Charlton are delighted to confirm the appointment of Tom Pell as Academy Manager, with Steve Avory becoming Academy Director.
Pell joins Charlton after 16 years working at Cambridge United’s academy.
He said: “It feels fantastic, I am really excited for the opportunity and really grateful to Steve and the Owner as well. I have been at my previous club for a really long period of time, the new challenge is an exciting one and something I am really looking forward to.
“A massive pull for me is that the club has a rich history of producing players, anyone that works within academy football, you want to work at a club where there is a pathway.”
Pell’s addition, means Avory becomes Academy Director, with Pell supporting the staff in bringing the disciplines and departments together from a day-to-day operations perspective, allowing Avory to increase his focus on the footballing side of running the academy.
Avory said: “Tom brings to the club the experience of being in a very similar role at Cambridge United. He comes highly recommended and has a good reputation, certainly within the academy circuit which we are operating in. I have noticed how much more productive Cambridge’s academy have become on the pitch with their performance levels, as well as successfully bringing young players through their system there and Tom has been a part of that.”
Pell has been involved in academy football all his life. He was an academy player from the age of eight at Peterborough United, and left there at 16 for Cambridge. Since 2006 he has been working as Cambridge’s academy in a number of roles, mainly based in coaching and operations and in the last four years as the club’s Academy Manager.
Pell’s arrival comes ahead of the departure of Head of Academy Business Operations, Ruth Corry, who is set to take up a role at The FA working with England’s senior teams.
Avory said: “Ruth has contributed so much during her time at the Academy. I am very grateful for her support to me in the business and operational aspects of the Academy. Every department in our set up owes a lot to Ruth for their organisation and progress during her time at the club. We wish her all the best in her future role with the FA.”