Let's all clap hands for Charlie

Today The Times announces the 55th birthday of lifelong Charlton fan, author and broadcaster Charlie Connelly.   

For over ten years Charlie lived in Deal, but perhaps it was encounters with Desmond from Deal that finally drove him to live north of the border: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/5285243/charlie-connelly-on-his-love-for-dundee/

Charlie was a contemporary of my middle daughter at uni.   She retired with her husband to a farm in Spain as she approached 50 (now joined by my granddaughter and great-granddaughter) and always reminds me that she is a multi-millionaire rather than a mere millionaire. Actually, I never managed to get Charlie's book on radio back off her.   However, he is best known now for his one man show on the shipping forecast.  It always sells out.

Charlie's early books included one on the Liechtenstein national team (which I really enjoyed) and also one on football in London.

I once asked him if he had ever played football competitively and apparently once he was drafted in by a non-league reserve side short of players.   He was out of puff after 30 minutes.

Charlie still has to make the decision which of the Dundee teams to back in his new home.

Greenwich Uni betray Charlton

Greenwich University have for a long time been aligned with Charlton but now they have formed a partnership with Crystal Palace: https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/25397074.university-greenwich-partners-crystal-palace-fc/?ref=rss

A lot of claptrap is spouted about their core values aligning, but Greenwich is our home borough.  And as someone who was born in Greenwich, I take particular offence.

Towards the end of my career a West London university offered me a six figure salary to take a senior position.   If it had been Greenwich I would have accepted and then there would have been a partnership!

Three clubs interested in Chuks

There are reports that Wycombe Wanderers are interested in signing free agent and former Addick Chuks Aneke: https://the72.co.uk/2025/08/19/wycombe-wanderers-offered-chuks-aneke/

Chuks is the sort of player that the Chairboys like, but Burton Albion are also interested and St. Mirren are said to be prepared to offer him the kilt.

Wherever he ends up, the 32-year old will provide work for the club's medical department, but good luck to him.  He did his best for us.

Leaburn farewell

Today we say goodbye to Tracey Leaburn as Head of Player Care.  She has provided 10 years of great service to the club, not least in staying put at The Valley as one of a trio who stood up to individuals who were a great threat to the club's existence.  The surname Leaburn is legendary at Charlton and I wish her every success and happiness in the future.

I only met fellow blogger Dave Thomson (Drinking During the Game) once when Murray mints called in all Charlton bloggers for a meeting.   That was at a time when the blogsphere was more populated and of greater importance.

Dave sadly passed away in 2023 from cancer and his daughter Heather is undertaking a 30 mile walk to raise money for cancer research: https://www.castrust.org/2025/08/sponsor-heather-thomson-in-memory-of-her-father/

Football is more than the game itself.  A few days ago I made a routine visit to my chiropodist.   She is a keen Villa fan (season ticket holder) and we usually talk football, but she was more restrained than usual.  Then she revealed that her father whom she went to games with had passed away and she couldn't raise her normal enthusiasm for the season.

Gasman scores

Shortly after coming on as a late substitute for Stevenage yesterday, Gassan Adahme scored in their 2-0 victory over Northampton.   The Gasman scored 90 seconds after coming on and sent Boro to the top of the League One table.

On 82 minutes the Boro No.10, Dan Kemp, put the ball into the channel for the Gasman to hook across the keeper who was stretching.

Give us a K: one of Team Lisbie, Kyreece, contributed to Colchester's 2-0 victory at Shrewsbury with a late goal.

Charlton in 8th place

Charlton are 8th in the Championship after a creditable 0-0 away draw at Bristol City (Millwall are 15th).  The home side dominated the first half with the Addicks relying on counter attack.   Charlton came more into their own in the second half with Apter having the best chance of scoring.

It’s nearly nine hours since the Addicks last conceded in a league match (including play-offs).

In the first half Charlton were defensively very organised and work so hard to press. City had a few moments when they've got into good positions but Thomas Kaminski was protected very well. Keeper only had the one save to make from Hirakwa's shot from the edge of the box.

City were doubling up on Rob Apter every time he got on the ball. With good reason.

Apter forced Bristol City keeper Vitek into a save low down to his left after being fed on the right of the box by Carey.   Clearest chance either side produced, although Bristol City's Anis Mehmeti hit the woodwork in the second half with a well-struck effort.

Kayne Ramsay was excellent .   He made a fine block to cut out Hirakwa's cross and also produced a couple of crunching and perfectly-timed sliding challenges.

Nathan Jones was going ballistic towards the end of the match about some of the officials' decisions.

As the game went into seven minutes of added time, Charlton summer signing Harvey Knibbs had a close-range chance smothered by Vítek.

All future reports will appear on Addick's Championship Diary.

Is this Bristol City's season?

Bristol City are on their 11th season in the Championship and hav have always fallen short of promotion: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2025/01/parachute-payments-make-life-difficult.html

Owner Steve Lansdown* is getting increasingly frustrated and has indicated his willingness to sell up.

For a city of its size Bristol has punched below its weight in football terms.   It does have two clubs, although when Charlton negativists say we are a laughing stock, the Gasheads always come into mind.

What strikes me is that the fans of both clubs are a bit odd.   There has been trouble between Charlton and City fans in the past.   Some years ago a Gashead I know slightly offered me a lift to a midweek fixture against Charlton.   I declined being pretty sure we would win and he would take it badly.   We won 5-1 and he confirmed that he would have left me in Bristol.

Of course, Bristol is in a strong egg chasing area and Bristol City are also heavily involved in rugby union.

Four Four Two reckons they will finish 12th.   They think City have an energetic squad but lack the top end quality hat would secure them a play off place against richer rivals.

Having said that, City beat Sheffield United 4-1 away last week, although I suspect that was as much a story about the Blades post Chris Wilder as ir was about City, although they were keen to avenge their play off semi-final defeat there, losing 6-0 on aggregate.   Neither defence looked solid in last weekend's game.

This is a big test for Nathan Jones and his side, but we will do well to get a point.   At least moaners will be able to come up from under their stones.

*Of Hargreaves Lansdown, the Bristol-based  funds supermarket.   I have been a client since the 1980s and have been very satisfied.  

Fans remain calm as Ahadme departs

Gassan Ahadme has joined Stevenage on loan. Nathan Jones had said yesterday at his press conference that outgoings were in the pipeline. The former Ipswich Town striker has not featured in the matchday squad for any of their competitive fixtures. Minimal game time over pre-season as well

Rodwell on Ahadme's loan to Stevenage: "Gassan was desperately unlucky. We know we signed a good player when we signed Gassan from Ipswich last year. He was desperately unlucky with injuries, some of them were really quite freakish. "We are well-stocked in that position. Gassan is here with us on a long-term contract. He needs to go. He needs to score goals, which I am sure he will do.

Stevenage have started very, very well in their league campaign and they really wanted to do the deal. "These things take time. Players need to work out if it is the right deal for them and we have got to agree a deal with Stevenage. These things don't happen as quickly as I would often like. "Hopefully it will be a really good move for Gassan and he'll score a lot of goals."

The news has been received calmly by fans.    Thanks for all you tried to do and good fortune in finding your level at Boro.

Cup victory for Charlton

Charlton comfortably beat League One side Stevenage 3-1 to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.   Miles Leaburn calmly slotted the Addicks into the lead before Ibrahim Fullah doubled the advantage with a goal on his first start for the club.  Luke Berry made the game safe as he headed in the Addicks' third after the break.

Having beaten Watford 1-0 thanks to Harvey Knibbs' late winner on their return to the Championship on Saturday, Nathan Jones gave his goal scoring signing his first start since joining from Reading.

Knibbs was one of 11 changes with Joe Rankin-Costello making his debut alongside Fullah at The Valley.

Leaburn, who scored 10 goals last season as Charlton won promotion via the play-offs, opened his account for 2025-26 as he slotted in Isaac Olaofe's pass after Dan Phillips had given away the ball.

Nine minutes later, Fullah made it a debut to remember as he outmuscled his marker to shoot home Henry Rylah's cross into the bottom corner.

Dan Kemp blasted over for Stevenage shortly after the break, while at the other end Taye Ashby-Hammond was on hand to keep the ball out after Berry had redirected Rankin-Costello's shot towards goal.

Berry did find the net soon after as he stooped to head home Daniel Kanu's cross to seal matters.

But Stevenage finished the tie strongly and cut the deficit when Freestone headed in Jasper Pattenden's cross before Phoenix Patterson forced a good save from Will Mannion.

Charlie Kelman saw a stoppage-time effort deflect just wide for the Addicks as they progressed to the next round.

Richard Cawley reports Nathan Jones praised Isaac Olaofe for the assist that led to Miles Leaburn's opener for Charlton  last night but also talked about the summer signing 'over-thinking' a good scoring chance in the first half.    Jones was also very bullish on Danny Hylton stepping up his coaching responsibilities following the departure of James Brayne to Sunderland.

Let's keep momentum going in cup clash

One of the few downsides to Alan Curbishley's tenure as a manager is that we didn't take cups seriously.  I always thought that a solid Premier League side should have a punt at the league cup.

Obviously Nathan Jones will use tonight's Carabao Cup game against Stevenage as a way of giving minutes to players who didn't feature on Saturday or only as late substitutes.  Nevertheless, a win would give us momentum and offers the prospect of a later round tie against a top flight club.   The money comes in handy as well.

Having finished 14th in League One last year, Stevenage are forecast to finish 15th this year by Four Four Two.  They state: 'Let by Carl Perigianni. Borough had a top eight defence last term, but there's no loan star Murray Cooper in goal any more and the attack lacks guile.   Both the midfield depth and manageroal set up look strong. however.'

The fan quoted says, 'The football isn't always amazing.'

Please note that after Saturday reports will appear just on Addick's Championship Diary

Fanzine editor blanks Super Hoops fan to go to The Valley

Voice of the Valley editor Rick Everitt may have been engaged in a spat with Tory free speech fanatic Lord Toby Young.  This was supposed to end with pistols at dawn with the hapless QPR supporter on Margate beach, but Everitt had better things to do with his time.

Silent for a long period, the fanzine editor has found his mojo with positive vibes from yesterday's gane and whole experience: https://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2025-26-blogs/10-9-addicks-on-a-winner-even-before-late-strike/

Championship campaign starts with home win

A time added on goal by Harvey Knibbs gave Charlton a 1-0 opening win in the Championship at The Valley this afternoon.

It was a frenetic final few minutes with Watford feeling they should have had a penalty when Thomas Kaminski crumpled Nestory Irankunda.

But on balance, Charlton carved out the better of the chances and could have won by a larger margin had the cards fallen more kindly.   Watford’s keeper made three excellent saves.

Both managers will no doubt have words to say about penalty shouts with Charlton's Josh Edwards having a big shout when coming together with Jeremy Ngakia earlier in the second half.

A corner on the left is slung to the back post by Conor Coventry and Lloyd Jones does enough to get the ball back into the mixer where substitute Harvey Knibbs hammered home from six yards out.

Towards the end of the second half, Robert Apter picked up the ball on the right front edge and dances across just outside the 18 yard area looking for an opening.   He has a go but his curling effort from 20 yards just fizzed over the upright.

Charlton looked defensively very solid, although crosses sometimes posed a challenge.

Excitement builds as a tough season gets under way

It seems to have come up more quickly than some of us anticipated, but today Charlton face Watford at The Valley in the first of their Championship games in the new season.   CAS Trust has some fun with the turnover of Watford managers: https://www.castrust.org/2025/08/watford-in-new-manager-shock/

Many moons ago Murray mints said that the Championship was in effect a Premier League Division Two.  That is even more so today with parachute payments providing further funding for what are already big clubs.   It's going to be tough and Charlton fans will need to display a patience for which they are not noted.  

If there is one word I would use to describe last year's successful side it would be 'resilience'.   My view is that the key matches in a season are often away matches midweek.   That was the case last season at Mansfield.   They are not a great side, but they are tough to beat on their own patch, not least in wintry conditions.   When we won there, I thought that we might be in with a chance of promotion.

Unlike the barmy Belgian, the board have spent sensibly to try and stay in the division.  No, they didn't enter the Izak bidding war, but they have made some realistic acquisitions with potential.   The criticism of their strategy is obvious, and has been made by the 'experts' conjured up by The New York Times, but needs must.

The new side needs to gel and there are some tricky selection decisions.   The Sparrows Lane treatment table is already occupied, with Matty Godden having undergone a 'procedure' on his knee.

As for today's opponents, Four Four Two has them finishing 15th.    We should be able to beat them and it would be a great start to the season, but a draw is more likely.

Two out of five 'experts' mark Charlton for the drop

From The Athletic:

Pigott: Things look very bleak for Sheffield Wednesday before a ball has even been kicked. Hull City were fortunate not to go down last year, and despite impressing in their first year up after promotion, Oxford United will find it harder this time around.

Evans: Norwich City, Wednesday, Oxford. It’s a very poor second-tier this season and I reckon as many as 10 teams will be nervously looking over their shoulder at various stages. West Bromwich Albion also look like a club heading for trouble.

Sutcliffe: Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, Hull. The latter’s scattergun approach to player and manager recruitment is likely to come home to roost. Newly promoted Charlton have cherry-picked a lot of last season’s League One talent, but the danger with such an approach is ending up with a team that really belongs in the division below.

Buckingham: It’s sad to say, but it already looks as if Wednesday are doomed after a summer that means they’re turning up for a gunfight armed with a water pistol. I’ve also got concerns for Hull, who narrowly avoided the drop last season, but I’ll go with Oxford and Charlton to complete the three. They have decent managers in Gary Rowett and Nathan Jones, but both have shortcomings.

Weatherspoon: Wednesday’s awful off-field summer speaks volumes. Hull nearly dropped down last season and have little to crow about either. After those two, it’s one from as many as 10. Oxford signing young striker Will Lankshear on loan from Tottenham Hotspur could prove crucial in keeping them up. If they survive again, the end of Preston North End’s dreary 11-year stay in this division looms.

Additional comments:

'It feels like Charlton will struggle. The Valley, in south-east London, is a decent away day, though.'

'I’ve been impressed with Charlton’s business. A mixture of solid Championship experience — Amari’i Bell, Reece Burke, goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, Joe Rankin-Costello — plus players who have shown signs they could handle the step up to the second tier — Charlie Kelman, Rob Apter, Harvey Knibbs and Tanto Olaofe. They’ll have enough to remain in the division.'

'Charlton risk being a ‘Best of League One’ side in the wrong division, but the inadequacies of others will see them just about secure safety.'

In memory of Jorge Costa

I was saddened to hear of the premature death of Jorge Costa, one of the best defenders we have ever had, even if for just 20 games.   Young, Fish, Costa, Fortune: what a line up.

'He comes from Portugal and he ****ing hates Millwall..'   Doubtless he had never heard of them, but Charlton fans took him to their hearts.

I remember him squaring up to, and glaring down, some hapless attacker at The Valley.   Costa in tears at his last game at Old Trafford.  And coming back with Porto for the Steve Brown testimonial.

It's understood Costa, who was Porto's director of football, suffered a cardiac arrest at the club's training ground in Olival according to Portuguese media.

Bumper crowd for opening game

Attendance at The Valley for Saturday's match against Watford is looking set to exceed the 21,675 turnout for the first home game in the 2008-09 season. That total had not been bettered...until now.

A reporter who covers Watford told Richard Cawley: 'The Hornets were unpredictable last season and belied pundits tipping them to go down. This looks a decent opener for Charlton. Nathan Jones’ side come into the match off the high of winning the League One play-off final at Wembley and the home support will be massively up for it - you can imagine a similar highly-charged atmosphere to the semi-final second leg against Wycombe Wanderers. There is no doubt that the hosts will be pumped up and mega motivated.'

I hope to provide some preview material of my own over the next few days, although at the moment I am being pumped full of antibiotics to deal with an as yet undiagnosed illness.

Gasman's brace leads to victory

391 Addicks enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win over Southend United yestrtday.

Sonny Carey fired the Addicks in front in the first half before Shrimpers wing-back Gus Scott-Morriss wasted the chance to equalise as his spot-kick was saved by Thomas Kaminski.

The Addicks raced further clear at the start of the second half with substitute Gassan Ahadme scoring twice in quick succession as Charlton boss Nathan Jones enjoyed a successful return to his former club.

After a quiet start to the game, Charlton broke the deadlock in the 19th minute with Carey on target. The Addicks broke quickly after Harry Taylor had been caught in possession and soon switched the ball into the right hand side of the penalty area where Carey netted with a powerful effort which deflected in off Blues defender Ben Goodliffe.

Summer signing Slavis Spasov was  brought down in the box by Amari’i Bell and referee Robert Claussen immediately pointed to the penalty spot.   However, Scott-Morriss was unable to make the most of the opportunity as his 12 yard shot was kept out by Thomas Kaminski diving to his right hand side.

The visitors opted to make a change at the break with Ahadme replacing former Shrimpers striker Charlie Kelman in attack.   (Leaburn was sidelined with a knock in triaing).  And the forward made an instant impression scoring twice in quick succession.

Ahadme’s first goal came in the 49th minute when he headed home a superb right wing cross from Conor Coventry and just seconds later the striker was celebrating again as he clinically converted a low cross-shot from Rob Apter.

Clutching at straws?

Richard Cawley notes: 'The opening four matches of the Championship season will all be against bosses appointed over the summer. Can't imagine that has happened too often. Maybe that could be a positive factor for the south Londoners as they look to hit the ground running?

But then players may be trying to impress their new boss, something that is a regular occurrence at Watford.

With the start of the Championship season now just 10 days away, Nathan Jones at this stage will be the 4th longest serving manager in that division and he’s only been in charge at Charlton Athletic for just under 18 months now.

At least we landed Harvey Knibb in the end, what a saga that was.