CHARLTON have stepped up their campaign to win the hearts and minds of Kent youngsters and their parents by inviting more than 700 children to be their guests at The Valley for Monday's Premier League London derby against Fulham.

Most of the youngsters play in the Valley Express Kent Youth League who signed a two-year sponsorship deal with the Addicks last month. Monday's treat is a part of that sponsorship deal.

Invitations were accepted by competing clubs Belvedere Sports, Sittingbourne's Milton Athletic, Erith and Belvedere, Gravesend, Bearsted, Whitstable, Tonbridge Angels, Sittingbourne, Rochester's Cliffe Wood Colts and Old Roan.

Colin Boswell, chief executive of the Valley Express Kent Youth League, said: "We were surprised and delighted to accept Charlton's invitation. We were expecting to be invited to a game but we never expected the invitation to come so early.

"At a time when Premier League gates are falling, Charlton are not sitting on their hands and are clearly intent on generating new support among the young people of Kent who play football at grass roots level."