Charlton Athletic and England Elite coach Chris Lock – a former firefighter – had love of football reignited by his sons
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Chris Lock had a spell as a firefighter after losing his appetite for football, only for his sons to help reignite his interest in the sport.
The South Londoner, 41, was appointed as lead coach of Charlton Athletic’s U21 side in May 2023.
And Lock, who was on the books of Fulham as a youngster before a pelvis problem halted his progress, has also been assisting Paul Nevin, interim boss of the England Elite League squad since August.
Lock’s son Paris is on AFC Wimbledon’s books, he joined Braintree Town on loan earlier this season, while Tristan had a spell with the Whites.
“I had an issue with my pelvis that wasn’t going away – I distinctly remember that Paris had just been born and I had a trial at Rushden & Diamonds,” said Lock, who was born and raised in Camberwell until the age of 10. “Rushden were spending a bit of money at the time and they were going quite well.
“I had to take Paris with me to the trial. My dad was on the side of the pitch, with Paris. He was only a few months old. I remember just finding myself more interested in what he was doing than what I was doing on the pitch.
“I said to my dad afterwards: ‘I think I’m actually done with football – in terms of trying to play’. He said: ‘You’ve got to do whatever you have got to do’.
“I decided football at that moment wasn’t going to be for me.
“My uncle Nathan was in the fire service and he always spoke really highly of it. Coincidentally they had just started to recruit. I applied. Usually it takes a year to get into the fire brigade – but I managed to get in the first time of asking.
“When I came out of training I was stationed at Lewisham. I stayed there for five years, I got promoted to the rank of crew manager and moved to East Ham.
“Coming out of the football world, and into the fire service, there were lots of similar principles in terms of you are working with the same people in a team – there is a hierarchy in terms of a manager, captain and the rest of the squad.
“The only difference is that with football we train to go and play matches. With the fire brigade, we train together in order to save lives. I kind of used the football analogy the whole way through being a firefighter and an officer in the fire brigade.”
Once Lock’s children started playing football it pulled him back into that environment.
“I was helping all these young lads and realising I had a bit of a knack for building a rapport,” he said. “I enjoyed it and it was something I got a reward from. So why not carry on with it? That’s what I did.
“I went to Peckham Town for three years, coaching their U8s and U9s. Then I started my own football club – Carpe Diem FC – which is still running today for the community. It’s based in Catford, Lewisham and Beckenham.”
Lock, who also had spells living in Thornton Heath and Catford, applied for an U11 role at Charlton in 2019. But after coming in and putting on a session as part of his interview process, it led to Adam Lawrence, head of academy coaching, asking him to help with the U13s.
Lock has moved up the age groups since.
His appointment at England Elite level – which is U20s – was part of the FA and PFA’s England Elite Coach Programme. Their next match is tonight against Germany, in Chesterfield, followed by a fixture in Poland on Tuesday.
Charlton left-back Thierry Small was a late call-up to the latest squad with Millwall’s Romain Esse a firm fixture. Other notable names include ex-Lion Darko Gyabi, now at Leeds, and Newcastle prospect Lewis Miley.
“It’s something I never thought would be a part of my pathway, if I’m honest with you,” said Lock.
“Especially with how quickly things have changed for me at Charlton – going from U13s coach to U21s coach.
“When I applied for the England role there were people who have done a lot more in the game than me – you’ve got Tom Huddlestone, Jolean Lescott, Darius Vassell and Ashley Cole, initially, who were on the same scheme. I’m thinking ‘I haven’t got a chance with the calibre of those going for it’ but I went and sat the interview.
“I got a call about a week later saying they were really impressed with everything and would like to offer me the role with the U20s – at least, at that time, for the next three months. So that is the September, October and November camps with a view to that carrying on for the rest of the season, once we knew what was happening with Lee Carsley and everyone else who has moved around a bit.
“That is kind of where we are at and where we have got to.
“I had a good chat with Romain on Monday when he arrived (for England duty). When he was younger – I want to say 15, 16 and 17 – he used to actually do some training sessions with my son, over at Ten Em Bee, with a coach, James Mullane, who used to do some group and one-to-one sessions.
“I’ve known Romain for a long time but now I’ve got to know him as a young adult. As a person I can only say good things about him – he’s a great lad and proving to be a very good player for Millwall.
“I’ve had time with Thierry when he has played a few U21 games and when I got to spend some time with the first-team under Michael Appleton. He is a very talented individual.
“It’s easy to forget he is still very young. A lot of people would think he wasn’t still eligible to play for the U20s. He is still developing himself.”
Lock was a full-back in his playing days. He still uses some of the coaching principles imparted by Christian Damiano, then assistant to Fulham boss Jean Tigana, to this day.
He is grateful for the faith shown by Steve Avory, who recently stepped down as academy director after nearly 25 years at Charlton.
“Initially Adam hired me and Steve didn’t have much to do with me,” said Lock.
“Over the years Steve has seen me work and showed trust in me, to the point he has continually pushed me to where I am now – working at a more senior level.
“For me it is just about a continuation of the type of person that I am.
“I try to graft and do the best job I can, whatever situation I am in – whether it is U13s coach, U21s coach or first-team coach.
“If you are doing the best job you can and people recognise that, then at the end of it you will hopefully be rewarded with potentially a new role at some point.”
MAIN PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS