Talent isn't enough: making it through Charlton’s Academy

Talent isn't enough: making it through Charlton’s Academy

Author: Not The Top 20 Podcast September 23, 2026 Duration: 24:25
Ali Maxwell visits Charlton Athletic’s “Sparrows Lab” to hear from Tyreece Campbell, Karlan Grant, Alan Mwamba and under-21 lead coach Chris Lock about the journey from academy hopeful to first-team footballer. An inside look at the academy that helped produce Ezri Konsa, Joe Gomez and Ademola Lookman, with lessons for anyone interested in youth development. The second of two special NTT20 episodes supporting the Raised in the EFL campaign, celebrating the role EFL academies play in developing the next generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For fans who live and breathe the drama below the Premier League, Not The Top 20 Podcast offers a home. Hosts George Elek and Ali Maxwell have built a dedicated community around their insightful and passionate analysis of the Football League, covering every promotion push, relegation scrap, and unexpected storyline across the Championship, League One, and League Two. The rhythm of their week mirrors the fan's experience: a detailed Monday episode unpacks the weekend's action, serving as the essential debrief, while their Betting Show later in the week provides carefully considered picks, focusing on the value and narratives often missed elsewhere. This isn't surface-level chatter; it's the detailed, informed conversation you'd have with your most knowledgeable friend. Since 2016, their consistent, high-quality coverage has earned them a loyal following and recognition like double nominations for the FSF 'Best Podcast' award. Tune into this podcast for a blend of sharp tactical breakdowns, club-specific knowledge, and the genuine enthusiasm that comes from focusing deeply on the seventy-two clubs that make the EFL endlessly compelling. You'll find the entire pyramid discussed here with a depth that mainstream coverage rarely provides, making each episode a vital listen for anyone invested in the heart of English football.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Not The Top 20 Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Betting Show: How to follow a 49/1 winning Eggman... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
Betting picks ahead of the EFL weekend: best bets, goalscorer picks, Ali's Eggman and George's acca swerve. -- Sponsored by SBK. Ali & George's NAP double boosted special here: https://bit.ly/4hISWWC Sign up to SBK here…
L2: Barnet, Grimsby, Walsall keep on rolling & are Gillingham good? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Only one away win in League Two and it’s Rotherham United at Northampton. But the unbeaten bunch keep on rolling: Barnet, Grimsby, Walsall all winning and Crewe drawing. Gillingham, Rochdale, Chesterfield and Salford all…
L1: Argyle & Bradford win again, Posh sack Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
We chat through big away wins for Plymouth Argyle at Blackpool and Bradford at Luton. Peterborough sack Luke Williams after defeat to Doncaster. Elsewhere, Wycombe, Reading, Bromley and Leyton Orient picked up victories.…
Betting Show: Double NAP(ish) & a goals galore double [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:30
Betting picks ahead of the EFL weekend: best bets, goalscorer picks, Ali's Eggman, and acca swerve, a BTTS six fold & goals galore. -- Sponsored by SBK. Sign up to SBK here to get £60 in Free Bets when you sign up and pl…
How to Build a Footballer: Inside Exeter City’s Remarkable Academy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Ollie Watkins. Ethan Ampadu. Matt Grimes. How does Exeter City keep producing players who reach the top? From the “must-haves” Exeter demand of every youngster to their ambition to develop a Champions League winner, this…
L1: Leicester tensions rise despite big win, Wycombe sack Duff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:19
We chat through a big away win for Leicester City and Russell Martin at Stockport. Then: Stevenage beat Luton, Wycombe win their first match after sacking Michael Duff and Oxford United beat Burton. Cambridge United, Ply…
L2: Grimsby & York's statement wins, Barnet go top [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:32
Cheltenham Town and Chesterfield the only away winners in League Two this weekend. Grimsby Town and York City both log statement wins, with Gillingham, Port Vale and Shrewsbury Town logging home wins. -- The Monday Pod i…