Charlton Athletic have signed a partnership agreement with the Mark Fish Foundation, marking the first formal collaboration under the club’s newly-launched International Football Programme.
The strategic partnership was confirmed at a signing event at The Barrel Room in South Africa, attended by representatives from both organisations. The agreement was signed on behalf of Charlton Athletic by legendary former manager Alan Curbishley, alongside Mark Fish, former Charlton player, former South Africa international and founder of the Mark Fish Foundation.
The partnership represents a major step in the delivery of Charlton’s international strategy, which aims to expand the club’s global footprint, explore commercial opportunities, broaden the club's growing international scouting network, strengthen overseas community engagement by using sport for good and create development pathways for emerging talent.
Working alongside the Mark Fish Foundation, Charlton will support the delivery of structured football programmes for young people in selected communities across South Africa. The collaboration will focus on sharing coaching expertise, development philosophy and football education frameworks, helping to enhance opportunities for young players while supporting wider personal and social development.
Charlton Athletic’s Head of Youth Partnerships and Chair of the club's Ex-Players' Association 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 is a former teammate of mine and we were delighted to welcome him back to The Valley in 2024 and again last year through our work with the Ex-Players’ Association, which allowed us to begin developing this partnership.
"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 took place during an ongoing Charlton Athletic visit to South Africa, with club and Charlton Athletic Community Trust staff delivering football development activity in KwaZulu-Natal, following a successful week of engagement in Pretoria, Gauteng.
South Africa has been identified as one of the club’s key initial focus regions as part of its wider commitment to establishing pilot programmes and long-term partnerships internationally.
