LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Football historian LEIGH EDWARDS profiles ten leading post-war Charlton Athletic captains.
DON WELSH
England international centre-half Don Welsh captained Charlton Athletic’s 1947 FA Cup final triumph. Signing professional for Torquay United in July 1934, he moved to The Valley in February 1935 and skippered Charlton from the Third Division (South) to League Championship runners-up in three incredible seasons as well as in four Wembley finals. He netted 44 goals in 199 League games for the Addicks before becoming Brighton’s manager in November 1947, then managed Liverpool, Bournemouth and Wycombe Wanderers. Briefly joining Charlton’s administrative staff, he died in Stevenage in February 1990.
BENNY FENTON
Inspirational wing-half Benny Fenton was ever-present captain as Charlton Athletic finished fifth in the top-flight in 1952-53. He played alongside his older brother Ted at West Ham before moving to Millwall in March 1939 and moved to The Valley in January 1947. Missing just one match for Charlton in 1950-51, he netted 22 goals in 264 First Division games before becoming Colchester United’s player-boss in February 1955. He plotted their 1961-62 promotion success, then managed Leyton Orient and Millwall, returning to Charlton as secretary in January 1977. Later their assistant-boss and general manager, he died in July 2000.
STUART LEARY England U-23 forward Stuart Leary holds Charlton Athletic’s all-time goalscoring record. He played for Clyde in his native South Africa before moving to The Valley with John Hewie in February 1950 and was an influential figure as Charlton finished fifth in the top-flight in 1952-53. Top scorer in 1953-54 and 1955-56, he netted 153 times in 376 League outings for the Addicks prior to joining QPR in December 1962. He played 370 times for Kent as a middle-order batsman and helped to win the County Championship in 1970. Returning to Cape Town in 1971, he later coached cricket and football until his death in August 1988.
MIKE BAILEY
England international midfielder Mike Bailey gained two caps while at Charlton Athletic. Signing professional at The Valley in March 1959, he made his League debut at Plymouth in December 1960 and netted 20 goals in 151 League games for Charlton prior to joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 1966. He featured prominently as they regained top-flight status in 1966-67 and won the League Cup in 1974, moving to Minnesota Kicks as player-coach in May 1977. After a spell as Hereford United's player-boss, he managed Charlton, Brighton and Fisher Athletic and has since scouted for various clubs.
KEITH PEACOCK Long-serving midfielder Keith Peacock was an influential figure in Charlton Athletic’s 1974-75 promotion success. He turned professional with Charlton in July 1962 and was the first-ever substitute to be used in a League match in August 1965. A great favourite at The Valley, he netted 92 goals in 533 League games for the Addicks before leaving in May 1979. He assisted Gordon Jago at Tampa Bay Rowdies, then became Gillingham’s manager in July 1981, plotting successive promotion near-misses. After coaching at QPR, he managed Maidstone United to the play-offs in 1989-90, then rejoined Charlton on their coaching staff.
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MARK AIZLEWOOD Welsh international midfielder Mark Aizlewood captained Charlton Athletic back to the top-flight in 1985-86. Initially with hometown Newport County, where he played alongside his older brother Steve, he joined Luton Town in April 1978 and helped win the Second Division title in 1981-82. He moved to Charlton in November 1982 and was ‘Player of the Year’ in two consecutive seasons, scoring nine goals in 152 League games for the Addicks prior to joining Leeds United in February 1987. Later with Bradford City, Bristol City, Cardiff City and Merthyr Tydfil, he then held several coaching posts and is now a football agent.
PETER SHIRTLIFF Central defender Peter Shirtliff scored twice in Charlton Athletic’s 1986-87 play-off final replay victory to preserve top-flight status. Signing professional for Sheffield Wednesday in October 1978, he featured in two promotion campaigns before joining Charlton in August 1986. He netted seven goals in 103 League games for the Addicks, returning to Sheffield Wednesday in July 1989. Starring in their 1990-91 promotion and League Cup ‘double’ success, he moved via Wolverhampton Wanderers to Barnsley in August 1995 and helped win promotion to the Premier League in 1996-97. He has since held various coaching posts.
ANDY PEAKE
Former England U-21 midfielder Andy Peake played for Charlton Athletic in the 1987 Full Members Cup final. He turned professional with Leicester City in January 1979, helping them win the Second Division title in 1979-80 and reach the FA Cup semi-finals in 1981-82. Moving to Grimsby Town in August 1985, he joined Charlton in September 1986 and was an influential figure as they consolidated top-flight status, netting five goals in 179 League games before reuniting with Lennie Lawrence at Middlesbrough in November 1991. Helping clinch promotion that season, he retired in July 1994 to join the police force.
MARK KINSELLA
Republic of Ireland international midfielder Mark Kinsella skippered Charlton Athletic’s 1999-2000 First Division title triumph. Initially with Home Farm, he joined Colchester United in August 1989 and was a key figure in their 1991-92 Conference title and FA Trophy ‘double’ triumph. He was ‘Player of the Year’ as they qualified for the play-offs in 1995-96 and moved to Charlton in September 1996. Starring in their 1997-98 First Division play-off final triumph, he scored 19 times in 208 League outings before joining Aston Villa in August 2002, then West Brom and Walsall. He returned to Charlton on the coaching staff.
MATT HOLLAND
Republic of Ireland international midfielder Matt Holland was ever-present captain as Charlton Athletic finished seventh in the Premier League in 2003- 04. He turned professional with West Ham in July 1992 and joined AFC Bournemouth initially on loan in January 1995. Voted their ‘Player of the Year’ in 1995-96, he moved to Ipswich Town for a record £800,000 in July 1997 and skippered their 1999-2000 First Division play-off final triumph. He joined Charlton for £750,000 in June 2003 and led them to the FA Cup sixth round in 2005-06. Scoring 13 goals in 191 League games for the Addicks, he retired in June 2009.
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