Fans will hopefully have seen that the club is celebrating a special academy day when Sheffield Wednesday visit The Valley on Saturday and it’s a really good showcase for the young lads in front of thousands of supporters.

Of course, I know what it’s like to be part of the club’s youth system, even though the year I finished my apprenticeship was the year they introduced the academy system. That was in 1998, so I’m getting on a bit now! It’s a great time of your life. You’re thinking of playing football as your career and you’re at a great club known for giving opportunities to youth players.

I remember the year above me had Kevin Lisbie and Kevin Nicholls. In my year, there was me and a lad called Kevin James, who played for a little bit and the year below had Scott Parker, Paul Konchesky, Kemal Izzet and Charlie MacDonald. Terry Westley was our manager and one of the first things he told us was that there were too many of us in our group.

It was like The Apprentice. One by one, players started getting sacked left, right and centre. He was our Alan Sugar and put us through all types of tasks and played mind games with us.

On the final day when it came to learning whether you were going to be professional, there were only five players left. But even my friends who didn’t make it now look back and respect what he did and how hard it was – but how much fun it was at the same time. I wouldn’t change it at all.

On Saturday, around 140 players from under-9 upwards will parade around the pitch prior to kick-off.

Of course, while the academy is critically important, the main focus on Saturday will remain getting three points against Sheffield Wednesday.

Our last home performance, when we were beaten 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion, simply wasn’t good enough, and we know we have much to do in front of our own supporters.

That said, we’re only three points off an automatic promotion place at this early stage of the season, and I hope last weekend’s 4-3 win against Carlisle shows how much we are prepared to put in to gain victory. It was long journey back to London but an enjoyable one!