Monday 19th July 2010 > Community Trust
TRUST TEAM ON THE UP AND UP
THE rise and rise of the Charlton Community Trust football team sees them start the 2010-2011 campaign playing in the Kent County League’s Premier Division _ one step away from the Kent League.
The team, which started life in division 4 of the South London Alliance in 2007, comprises players from different Trust projects.
Together, they wasted no time in accumulating silverware, winning the league and with it the Kent Junior Cup. They moved on up into the Kent County League, Division 2 (West) in 2008-09, finishing runners-up after losing out on the championship title on goal difference on the final day.
However, they retained the Kent Cup. And last season they finished runners but won the Division 1 player-off and promotion to the Premier section.
Team manager and coach Darren Phillips of the Community Trust said: "We've jumped eight divisions in three years. One more promotion and we'll be on the verge of the serious stuff.
"By that I mean the FA Cup qualifying round, entry into the FA Vase and playing in the Kent League."
Darren stressed the team's emphasis was signing more young players from housing estates rather than recruiting youngsters who have played at a higher level who believe they can get a trial for Charlton's first team.
He said: "Hopefully, one day we'll develop a player who will be good enough to get a trial for the first team."
The team play home games at the Samuel Montagu ground Kidbrooke but could be on the move.
Darren explained: "We've been given special dispensation to play at Samuel Montagu for one more season. If we don't find another ground then the Kent County League would demote us back to Division 1."
The side have arranged seven pre-season friendlies ahead of the new Kent County League season which kicks off on August 14.
