Reader’s letter: Charlton’s deal to secure Alfie May from Cheltenham Town is the “bargain of the century”

By William Lefebve – a diehard Cheltenham Town fan since January 25, 1958.

If Harry Kane is really worth a reported salary of £400,000 a week to keep him at Tottenham Hotspur, by comparison, may I suggest that Charlton Athletic reportedly securing the services of prolific goalscorer Alfie May for a mere £250,000, has to be the football bargain of the century.

It amounts to “highway robbery” –  just a quarter of a million quid is being handed over to my team of 65 years, Cheltenham Town.

Alfie May is worth four times that amount. 

After signing from Doncaster Rovers for £5,000 in January 2020, he went on to net 67 league goals for the Robins and around 100 goals in all competitions, including the memorable one that threatened to embarrass Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Whaddon Road in the FA Cup fourth round on January 23, 2021.

If May had been three inches taller than his 5ft 9in frame, he might have played up front for England alongside Harry Kane and helped us back to World Cup glory.

To League One defenders in the forthcoming season: “Be prepared for Alfie May to tear you apart”.

And to the Valley faithful, I have this to say: “The kid from Gravesend will set South London alight and return you to the good old days!”