The chief officer for the Addicks' community trust is leaving for Burnley FC.

Matt Parish is stepping down as the chief operating officer for Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) after 19 years at the helm.

Parish began working in the Football in the Community Scheme (FITC) in September 1997.

Ten years later he became the manager of the scheme as it moved under the Charlton Athletic Community Trust title, before being appointed community director in December 2008, where he was responsible for line managing full-time staff and CACT’s service level delivery.

In July 2014 Parish became the chief operating officer.

Parish said: “Deciding to move on from CACT was a very tough decision.

“I grew up in south east London and to have played a part in building the community programme at Charlton into one of the biggest in the country is something I’m immensely proud of and also feel privileged to have had the opportunity to do.

“What I do know is that CACT makes a huge difference to the lives of thousands of people in south east London and Kent, and this great work will continue.’’

CACT’s presence was felt in South Africa between 2003 and 2010 where Parish worked developed the trust’s projects in Cape Town.

CACT’s partner club, Ajax Cape Town FC, is still running a community scheme using the Charlton model today.