Charlton Athletic have formalised a partnership with the Mark Fish Foundation, becoming the first agreement signed under the London club’s newly-launched International Football Programme.
The deal was sealed at The Barrel Room in South Africa, with club legend and former manager Alan Curbishley signing on behalf of Charlton alongside Mark Fish – the former Addicks defender and Bafana Bafana stalwart who founded the organisation bearing his name.
The partnership will see the two parties deliver structured football programmes for young people across selected South African communities, combining Charlton’s coaching expertise and development philosophy with Fish’s on-the-ground foundation work.
Charlton’s Head of Youth Partnerships Steve Brown said: “This is an important moment for the club as we begin delivering our International Football Programme and building meaningful partnerships around the world. Mark has a strong connection to Charlton and an outstanding reputation for supporting young people through football in South Africa.
“We are proud that this is the first partnership under our new strategy and it reflects our history, both through previous work in South Africa and through Mark’s relationship with the club. We look forward to creating long-term opportunities for players, coaches and communities.”
Mark Fish added: “It is a proud moment for me to reconnect with Charlton Athletic in this way. This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Working with the club allows us to enhance the reach and quality of our football programmes and continue using the game as a platform to empower young people and support communities across South Africa.”
The signing forms part of Charlton’s broader international strategy, which targets commercial growth, expanded scouting networks and community engagement globally. South Africa has been identified as one of the club’s key pilot regions, with club and Community Trust staff already active in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng during an ongoing visit to the country.
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