Young football fans from across Kent will get the chance to play at Charlton's Valley stadium next summer if their school or team buys enough tickets through the Championship club’s group visits scheme this season.

The Addicks are offering free entry to a seven-a-side tournament on the hallowed turf to any youth organisation that buys 100 group tickets for first-team games at the bargain price of £10 each over the campaign. Schools and junior football clubs will also be able to enter an extra team for each additional 100 tickets they purchase.

Each side will be guaranteed one hour’s football on the Valley pitch against teams of comparable age, followed by a knock-out format to decide the winner. The tournament, which will be supervised by the club’s award-winning community scheme, will take place in May. However, the exact date cannot be set yet in case Charlton are required to stage a play-off match that month.

This season Charlton are also offering a limited number of school and junior football groups the chance to see behind the scenes at the stadium before kick-off as part of their groups package.

Head of club development Rick Everitt said: “We are delighted with the response we get to our group tickets offer, especially from East Kent. However, we have been looking at ways to make the relationship even more special and I think the prospect of playing at The Valley too will be very attractive to potential visitors.”

The groups offer, which runs in conjunction with the Valley Express coach service from all over Kent, brings in thousands of youngsters from all parts of the county every season, many of whom are attending their first senior football match. The minimum group size is 20 people and as well as cheap tickets the fans travelling in organised groups get at £1 discount on the standard £6 Valley Express fare.

For more details, potential group organisers can contact Lisa Squires or Sharron Sherress at the club on 020-8333 4075 weekdays between 9.30am and 2.30pm or email groupbookings@cafc.co.uk