Charlton Athletic

Charlton vs Leeds — went this year and have to say top marks to this ground. It sold alcohol all through the first half, half time and just past so I’ll give it a thumbs up because many football grounds get this wrong and stop selling it which usually makes fans worst rather than better. The ground was better than the game anyway. The only problem is it’s a bit out the way of London as it takes a good 25 minutes on the overground to get too so make sure you leave on time or you will miss some of the match!

Charlton Pathetic were formed by Bobby and Jack Charlton, who were World Cup Winners but not so good at owning football clubs. Hence the name Pathetic. But not really, I mean they’re really quite an adorable football club in the South East of London, which is the part of London which is most underrepresented by football teams and tourism too.
Known as the Addicks because every single one of their fans is a junkie. (Jk). Especially Jonjo Shelvey (n/​jk).
First-​Hand Experience: I’ve seen Charlton play once at home to a half-​full stadium and once away, and they got battered. Live, in person I mean. I love Charlton though, great little SoLo club (South London, not the sexy American goalie), with a fantastic pedigree and youth academy. It was one of the few stadiums I never went to as a youth but I always followed the club’s news and Garth Crooks was one of their standouts when I was a tiny lad. He’s now an over-​opinionated analyst.
They have the craziest badge, which is just a white hand with a sword on a red and black circular background. Most of the reviews here are for the stadium instead of the club, so they should be moved to the stadium page which I am creating now.
Millwall and Crystal Palace are their main rivals. They play in red to 27k fans which is, by the way, an absolutely enormous crowd for a smaller team. They were Prem runners up in 1937 (when it wasn’t the Prem) just before the war, FA Cup runners up in 46 just after the war, and FA Cup Winners in 1947, their greatest moment.
They have a player called Morgan Fox, but not the female Morgan Fox who I remember from when I was a kid. They were founded in 1905.
I like this Only Fools And Horses story…
Charlton Athletic featured in the ITV one-​off drama Albert’s Memorial, shown in September 2010 and starring David Jason. Jason’s character, Harry, is revealed to be a Charlton Athletic fan. Harry later buries his friend Albert, draped in a Charlton Athletic flag, to which Frank says, «Hear that?». Harry replies, «No… What?» Frank says, «That’s the sound of Albert turning in his grave. He hated Charlton Athletic.» to which Harry replies, «Well, nobody’s perfect.»
Anyway, a great team, minus one point for never winning the big one, and for being outside the top division for ages, and for being yet another London club.

Cockney commentary from the east London locals, good prices and some surprisingly reasonable football: a visit to Charlton Athletic is a great way to sample the archetypal British experience of a well-​attended football game without breaking the bank for one of London’s Premiership sides.
And you really do get much of the same experience: first joining the mass of predominantly male fans walking to the stadium, then taking in the sight of the bigger than expected stadium and the sounds from within. Grab some fish and chips from the vans outside, embark on a panicked detour to pick up your tickets, find your seats and finally you’re gazing out on to the pleasantly close pitch and up into the stands circling around.
The football was better than I expected too. To be fair, Charlton are a Championship side who enjoyed Premiership status a few seasons back. But often I find myself wondering how people paid so much can be so bad. Not here: the football was graceful and skilful, if unfortunately not successful, as Charlton went down 0 – 1 to Barnsley.
That’s not what I really came for though as I’ve always found the biggest entertainment is provided by the crowd. And I wasn’t disappointed, for sitting right behind us was a cockney old salt whose constant commentary riddled with glottal stops defied accurate transcription (and the ready comprehension of non-​British-​English native speakers): «Good bore [ball]!»; «Dan [down] the line!» «Where’s the runner? Where’s the runner?» «Are you on bleedin’ tranquillisers?! You’re looooosin’!»
The rest of the crowd was surprisingly subdued. The atmosphere was family-​friendly, with many young children at the game I went to. But despite making up approx 95% of the fans, the Charlton fans probably accounted for only 40−50% of the noise. Still, it was all very organised and the stewards very helpful. The prices were good too: standard ticket prices are around £20, which I think are good value. I was lucky to go on a day where all tickets were £5, which clearly is spectacular value.
There are drawbacks: Comfortable my seat was not. So keen it seems are Charlton Athletic to cater for families, that they appear to have decided to provide for a spectator sized somewhere between an adult and a child, leaving my long legs to protrude at least 4 inches into the seats in front. Just as well the fans in front were in earnest, leaning-​forward stance.
Overall though, it gave me a new affection for Charlton Athletic and I’d certainly recommend it to those looking for an authentic English football experience.

A top experience!
The ticket prices are more than fair, the security staff is very friendly as is the audience in general: a very good atmosphere. However, the quality of football definitely has some room for improvement ;-) Nevertheless, a very nice and entertaining Saturday afternoon. Thank you!

This review is for the gym. Pretty decent gym and fair prices and usually not too crowded. Plus, everyone who works there was nice.

August 17^th, 2002 Charlton 2 – 3 Chelsea
goals: Zola (45), Cole (84), Lampard (90)
Carlton Cole (now a West Ham player) was Ranieri’s ‘lion’ back in the day, and he brought CC on as a sub. he went on to score one of the best goals I have ever seen in real life.
I liked the Valley, I had a great experience here obviously jumping on the train back to Knightsbridge a winner. It didn’t look good for a long time but Lamps scored in the last minute… its a cheeky feeling stealing three points like that… Frank Lampard for you!

A few years ago on a trip to London, i finally got to go to my first football match (in England, that is – i’d been to plenty in the states). Having gotten my ex to agree to go to a game, i set to work doing some research as to who was playing that weekend, and who had tickets that could actually be obtained without sacrifice of one or more limbs.
And so i found myself looking up Charlton Athletic, who were helpful, if somewhat curt, over email, and sent tickets by post to me in Boston. Happy day!
Naturally, on the day of the match, there was some delay involving shoe shopping, but at least i’d found myself last year’s jersey on sale for five pounds – may as well fit in. The ticket agent at Charing Cross station basically laughed at me as i bought two tickets, considering how tardy we’d be.
Getting off the train, i stumbled in the general direction of the Valley and found all the gates shut. We could hear the crowd noise on the inside that almost certainly meant a goal. Not knowing anything, i wasn’t even sure late admission was allowed, and was worried and fixing blame on a certain £100 pair of boots, but eventually we circled around to find an open turnstile and got to some really nice seats just before the half.
This was during the Addicks’ last respectable season, and Darren Bent helped them thump Middlesbrough 3 – 0. It was a great time, with a supportive, yet charmingly profane crowd, and a nice, neighborhood atmosphere. This was even more in evidence as the happy crowd walked home after the match through the side streets in the area.
So for better or worse, i adopted Charlton as my team then, cemented when i met a bunch of other supporters at the World Cup later that year. Since then, they’ve not done so well, and i hope it’s not my fault, but you don’t change your mind about such things.
It’s a nice place to watch a game, and a responsible club that looks after its community. And eventually they’ll start getting results on the field again.

Ok so this was my first time I had ever been to a football game, and since I had a good time and have nothing to compare too I am giving this 5 stars because I will probably always remember this game. I love how involved people are in football, it is a real passion for them, it is as if they will live or die on the outcome of a game. The best part was watching the dramatics because every few minutes the game would stop from an «injured» player. These men come from the same stock as rugby players who play with minimal protection so I can’t believe that football players are that easily hurt. I did my share of chanting for the home team to really get into the spirit of the game. It was raining but fortunately we were well protected. I am not a huge sports fan but I do enjoy a good live game especially one that is only 90 minutes.