Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 07/03/26...

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Chris Lock interview: Former firefighter turned Charlton coach is now working with England's best young talents
After leaving Fulham as a youngster, Chris Lock joined the London Fire Brigade before working his way back into football, coaching with Charlton and England's age-group teams. In this exclusive interview with Sky Sports, he reveals his extraordinary journey...

"I am at a house fire," Chris Lock tells Sky Sports. "I have a crew of four on my fire engine. There is a fire downstairs, a person upstairs at the window, someone screaming inside the property who I can't see, and I have to think of the safety of my crew as well."

He uses this example to illustrate the demands placed on him during his 19 years as a firefighter. "You are constantly dealing with people on the worst day of their lives. I still feel pressure, of course I do. And I don't want to belittle football. But it is still a game."

And it is a game full of fascinating characters. But a conversation with Lock, Charlton's U21 boss, who is also working with the most talented youngsters in the country with England's age-group teams, is not like a conversation with your average coach.

When he says "tough decisions have never been daunting to me" you can appreciate why. "The fire service has served me well," he says. "It prepared me to make difficult decisions and deal with the consequences. As a manager, you do that every day."

Lock's route back to football is a curious one, because he was once a serious prospect. After working his way up through Crystal Palace, he earned a professional contract with Fulham. "I was quick and inquisitive about the game. I always wanted to know why."

He has fond memories of Fulham, of little details picked up from Paul Nevin, Steve Kean, Jean Tigana and Christian Damiano. "I started to get interested in the idea of coaching. I was maybe too opinionated at the time," he laughs. "The exuberance of youth."

But he drifted from the game, a career in football fizzling away before it had really begun due to a pelvic injury. "It was within touching distance. It always felt like unfinished business," he explains. Later, life would get in the way of pursuing the dream too.

"If I had kept playing, I probably did have the quality to get back in. But it got to the point where my partner was pregnant and you have to start earning a living. There was the football dream and the reality of becoming a father, having to provide for someone."

Lock's uncle, Nathan, was working as a firefighter at the time. "He put the idea into my head. I did not want to work in an office and sit behind a desk." And what had felt like a "tough decision" at the time turned into a form of salvation. Football by another name.

"It was literally like a changing room. It was a team with older guys - the senior pros - and then younger guys, the rookies in the squad. Then, there was the watch manager. Instead of going out to play, you were going out to an emergency. That is how I framed it."

His return to the game was a happy accident in a way, even if there was something deep in the locker that he knew he had to explore. His young sons started playing and they were both good. "It was only then, really, that I had the impetus to go back to football."

His children were at Peckham Town. "One day, their coach left. The chairman asked if I would do it." Eventually, the itch that needed scratching - "that was needling me in the gut" - morphed into Lock starting his own grassroots football club, Carpe Diem FC.

"I was going to do one team but it soon became three." That was back in 2015 and with the help of colleagues it is still going now. "The idea was always to give kids of whatever ability the opportunity to play football," he says. "It is about development not elitism."

Even so, Lock proved good at developing elite players. Reuell Walters went on to play for England at age-group level, but there are many more success stories. His own son Paris is now with Lock at Charlton. "I am much tougher on him than anyone else," he insists.

For a brief period, Lock found himself doing shifts with fire service in London, helping run Carpe Diem, working for Charlton and going away with England. "Family holidays weren't in existence because I didn't have any leave left come the end of the year."

With his football commitments increasing beyond recognition, he called time on his firefighting career. A steady income, gone. "I put all my eggs in one basket." Back in the crazy world of football, chasing the dream again but as a coach now rather than as a player.

As it stands, he is being vindicated. Late last year, he was part of the England coaching setup at the U17 World Cup. He has already worked with Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha and Arsenal's Max Dowman, two of the breakout stars of this season's Premier League.

"They are in that bracket of player where it probably does not matter who coaches them. Whether the coach is good or bad, they will come through. But it has helped me to recognise what elite looks like and I can push the Charlton lads in that direction."

And they have helped him get better too. "Players like that, they are not going to take waffle. They will recognise it if someone does not have the coaching detail they need. But I have always been good at building rapport. It is about fairness, integrity, respect."

Lessons Lock has learned from a life inside - and outside - football. He is eager to credit colleagues at Charlton such as Steve Avory, Tom Pell and Rhys Williams. Others such as Anthony Ferguson, Keith Boanas and Warren Hackett have helped him with his badges.

He talks of conversations with Chris Ramsey, Kevin Nolan, Lee Carsley, John McDermott and Tim Dittmer, while his time assisting Michael Appleton with Charlton's first team helped convince him that he could be a manager. "It kind of got my juices flowing."

But for all the contacts, for all the commitment to coaching, if there is one aspect of Lock's journey that captures the imagination, it is what makes him unique. "The fire services," he says. "That is always my anchor." It might also be why he will succeed.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11684/13526402/chris-lock-interview-former-firefighter-turned-charlton-coach-is-now-working-with-englands-best-young-talents

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Ticket & points drop information: Fulham (A)
Ticket information for the Cherries' trip to Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham on Saturday 9th May 2026 (3pm kick-off) has been announced.

Allocation Size:

The club has secured the maximum allocation of 2,701 tickets from Fulham for this fixture.

Disabled supporters in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (Higher or middle rate) or PIP payments can be issued with a complimentary personal assistant ticket, if required.

Digital Tickets
Tickets for this fixture will be issued digitally. Digital ticket links will be sent to supporters starting Monday 4th May & Tuesday 5th May (following the deadline to cancel a ticket order). Supporters will receive an email from AFC Bournemouth with a link to download your mobile ticket. Open this email on your mobile phone and add the ticket to your Apple or Google wallet. Tickets will not appear in the AFC Bournemouth app. You'll enter using the mobile ticket on matchday. Please ensure the email listed on your supporter account is accurate prior to completing your purchase.

If you require additional assistance accessing your digital ticket or are unable to utilise a smart phone or email address, please contact the ticketing team directly on 01202 726300 or email [email protected]

Safeguarding
No child under the age of 14 should be granted access to the stadium without a responsible adult who is over the age of 18. Anyone under the age of 18 cannot be considered a responsible adult and in charge of someone under the age of 14.   

Seat Location
The visitor's area is found in the Putney Stand of Craven Cottage.
Block P7
Block P6
Block P5

Accessible & Wheelchair Information
17 Pairs for wheelchair users in Block P7
10 Ambulant Disabled seats in Block P7

General Admission Travel: £35.00

Please note the new coach collection point at Vitality Stadium will be located at the lorry park at the far end of the South car park (entrance via Gloucester Road). As always, supporters should ensure they pay & display for any vehicles parked in the adjacent car park.

If coach seating reaches capacity, the club implements a waiting list to gather interest from supporters to add another coach. If the number of supporters on the list reaches a point to offer another coach, the club will contact those supporters with an opportunity to purchase a coach ticket. To join a coach waiting list, please contact the ticket office directly at [email protected] or call 01202 726300 (option 1). Please note, coach seating is non-refundable.

Wheelchair accessible minibus

We are pleased to offer wheelchair accessible minibus travel for supporters travelling to Craven Cottage. Pricing for the minibus will be the same as the coach (£35) and a personal assistant seat is issued free of charge, the only designated pick-up point will be Vitality Stadium with departure currently scheduled for 10.00am.



https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/2026/april/06/ticket---points-drop-information--fulham--a-/

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From Mendoza to Fulham: A Malbec wine tasting

Fulham FC Foundation is delighted to announce a special Malbec Masterclass on April 23rd, celebrating World Malbec Day, in partnership with Bodega Argento at Fulham Pier.

Hosted in the beautiful Water's Edge hospitality space, this guided tasting will explore five distinctive expressions of Argentina's flagship grape, taking guests on a journey through varietal typicity, terroir and style. Led by Pippa Townley (DipWSET), Brand Manager at Bodega Argento, the evening promises both discovery and enjoyment.

Whether you're a wine enthusiast or simply looking for a unique evening in a premium setting, this event offers a relaxed and social atmosphere, all in support of Fulham FC Foundation.

Tickets are £55pp and include:
• A guided Malbec masterclass
• Five wines from Bodega Argento
• Light food and nibbles
• Access to an exclusive Fulham Pier hospitality setting

All proceeds support Fulham FC Foundation's work across South West London.

Book your place

With limited capacity, early booking is strongly recommended.

Become a Supporter of the Foundation



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/06/from-mendoza-to-fulham-a-malbec-wine-tasting/

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Fulham FC Foundation supports expansion of King's Trust programme across London

Last year, Fulham FC Foundation, alongside The King's Trust, brought together a number of Club Community Organisations (CCOs) from across London at Craven Cottage to showcase the impact of King's Trust qualifications on young people.

The event highlighted how the programme is supporting participants from Premier League Kicks and Premier League Inspires to develop key skills, confidence and future opportunities. Over the last two years, Fulham FC Foundation have been able to support our young people on The King's Trust Achieve Programme, awarding 208 qualifications in total.

Following the showcase, several organisations including Chelsea Foundation, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, Millwall Foundation and Palace for Life Foundation, signed up to deliver the Achieve programme within their own communities.

At the beginning of March, representatives from each club were invited to The King's Trust London Centre for a dedicated training event.

The session was led by Jo Heffernan, Youth Development Lead at The King's Trust, alongside Lauren Binfield, Premier League Inspires Lead at Fulham FC Foundation. The training provided tailored guidance on delivering the programme within CCO settings, including workshops, trips, team-building activities, and methods for effectively showcasing impact.

Jo Heffernan, Youth Development Lead at The King's Trust, said: "Lauren's passion, enthusiasm and first-hand experience of delivery were invaluable for participants. It was also fantastic to bring clubs together, share best practice and highlight how Achieve qualifications align so closely with the work already being delivered to support young people."

A Brentford FC Community Sports Trust representative added: "I now feel entirely prepared and enthusiastic to deliver the programme. The training has given me the confidence and tools needed to get started straight away."

A Chelsea Foundation representative said: "Brilliant training — engaging, clear and well-structured throughout. It's been really valuable to learn from both The King's Trust and Fulham FC Foundation."

Together, these partnerships are helping to expand opportunities and support more young people across London.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/03/fulham-fc-foundation-supports-expansion-of-kings-trust-programme-across-london/