Kim grant believes youth is the key for charlton

By Rob Virtue on April 24, 2008 8:59 AM |

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Charlton,
Kim Grant

IF ALAN Pardew gives some youth players their chance in the last two games, he will hope they are as dedicated to the cause as previous rising stars.

Back in the dark days of exile from The Valley, a number of homegrown talents came through the ranks including Carl Leaburn, Scott Minto, Anthony Barness and Gordon Watson.

Another, Kim Grant, who now lives in the Czech Republic, believes it was the tireless work both on and off the pitch from the young stars which helped the club to where it is today.

“So many players were coming through from 15 years old and making it in the first team and we knew what the club was about,” said Grant, who was earning just £27.50 a week when he broke into the first team in 1991 as an 18-year-old.

“We even used to sweep the driveway at the training ground all the way up to the pavilion. We knew how the club struggled and maybe that’s different now. It is easy to forget about it.

“We would give up our time to help keep the club afloat. I felt proud about being a part of it. We were building the foundations for the club.

“As a YTS lad, I’d play 90 minutes in the first team and then have to clean the dressing rooms after the match, but it put us in good stead. Now, sadly, times have changed. For the youngsters, everything is done for them.”

Grant says he has great memories of his time at Charlton and is hoping to return to The Valley next year to see the ground.

“I was there through all the hard times and still feel a strong connection to the club,” he said. “I haven’t been back for quite a few years and haven’t even seen the ground fully built so I’d love to go back soon.”

Grant left in 1997 when he signed for Luton Town for £250,000, giving the club a much-needed financial boost.

He went on to play for Millwall before heading abroad to play for teams in Portugal, Hong Kong, Belgium, Japan and Malaysia.

Grant now lives an hour from Prague and has just started a new business organising luxury weddings in the Czech Republic.

Called Elegance Chateau Weddings, it is targeted at footballers and Grant has contacted the PFA to get the word out to professionals in England. He also has a printing company here.

At 35, he is still in football but currently without a club since leaving Geylang United in Singapore in controversial circumstances.

“The owners at Geylang tried to ruin my reputation,” he said. “I had hardly seen my son and they wouldn’t let me have a few days off. I lost my rag a little bit and they tried to sack me.”

Grant won his legal appeal and Geylang had to pay out the remainder of his contract. Next year he is looking to return to England to play non-league football.

To find out more about Kim’s companies visit www.elegancechateauweddings.com and www.mikadoexhibitions.com.

rob.virtue@wharf.co.uk