As you have probably all noticed, you haven’t seen me reporting on many games for Kent Sports News recently.

The day job coinciding with the continued growth of Catch Cricket, of whom I coach for, and the impressive home form of the club I support, Charlton Athletic, got me paying my hard earned money for the recent visits of Millwall and Blackpool to the Valley.

Since Bob Peeters arrival at Charlton in July, an entire new playing philosophy has come to the Valley, that of playing out from the back and not lumping it up top to the big man that proved successful in the Chris Powell years.

Early season form suggested a play off push wasn’t out of the question but by the visit of Millwall, with a Charlton draw being the safest bet on the market, the optimism of the premier league was beginning to wane.

Coming out of the London derby, with Charlton having not beaten Millwall again ( Charlton have only won once in my lifetime against Millwall) despite dominating a fairly dour game even lacking in that special Derby atmosphere with both fans as quiet as each other, I was still fairly happy and purchased tickets for the game against Blackpool, another opportunity to see the academy graduates who mainly make up the Charlton squad.

Although disappointed with conceding a late equaliser to draw, AGAIN, there is still a sense of pride. Who else has such a strong academy, that 8 members of the matchday squad graduated from the academy and can hold their own in the championship?

Chris Solly, Jordan Cousins, Callum Harriott, Morgan Fox and Joe Gomez started for the Addicks with Lawrie Wilson, Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Joe Pigott making the bench.

The fact that Charlton have produced so many players worthy of making their first team is surely a sign that the club are doing something right in youth development with Steve Avory and Jason Euell being in charge of the youth and young professional teams.

The homegrown factor of the squad is what makes me proud and surely something that all squads across the English game should try and become.

This can only help the national side as well with FFP now giving transfer embargos to clubs who aren’t playing by the rules, maybe the way to promotion and winning trophies is the academy.

It won’t come this season but if sides like Charlton can keep hold of the likes of Joe Gomez ( who I’m convinced will play for England one day) and not pocket the first sight of money that the Arsenal’s, Chelsea’s, Man United’s of this world throw at them for these young talents, it can only be beneficial for the club, the player and ultimately the country.

Anyway, back to reporting on all of Kent’s sides. As we enter the busy Christmas period, it’s going to be an interesting second half of the season, with promotion, relegation and consolidation all to play for.