TONIGHT’S VISITORS Jonathon Rogers takes a look at tonight’s opposition:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC – THEN AND NOW Charlton Athletic was formed in 1905 when a number of youth clubs in the area merged together, and spent the years before World War I playing in local football before joining the Lewisham and Kent leagues. The Addicks turned professional in 1920 and despite playing only one season in the Southern League were elected to the Football League in 1921. A proposed move with Catford Southend fell through three years later and in 1926 the club were forced to apply for re-election after finishing second from bottom of Division Three. Just three years later Charlton won the league and remained in Division
Two for four seasons. Jimmy Seed was then appointed manager and within three years had taken the club to Division One with successive promotions. In their first season in the top flight they achieved their best ever finish of second place and remained in the top three until World War II. Following the war they reached their first FA Cup final in 1946 but lost 4-1 to Derby County, however they returned to Wembley a year later and lifted their only major trophy with a 1-0 win against Burnley thanks to a Chris Duffy goal. During this golden period the club had the highest attendances in the Football League with over 70,000 packing out The Valley.
Things started to unravel during the 1950s with little investment made towards the playing staff or the ground, and after Seed was undermined by the board in 1956 the club were relegated the following season. The Addicks flirted with Divisions Two and Three for the next 30 years before financial problems hit the club following the reckless signing of former European Player of the Year Allan Simonsen for £300,000 and administration arrived in 1984. Charlton were forced to move away from The Valley due to safety issues and ground-shared with Crystal Palace for the next eight years. Despite struggling off the field, they reached the top flight again in 1986 and reached the final of the Full Members Cup a year later but relegated followed in 1990. Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt were appointed joint player-managers in 1992, with Curbishley taking sole control in 1995. Three years later he guided The Addicks into the Premier League following a penalty shootout win over Sunderland in the play-off final, and despite narrowly going down after a single season Curbishley’s side romped home with the Division One title in 2000. The club remained in the Premier League for seven years and were even challenging for a Champions League spot in 2003-04 before a late season slump. Curbishley stepped down after 15 years in charge in 2006 and Charlton dropped into League One within three seasons. They reached last season’s play- offs after finishing fourth but lost in the semis to Swindon Town on penalties.
MANAGER – PHIL PARKINSON
Now in his third season in charge of the Addicks, the 42 year old will be hoping that his side can go one step further than last season and gain promotion back up to the Championship this time round. The former central midfielder began his career as a trainee at Southampton but moved on to Bury in 1988 having not made an appearance for The Saints. He went on to make over 150 appearances for the Gigg Lane club in four years before joining Reading in 1992 for £37,500. Parkinson became a fans’
favourite at The Royals thanks to his all-action displays in the centre of the park, and helped his side to the Second Division championship in 1994. He also reached the First Division play-off final the following
season, and would pick up two consecutive Player of the Year awards in 1998 and 1999.
He captained Reading to another Second Division championship in 2002 and earned himself a testimonial soon after. He left the Madejski Stadium a year later having made 361 league appearances in 11 seasons to begin his managerial career at Colchester United. Having arrived in February 2003, he steered the U’s to safety in the Second Division and would then achieve promotion to the Championship by finishing runners-up in 2005-06. However he left in the summer to take up the vacant managerial role at Hull City following the departure of Peter Taylor, but only lasted until December when he left by mutual consent with The Tigers in the relegation zone. A month later he arrived at The Valley as Alan Pardew’s assistant and was appointed caretaker manager in November 2008 following Pardew’s depature. Despite not winning any of his first eight games he was appointed permanent manager in December but he couldn’t stop The Addicks slipping into League One for the first time in nearly 30 years. Parkinson enjoyed a great start to last season with six wins from their opening six games, and remained in the top two until the new year when they slipped into the play-off spots. After a 3-3 aggregate draw with Swindon in the semis they lost 5-4 on penalties to remain in the third tier for 2010-11.
KEY PLAYER • GARY DOHERTY
The Republic of Ireland international defender arrived at The Valley last month having spent six years at Norwich City on a free transfer, hoping to repeat last season’s League One championship victory with the Canaries in South London. The 30 year old began his playing career as a striker with Luton Town in 1997 where he stayed for three seasons before being signed by Tottenham for £1 million in March 2000. He broke into the side before suffering a broken leg, but battled back to establish himself as a defender during 2003-04 but following Jacques Santini’s arrival the following summer he departed for Norfolk. He made over 200 appearances during his time at Carrow Road, and despite being relegated from the Premier League in his first season was named Player of the Season the following campaign. He was made captain of the side following their relegated to League One in 2008-09 but was released at the end of last season. He has been capped 34 times by Ireland since making his debut against the USA in April 2000.
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