CHARLTON ATHLETIC

 

Charlton had a sticky time of it when they were first formed in 1905, playing on Siemens Meadow. They went rough and made Woolwich Common their home, before a big money move to Pound Park and then the hardest pitch on Horn Lane. They even managed to win two leagues in one season - Division Two of both the Woolwich League and the Lewisham League. It wasn’t until 1919 that they moved into the old chalk pit that became the Valley. It was one of the biggest grounds in the country for many years with vast, steep, mountainous terraces, packed with fans every other week, but it could have been very different had a move to Catford been successful. However, the home ground was to play a big part in their future.

In 1921, The Addicks (a nickname taken from a local fish and chip shop in the vicinity) made it to Division 3 (South) and this preceded a period when they were one of the most feared sides in Britain under the leadership of former Spurs player, Jimmy Seed. They took the odd step of moving out of the Valley to Catford in the middle of the 1923-24 season, but soon moved back at the end of the season. In 1935, they came second in their league and in ‘36 were runners-up in Division 2, the same position they filled the following season in the top flight.

Their FA Cup zenith was reached after the War, when they featured in consecutive Finals - losing 1-4 to Derby County in 1946 (with Bert Turner scoring for both sides) and winning in 1947 - a 1-0 win over Burnley. Seed managed to break the lid of the trophy when celebrating and that is why they now have the ribbons tied to it - to stop the top falling off. In their victorious run to the final, their 5th round tie against Blackburn Rovers was the first to be shown live on television. The ball burst in both finals too!

Famous Sam Bartram was a loyal servant to the club. So much so, that during one game when fog descended and enveloped the pitch, he remained at his post thinking the match was continuing. It was only when a Policeman threatened to arrest him for loitering with intent that he realised all the other players had departed. Staying the course seemed to agree with the South Londoners - trailing 5-1 with 28 minutes left against Huddersfield Town in 1957, Charlton came back to win 7-6 !!

Relegated from the top division in 1957, a few "original" ideas were considered to spice up the old club. 1959 saw a push to become London Athletic and in 1966, when football was at it’s peak in this country, Charlton became home to the London Broncos rugby league side!! This bucked the current trend of the times.  Another innovation Charlton took to was that of substitutes, when Keith Peacock became the first one use din the Football League in 1965.  In 1972 the Valiants were sent down to Div. 3, but by 1986 they were back in Division 1, with Lennie Lawrence leading them in their annual relegation fight. Before that had happened, Athletic had scooped the world by signing Barcelona and Denmark star Allan Simonsen - 44 years after they nearly scooped the football world by trying to sign Stanley Matthews.

Having to leave their home ground in 1985, meant that they were forced to share Selhurst and Upton Parks until the Valley Party won votes in the local elections and inspired a return to Greenwich in 1992. The new Valley was a breath of fresh air and the team won the 1998 promotion play-off on a penalty shoot-out after an exciting 4-4 draw with Sunderland. Unfortunately, Charlton returned to Division One the next season. Without wanting to become a yo-yo club, the Addicks raced to the 1999-2000 First Division Championship with a terrific run of results from Christmas to Easter.  Manager Alan Curbishley had his work cut out to keep the team up in the top half, but by floating the club on the Stock market, money should be available to produce purchases to share in the benefits of the Premier League.  His side have floated accordingly, despite some fans concerns about end-of-season slumps.

Having decided to call it a day at the Valley in 2006, Ian Dowie, Les Reed and finally Alan Pardew all tried to keep the Addicks up once more, but failed in the end and then could not rise back to the top flight at the first attempt, leaving them a tough task to get promotion and the side slipped even further down the ladder with relegation to League One, where they have found it tough to escape from.

Under manager Chris Powell, the team powered to promotion back to the Championship and celebrating 30 years back at the Valley in December 2012, the Addicks drew against Brighton & Hove Albion to sit comfortably smack in the middle of the division  ... with  some home comfort too.

FAMOUS PLAYERS : - Sam Bartram, Allan Simonsen, Norman Brothers (one of the Charlton Brothers), Derek Hales, Harry Dale, Richard Rufus and Chaka Khan.

FAMOUS FANS : - Michael Grade (TV Executive), Carl Howman (TV Actor - Babes In The Wood), Jim Davidson (Comedian), Steve Ryder (TV Presenter - Grandstand); Bjorn Borg (Tennis star); Glenn Tilbrook (Musician - Squeeze).

Club Records


Formed 1905

Turned Professional 1920

Became a Limited Company 1919

Former names -

Previous grounds 1906-07  Siemen's Meadow
1907-09  Woolwich Common
1909-13  Pound Park
1913-20  Horn Lane
1920-23  The Valley
1923-24  Catford (The Mount)
1924-85  The Valley
1985-91  Selhurst Park
1991-92  Upton Park

Nickname "The ADDICKS", "The VALIANTS" or "The ROBINS"

Club Colours HOME : Shirts - Red
Shorts - White
Socks - Red 

AWAY : Shirts - White
Shorts - Red
Socks -  White


Record Football League Win 8-1   v  Middlesbrough
Div. 1      12.9.1953

Record Football League Defeat 1-11   v  Aston Villa
Div. 1       14.11.1959

Record Cup Win 7-0  v  Burton Albion   
FAC R3      7.1.1956

Record Fee Paid £4.75 million to Wimbledon for Jason EUELL (July 2001)

Record Fee Received £16.5 million from Tottenham Hotspur for Darren BENT  (29 June 2007)

Record Football League Appearances 583  -  Sam BARTRAM  (1934-56)

Record goalscorer in a season 32  -  Ralph ALLEN 
(Div 3(S), 1934-35)

Record all-time goalscorer  153 - Stuart LEARY  (1953-62)

Most goals in a match 5   -  Wilson LENNOX  v  Exeter City  Division 3 (South)  2.2.1929
5   -  Eddie FIRMANI   v  Aston Villa  Division 1         5.2.1955
5   -  John Summers    v  Huddersfield Town     Division 2   21.12.1957
5   -  John Summers    v  Portsmouth     Division 2   1.10.1960

Record Attendance (all-time) 75,031       v    Aston Villa
FA R5          12.2.1938

Record Premier League Attendance 25,893       v    Ipswich Town 
1.1.2002

Record match receipts £201,711     v  Queens Park Rangers  FAC R5        8.1.2000

Record total of goals in a  League season 107  -  Division 2 1957-58, 42 games

Record  League points total 2 points for a win :  61   Division 3 (South)   1934-35
3 points for a win :  91   Division 1   1999-2000

Most Capped player while at club 19 -  John HEWIE  (Scotland)


Youngest player Paul KONCHESKY  -  16 years and 93 days  v  Oxford United  16.8.1997


 

Stadium details 

Address :  The Valley, Floyd Road, London SE25 6PH

Telephone :  020 8333 4000
 020 8333 4010 (Ticket Office)
 09068 121 146 (News)
 Fax :  020 8333 4001

Capacity :  20, 043
Pitch size :  111 yards  x 73 yards

Official website :  www.charlton-athletic.co.uk.
Unofficial websites :  Forever Charlton 
Where Were You
 
Addicks Online 
Pics From The Past 
Charlton Till I Die 

Fanzines

Goodbye Horse
Voice of the Valley

 

Alternative History

Club Records

Stadium Details

Full results history of Spurs v Charlton Athletic

Transfers from Charlton Athletic to Tottenham

Transfers from Tottenham to Charlton Athletic

Honours

Managers

League Record

Spurs v Charlton Athletic Notes

Spurs v Charlton Athletic match reports

Spurs v Charlton Athletic Reserve match reports

Spurs v Charlton Athletic Youth match reports

 

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