Charlton Athletic were founded in 1905.

The origins of the club lay in a youth team formed in 1905 and it wasn't until 1913 that senior status was adopted when they joined the Lewisham League. After the First World War Charlton turned professional and joined the Southern League in 1920, but only for a single season. In 1921 they took advantage of the restructuring of Division Three (previously very Southern club dominated) into South and North sections. With Crystal Palace promoted and Grimbsy Town rather sensibly moved into the Northern section, Aberdare Athletic and Charlton Athletic were elected to the two freed up positions.

In 1928-29 Charlton took the Division Three South title and gained promotion to Division Two where they survived four years before being relegated from last place in 1932-33. Jimmy Seed was brought in as manager, a position he would hold for the next twenty-three years, and had Charlton promoted as Champions again in 1934-35. The following campaign they were Division Two runners-up to Manchester United and had made it to the top flight for the first time. These were great days for Charlton Athletic with crowds of 70,000+, and their first attempt at Divison One saw them finish runners-up. The following season they were fourth, and the final season before World War Two, third.

The North Stand - the home end - at The Valley Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

After the War they weren't quite the same force in the league, but did get to two successive F.A. Cup Finals, winning the second. However a series of uninspiring seasons followed and Seed was eventually sacked in 1956 as mediocre turned to bad and Athletic were relegated. They missed bouncing straight back by a point in 1957-58, but then drifted into mostly mid-table Division Two status for season after season until the end of the Sixties. By then they were clinging on by their fingernails, and after squeaking survival for two campaigns were relegated in 1971-72 to Division Three. Three seasons saw them promoted back again to Division Two where the goals of Derek Hales sustained them for a while. However in 1979-80 the Addicks managed six wins all season and ended bottom. Although back up again from third place the next season these were tough times for the club and they were very much also rans at Second Division level. The Valley, with its huge capacity and awe inspiring terrace, was a rotting ruin with less than 10,000 fans knocking around in it. In 1984 Charlton were fighting bankruptcy in the High Court, and in 1985 recorded their lowest ever Football League attendance of 5,104. Abandoning The Valley for exile at Selhurst Park it looked as if Charlton Athletic was at death's door. Unbelievably in the midst of this catastrophy Lennie Lawrence got them promoted to Division One in 1985-86. Even more surprisingly, with crowds only Wimbledon could manage to undercut, they hung on in there until 1990.

However in this period the story of Charlton Athletic was more about off-pitch than on-pitch. The fans never gave up on their dream of returning home, even as The Valley reached dereliction. In local council elections in 1990 a Back To The Valley party gained 14,838 votes. Panicked by the popular upswelling of emotion Greenwich Council abandoned its opposition to redevelopment. There were still problems though as the club ran out of money in its attempts to refurbish the ground to even a basic level to get football played there again, and the 1991-92 season saw an emergency ground share at Upton Park. In September 1992 Robert Lee, who had scored the last ever goal at the old Valley, was sacrificed in a £700,000 sale to Newcastle United, and the fee was enough to see Charlton Athletic back home on 5th December 1992.

The Nineties saw Charlton gradually developing a new stadium and a new team under Alan Curbishley. In 1997-98 Charlton reached one of the most dramatic play-off Finals ever, 4-4 after extra time and eventually beating Sunderland 7-6 on penalties. However they only lasted a single season in the Premier League. They were straight back up again, this time as Champions, and managed to establish themselves as a fairly comfortable mid-table outfit. Ground development continued while Charlton were milking the Premier League cash cow, with three sides of the stadium now done. There are further plans to develop the away end and put on further tiers elsewhere to take The Valley up to 40,000, but one suspects those plans are now on the back burner with their relegation.

The West (Main) Stand Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

In an age of chairman with inflated egos, quick 'fixes', greed, corruption and administrations, Charlton Athletic were a model of patience, gradual development, loyalty and social conscience. Decency can be rewarded, and it was a pleasure to see a club like Charlton holding its own in the top flight. However some fans like to grumble whatever, and staggeringly there were numbers of Charlton fans bemoaning that Curbishley had passed his sell-by-date and was holding them back. When he resigned in 2006, what everyone with a modicum of intelligence knew, that he'd been keeping them above their station on the resources he had, became clear very quickly. Two disasterous appointments in Iain Dowie and Les Reed saw the club floundering within months, and ex-Glover Alan Pardew, appointed on Boxing Day 2006, could not keep them up. Charlton did not bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking last season, and it remains to be seen whether the club will stick with the belief that stability produces progress or whether they join the impatient brigade and Pardew will be out if it doesn't look like he'll take them up this season.

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The East Stand - sometimes split, with visiting fans down in the far corner. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

From the South Circular :
Pick up the South Circular (A205, with one stretch of A3 at Wandsworth) at the end of the M4. Follow the South Circular Road all the way round to Woolwich, and turn left into the Woolwich Road (A206) at the roundabout for the ferry. Carry along the A206 until turning left into Charlton Lane. Cross the railway line and continue up the road. The Valley is right into Harvey Gardens and then on the left. But N.B. access to Floyd Road and Harvey Gardens is restricted on matchdays.

Parking :
All parking at the stadium is restricted to permit holders on matchdays. You can park in some roads around The Valley but be aware restrictions are in force in many streets, so look out for signs detailing such. Restrictions are also further extended in some areas on matchdays. All restrictions are vigorously enforced.
Yellow line restrictions apply at weekends, as well as weekdays. If you can find one, most on-street parking spaces are free (no meters) except around the railway station. Once within an hour and a half of kick-off and you've got very little chance of finding a space for free. There are several large car parks a reasonable walk from the ground, such as the Thames Barrier Visitor Centre and on the Westminster Industrial Estate. Expect to pay £5.00 plus.
Local business and shop car parks operate a clamping policy.
Charlton Athletic (and we) recommend using public transport where practical.

By Rail

Charlton Station is three minutes walk from the stadium. Frequent services depart from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge, with limited departures from Victoria and Cannon Street.

In our opinion the simplest route is from Yeovil Junction up to Waterloo by South West Trains, walk across to Waterloo East, and then catch a South East Trains service for Charlton. Journey time is between 3 hours 23 minutes and 3 hours 53 minutes. However with it being an evening game you've obviously no chance of getting back to Yeovil the same day, and would need to stay over.

For those living north of Yeovil for whom the Castle Cary or Bristol stations are more convenient the route is into Paddington by First Great Western, by tube across to London Bridge, then a South East Trains service for Charlton.

The Docklands Light Railway from east London connects with rail services from Greenwich and Lewisham to Charlton.

Exit Charlton station onto Charlton Church Lane (there's no other choice anyway), turn right and cross over to the other side of the road. Take a left into Floyd Road, and then right into Valley Grove for the away section entrances.

Oldest part of the stadium, the Jimmy Seed Stand, is home to visiting supporters. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

The nearest underground station to The Valley is North Greenwich on the Jubilee Line, with buses (Nos. 161, 472 or 486) every few minutes to Charlton.

By Bus :

Numerous bus routes serve the ground. They include the 53 (Plumstead, Woolwich, Blackheath, New Cross, central London), the 54 (Lewisham, Catford, Beckenham, Elmers End) and the 161 (Chislehurst, Mottingham, Eltham, Woolwich, North Greenwich).
Others are the 177 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, Greenwich, New Cross, Peckham), the 180 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, Greenwich, Lewisham), the 422 (Bexleyheath, Welling, Plumstead, Blackheath, North Greenwich), the 472 (Thamesmead, Plumstead, Woolwich, North Greenwich), and the 486 (Bexleyheath, Welling, Shooters Hill and North Greenwich). Get off on the A206 Woolwich Road, or in Charlton Village, both a five-minute walk from the ground.

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The Capital Glovers pub crawl assessment:

"With Yeovil Town drawn away at Charlton Athletic in the first round of this coming season’s League Cup, the tie to be played on Tuesday, 12th August the Capital Glovers have planned a pre-match pub crawl. All are welcome to join us either from the start, or at any point along the way before we hopefully form a large contingent and enter the Valley’s away end once joined by those who are unable to leave work early.

Information and timings provided by our resident Real Ale AND local resident, Steve Whale:

2.30pm: Ashburnham Arms - close to Greenwich BR and DLR Station.

3.20pm: Richard I.

4.10pm: Greenwich Union

5.00pm: Cutty Sark Tavern.

5.50: Plume of Feathers - close to Maze Hill BR Station.

From this last pick-up point we will make the short journey from Maze Hill BR to Charlton BR Station and hopefully witness another legendary performance from a Yeovil Team side in cup competition at the Valley."

There are a number of fish and chip shops and a kebab shop on the way from the station to the stadium, and a MacDonalds next to Asda in Busby's Way. For those wanting a punt there's a Ladbrokes virtually outside the railway station.

According to some local opinion the best burger stall at the ground is the one outside the club shop.....sorry 'Superstore'.

Club Bar :

Alcohol is on sale throughout the concourses including the away areas, though only ahead of kick-off, not during half-time. Food is the usual football stadium fare, with Charlton having no worse, nor better, reputation than most.

Local Pubs :

Ashburnham Arms: Shepherd Neame pub serving a wide range of that brewery's ales: Masterbrew, Spitfire, Kent's Best Invicta Ale, Bishop's Finger and seasonals. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it's midday - 10.30 p.m. The menu is pizza (every day except Monday when no food is offered, and Sunday when it's a roast), but of a higher standard than usually found in pubs. There's a bar billiards table. Ashburnham Arms, 25, Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, London, SE10 8UH. Tel: 020 86922007. Map: Click Here.

Something of a home fan pub © beerintheevening.com Bugle Horn: Five hundred yards south of the station and the ground in the oldest part of Charlton. Landlord is a big Addicks fan and the place is stuffed with club memorabilia. As such it's popular with home fans and can be a bit cliquey on matchdays. For certain big games the police have been known to refuse away fans entry, though this seems unlikely in our case. There are several televisions located in the bar areas and a big screen in the large family room showing Sky Sports. Has a pool table and does food. A couple of unadventurous basic real ale options. Bugle Horn, 6, The Village, Charlton, London, SE7 8UD. Tel: 020 83558287. Map: Click Here.

Good views over the Thames. © Hugh Gleave Cutty Sark Tavern: Large riverside pub with views of The Dome (or whatever it's now called) and Canary Wharf that, despite its name, is tucked away off the tourist trail enough to be tolerable. Regular beers are the likes of St Austell Tribute, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Adnams Broadside, Fuller's London Pride and Greene King Abbot. Does substantial (but London price) meals daytime and evening. Opening is 11.00 a.m - 11.00 p.m. every day except Sunday, which is midday - 10.30 p.m. Cutty Sark Tavern, 4-7, Ballast Quay, Greenwich, London, SE10 9PD. Tel: 020 88583146. Map: Click Here.

Continental in style. © Hugh Gleave Greenwich Union: The only pub outlet of Meantime Brewing, which was founded in 2000. Right next door to the Richard I (below). It concentrates on its own products - the only mainstream brewery item in sight was a beer from Adnams - and specialises in brewing continental style lagers and beers, with seven on draught and four in bottles. There's a contemporary style menu served lunchtime and evening. Open from 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Friday, 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Saturday, and 11.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. Sunday. There's a small number of seats out front, and a larger number out back. It's fair to say neither drink nor food is cheap, but the really pretentious crowd mainly restrict themselves to Friday and Saturday evenings. Greenwich Union, 56, Royal Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8RT. Tel: 020 86926258. Email: theunion@meantimebrewing.com. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Horse & Groom: Further east along the Woolwich Road at the home end of the ground. Four to five hundred yards from the stadium. Nothing to recommend it whatsoever apart from the service being reasonably efficient. Horse & Groom, 602, Woolwich Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8RH. Tel: 020 88580456. Map: Click Here.

Pleasant friendly pub, though how you run out of rice for the chilli con..... © Hugh Gleave Plume Of Feathers: With benches out front and tables and chairs out back, this is a Harveys pub, though also carries beers from Fuller's and Adnams. There's a children's playroom, and food is served 12.00 noon - 3.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 6.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday (no evening meals on Mondays), 12.00 noon - 3.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Friday, 12.00 noon - 4.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Saturday, and 12.00 noon - 5.00 p.m. Sunday. All dishes are made on the premises. Opening times are 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10.00 a.m - midnight Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 12.00 midday - 11.00 p.m. Sunday. Plume Of Feathers, 19, Park Vista, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LZ. Tel: 020 88581661. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Perhaps not quite the pub it was. © Hugh Gleave Richard I: Also known as 'Tolly's', this pub is in Greenwich rather than Charlton. A lot of Glovers will recall it from our last match against the Addicks as at that time it was being run by a Yeovil supporter. He's moved on to Korea in the meantime and the pub has changed hands several times since, and not for the better. It's still above average but the beer is kept OK rather than brilliantly though the hostelry still clings on in the Good Beer Guide. A traditional bare board two bar outlet with Youngs beers and, since their merger with Charles Wells, Bombardier. Has a fair sized beer garden at the back (no children after 8.30 p.m.). Food is served lunchtimes. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11.00 a.m. - midnight Friday and Saturday; and midday - 10.30 p.m. on Sunday. There isn't much parking near the pub for those driving, but train users will find it an easy drop off point. From the station turn left on to the main road and then right at the large red brick clock tower on to Royal Hill. The pub is about 200 yards up on the right. Greenwich Station is just a couple of stops and 6-7 minutes short of Charlton, and trains run every five to ten minutes or so. Richard I, 52, Royal Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8RT. Tel: 020 86922996. Map: Click Here.

Away fans allowed pre-match but not post-match. Weird. © beerintheevening.com Rose of Denmark: Modernish redbrick boozer on the main road to the west of the ground and station. Welcomes away supporters before games, with a photo display on the wall of fans from visiting clubs, but not post-match in the evening. The beer is Courage Best (oh dear), and food is served. There's Sky Sports on a big screen and a pool table. Has own car park. Rose of Denmark, 296, Woolwich Road, Charlton, London, SE7 7AL. Tel: 020 84730038. Map: Click Here.

Royal Oak: Closest pub to the North Stand (home end) and packed out with Charlton fans when a game's on. Been refurbished and got new tenants in the last couple of years, and the reviews have got better - but probably not enough to bother squeezing in with the wall to wall locals on matchdays. Does some real ale and also food. Royal Oak, 54, Charlton Lane, Charlton, London, SE7 8LA. Tel: 020 88584771. Map: Click Here.

Spanish Galleon: Also in Greenwich. It's another Shepherd Neame pub with Masterbrew, Spitfire and Bishop's Finger. There are two bars joined by a food counter doing bar style food, with full restaurant style meals upstairs, both lunchtimes and evenings. Right outside the Cutty Sark station on the Docklands Light Railway. It's child and disabled friendly. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Spanish Galleon, 48, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London, SE10 9BL. Tel: 020 88583664. Email: spanishgalleon@shepherdneame.co.uk. Map: Click Here.

The Anchor and Hope: Down on the Thames Path with views of the river front, in New Charlton a little over half a mile from the stadium, and nice to sit outside in the summer. Popular with workers on the industrial estate. On three levels: a general bar; a restaurant; a 'traditional style English pub' with baked potato menu. No real ale, but the beer is cheap (for the area) as are the good large food portions. Friendly landlord, landlady and staff. The Anchor and Hope, 2, Riverside Walk, Anchor and Hope Lane, Charlton, London, SE7 7SS. Tel: 020 88580382. Map: Click Here.

Busiest pub for away fans © beerintheevening.com The Antigallican: A poor pub, but the one in Charlton most frequented by visiting fans. This is partly: because it's a hundred yards from the railway station, and a couple of hundred from the stadium; the local plod push away supporters in its direction - but then seem to have a thing about punters not spilling out onto the pavement even when it becomes packed. Despite a supposed refurbishment there's plenty of dirty peeling paint and scruffy furniture. The drink is unutterably boring: Caffreys, Carling Extra Cold, Coors Light, Grolsh, Guinness, Worthingtons, and Strongbow on draught as kegs and the likes of Becks, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Magners in bottles. Food is depressing and limited. If a menu can be discovered items featured are likey to be: a sandwich containing processed ham; a jacket potato with cheese, beans...... or cheese and beans; or burger and chips if you're lucky. On the slightly brighter side, there's Sky Sports on a big screen and three flat-screen televisions, a pool table, darts, a jukebox and a couple of games machines. There's also cheap (for the area) accommodation for anyone thinking of staying over. The Antigallican, 428, Woolwich Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8SU. Tel: 020 88530143. Map: Click Here.

Bit further away so maybe less crowded? © beerintheevening.com The Woodman: Somewhat further from the ground (just under the mile) the other side of the parks and Children's Zoo on the way to Woolwich, so has a chance of being less packed. Has Sky, a jukebox, pool table and quiz machine. Does food but no real ale. Nothing wrong with it, nothing special about it either. The Woodman, 93, Little Heath, Charlton, London, SE7 8HA. Tel: 020 83171531. Map: Click Here.

Not much real ale in Charlton. This has some, though nothing special. © beerintheevening.com White Swan: Smallish centrally located local. Has Sky Sports, jukebox, pool, darts, and a beer garden out the back. Does real ale, though it's boring stuff from the Greene King stable. Another home fan hostelry but no known issues in that regard. White Swan, 22, The Village, Charlton, London, SE7 8UD. Tel: 020 88560733. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Real Eastenders live north of the river, as do the pretend ones of Walford. Sarf of the river the eastern part of London is a most peculiar mixture. Extreme forms of Chavland sit next to extreme forms of Hyacinth Bucket Suburbia. Although swallowed up by the London conurbation long ago the centre of Charlton Village, as it is pretentiously known, does to be fair retain something of a 'village' atmosphere.

Top-Tip :

If driving take a massive supply of blood pressure pills - you have been warned.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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