Paul Elliott: 'Young players nowadays are in a bubble - I still cleaned Derek Hales' boots before my Charlton Athletic debut. I was hungry and aspirational - adversity built my character'
Addicks vice-chairman on Saturday's FA Cup tie against Chelsea, flourishing despite racist abuse and confidence that Championship new boys will consolidate
“Born in Charlton. Made in Chelsea.”
For Paul Elliott, Saturday’s FA Cup tie pitches together the two clubs at the beginning and end of an impressive playing career cruelly cut short in his prime by a knee injury.
The former centre-back, 61, is the Addicks’ vice chairman and will take his seat in the directors’ box when Nathan Jones’ side look to spring a third round upset at The Valley.
What would Lewisham-born Elliott be worth if he had been coming through the Charlton Athletic ranks now?
He made his first-team debut at the age of 17 and financial problems fast-tracked his £95,000 sale to Luton Town in 1983, making him a top-flight centre-back in the old First Division while still in his teens.
Tom Morris’ picture of Paul Elliott in July 1980
Elliott, who grew up on Woolwich’s tough Morris Walk Estate, cites his lack of pampering as part of what moulded him as a footballer. He went on to become a top-class defender who played for Aston Villa, Pisa, Celtic and this weekend’s opposition in SE7.
“I just wanted to be the best I could be - I was terribly aspirational,” Elliott told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition.
“The area I came from was a low socio-economic and disadvantaged local community. It gave me a real desire to be a top player. I was hungry.
“It is a different game now because clubs are paying a fortune just for potential. So they know if Arsenal won’t do a deal then Tottenham will do it. If Tottenham don’t do a deal then Chelsea will do it. In my generation, you had to be something. The current generation, there is too much investment just on potential, because of the scale of the revenues in the game.
