s team, deaf team, Museum and our academy transport vehicles, amongst other things.
Valley Gold is entirely supporter-funded, with membership costing £120 per year. As a member of Valley Gold, you will also have the opportunity to scoop up to £5,000 in regular cash prizes.
Prize draws take place every weekday of the year, excluding bank holidays and matchdays, and at all home league fixtures at The Valley where a total of £6,000 is up for grabs.
Bonus draws also take place on the opening and final days of the season and at Christmas, meaning that Valley Gold’s seasonal giveaway to its members totals £60,500.
WHY VALLEY GOLD IS SO IMPORTANT
Under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), the club’s academy is currently assessed as Category 2.
Becoming a Category 1 club is important for recruiting and retaining the very best youth talent, as it enables them to compete against the best sides in their age group on a weekly basis.
Category 1 clubs are also able to freely ‘scout’ lower category clubs. The average cost of running a Category 2 academy is £1.6m per annum. From a financial perspective, this represents the second biggest cost centre of the club, with the largest being the first-team squad.
This is a huge level of cost to support each year, which is why the Football Club continues to be so grateful to Valley Gold members for its fundraising efforts.
For more information about Valley Gold and to sign up, please click here
List of first-team debutants since Valley Gold’s inception in 1989
Name: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
Debut: 13/12/2018
Against: Swansea City U21
Name: Terrique Anderson
Debut: 13/12/2018
Against: Swansea City U21
Name: Albie Morgan
Debut: 04/09/2018
Against: AFC Wimbledon
Name: Ben Dempsey
Debut: 14/08/2018
Against: MK Dons
Name: Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu
Debut: 14/08/2018
Against: MK Dons
Name: Ryan Blumberg
Debut: 14/08/2018
Against: MK Dons
Name: Matt Carter
Debut: 05/12/17
Against: Swansea City U21
Name: Jo Cummings
Debut: 01/11/17
Against: Fulham U21
Name: Jamie Mascoll
Debut: 01/11/17
Against: Fulham U21
Name: Taylor Maloney
Debut: 29/08/17
Against: Crawley Town
Name: George Lapslie
Debut: 29/08/17
Against: Crawley Town
Name: Reeco Hackett-Fairchild
Debut: 08/08/17
Against: Exeter City
Name: Anfernee Dijksteel
Debut: 08/08/17
Against: Exeter City
Name: Aaron Barnes
Debut: 30/04/17
Against: Swindon Town
Name: Joe Aribo
Debut: 04/10/16
Against: Crawley Town
Name: Dillon Phillips
Debut: 30/08/16
Against: Southampton U23
Name: Ezri Konsa
Debut: 09/08/16
Against: Cheltenham Town
Name: Brandon Hanlan
Debut: 06/08/16
Against: Bury
Name: Joshua Umerah
Debut: 16/01/16
Against: Hull City
Name: Ademola Lookman
Debut: 03/11/16
Against: Milton Keynes Dons
Name: Oliver Muldoon
Debut: 25/08/15
Against: Peterborough United
Name: Mikhail Kennedy
Debut: 25/08/15
Against: Peterborough United
Name: Tareiq Holmes-Dennis
Debut: 11/05/15
Against: Dagenham & Redbridge
Name: Regan Charles-Cook
Debut: 11/08/15
Against: Dagenham & Redbridge
Name: Karlan Ahearne-Grant
Debut: 30/09/14
Against: Norwich City
Name: Joe Gomez
Debut: 12/08/14
Against: Colchester United
Name: Morgan Fox
Debut: 24/02/14
Against: Sheffield Wednesday
Name: Harry Lennon
Debut: 25/01/14
Against: Huddersfield Town
Name: Diego Poyet
Debut: 21/01/14
Against: Oxford United
Name: Jordan Cousins
Debut: 06/08/14
Against: Oxford United
Name: Joe Pigott
Debut: 06/08/14
Against: Oxford United
Name: Adebayo Azeez
Debut: 05/01/13
Against: Huddersfield Town
Name: Lawrie Wilson
Debut: 14/08/12
Against: Leyton Orient
Name: Danny Haynes
Debut: 21/01/12
Against: Sheffield United
Name: Tosan Popo
Debut: 13/09/11
Against: Preston North End
Name: Danny Green
Debut: 16/08/11
Against: Colchester United
Name: Callum Harriott
Debut: 25/04/11
Against: Rochdale
Name: Carl Jenkinson
Debut: 14/12/10
Against: Brentford
Name: Yado Mambo
Debut: 06/10/09
Against: Barnet
Name: Alex Stavrinou
Debut: 11/08/09
Against: Hereford United
Name: Chris Solly
Debut: 03/05/09
Against: Norwich City
Name: Tamer Tuna
Debut: 18/04/09
Against: Blackpool
Name: Rashid Yussuff
Debut: 13/01/09
Against: Norwich City
Name: Josh Wright
Debut: 25/10/08
Against: Burnley
Name: Scott Wagstaff
Debut: 26/04/08
Against: Barnsley
Name: Jonjo Shelvey
Debut: 26/04/08
Against: Barnsley
Name: Rob Elliot
Debut: 05/04/08
Against: Plymouth Argyle
Name: Grant Basey
Debut: 27/10/07
Against: Queens Park Rangers
Name: Harry Arter
Debut: 25/09/07
Against: Luton Town
Name: Darren Randolph
Debut: 13/05/07
Against: Liverpool
Name: Nathan Ashton
Debut: 19/09/06
Against: Carlisle United
Name: Lloyd Sam
Debut: 15/05/05
Against: Crystal Palace
Name: Osei Sankofa
Debut: 03/05/03
Against: Manchester United
Name: Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Debut: 12/04/03
Against: Blackburn Rovers
Name: Jonathan Fortune
Debut: 18/08/01
Against: Everton
Name: Charlie MacDonald
Debut: 03/01/00
Against: Nottingham Forest
Name: Scott Parker
Debut: 23/08/97
Against: Bury
Name: Paul Konchesky
Debut: 16/08/97
Against: Oxford United
Name: Kevin Lisbie
Debut: 24/09/96
Against: Burnley
Name: Kevin Nicholls
Debut: 20/09/96
Against: Ipswich Town
Name: Dean Chandler
Debut: 07/05/95
Against: Reading
Name: Jamie Stuart
Debut: 05/02/95
Against: West Bromwich Albion
Name: Richard Rufus
Debut: 29/10/94
Against: Derby County
Name: Lee Bowyer
Debut: 27/09/94
Against: Swindon Town
Name: Danny R Mills
Debut: 12/10/93
Against: Brescia
Name: Shaun Newton
Debut: 01/05/93
Against: Derby County
Name: Paul Linger
Debut: 06/04/93
Against: Watford
Name: Paul Sturgess
Debut: 30/01/93
Against: Notts County
Name: Linvoy Primus
Debut: 07/10/92
Against: Bury
Name: Mark Tivey
Debut: 26/02/92
Against: Millwall
Name: Jermaine Darlington
Debut: 01/02/92
Against: Brighton & Hove Albion
Name: Steve Brown
Debut: 21/09/91
Against: Watford
Name: Anthony Barness
Debut: 17/09/91
Against: Sunderland
Name: Andy Salako
Debut: 11/05/91
Against: Plymouth Argyle
Name: Kim Grant
Debut: 02/03/91
Against: Bristol City
Name: Paul Bacon
Debut: 19/12/89
Against: Crystal Palace
Name: Marcus Smart
Debut: 14/11/89
Against: Leicester City
Name: Gordon Watson
Debut: 19/08/89
Against: Derby County
