Former Addick in charge at Dripping Pan

Former Addick Bradley Pritchard has been appointed manager of Lewes FC.   The midfielder played over 100 games for the Rocks between 2021 and 2024.

Initially hired by Charlton as a performance analyst, Pritchard was then given a footballing contract by the Addicks and made a total of 79 appearances scoring three goals.

Let go by Charlton, he went to Leyton Orient and then reverted to the non-league with Greenwich Borough.

I would describe Pritchard as industrious rather than skilled, but good luck to the 39-year old who has stuck with a football career through thick and thin.

Greenwich Borough sign Bradley Pritchard

Former Addick Bradley Pritchard who made 79 appearances for Charlton in a three year stay at The Valley has signed for Greenwich Borough to boost their Ryman South campaign: Bradley Pritchard

He joined Charlton from Hayes and Yeading but, after a period with Leyton Orient, is now playing at a lower level of non-league football.

Stepping up

Former performance analyst and Loughborough University graduate Bradley Pritchard talks about the experience of stepping up from the non-league to play for the Addicks: Pritchard

The year has clearly surpassed his expectations, but he also exceeded mine. He was particularly pleased to play against both Sheffield clubs, both the massive one and the slightly smaller one.

Pritchard gets international call up

Bradley Pritchard has been hoping for some time to get in the Zimbabwe international squad and now he has got his call up as the team prepares for the next Africa Cup of Nations. There are 30 named players, so it's only the first step but it couldn't have happened to a more popular player. He applauded the East Stand with real fervour after last Saturday's game. More here: Pritchard

Elsewhere Charlton fans are giving financial backing to another 'tiny' club as Dingwall based Ross County prepare for Scottish Premier League action. Read how Addicks fans are helping the Staggies here: Staggies

On the massiveness front, when I took my car in for its MoT yesterday the service manager said that my use of it was 'not massive'. I almost felt like telling him I didn't support Sheffield Wednesday either. Reports after an incident on the M1 near Sheffield said that delays were 'not massive'. The word is clearly catching on.

However, the plan to tweet news of Sheffield Wednesday's progress to a planet twenty light years away allegedly inhabited by super intelligent giant owls has run into problems after it was realised that the Massives would have been relegated by the time the initial news got there.

Stepping up from the non-league

When Rick Everitt was editing Voice of the Valley and we were in the Premiership, a certain Jonathan Acworth used to write in regularly and suggest non-league players, often from Park View Road, that Charlton should sign. I hear that Acworth has recently written a book called The Highs and Lows of Being a Charlton Fan and certainly Chris Powell should place it on his summer reading list.

Paul from Bexleyheath, who sits to my left in the East Stand, is no Acworth. He is very knowledgeable about football and I was delighted that a five year season ticket holder was able to invite him to the directors' box for Saturday's game. I think Paul missed a game or two at the start of the season and when Bradley Pritchard came on as a sub he asked me who he was. I said that we had signed him from Hayes and Yeading where he was player of the year. Paul's comment was, 'the more I hear, the less I am impressed.'

When Bradley was featured in the programme recently, he remarked that someone had told him that they had forgotten that he was a former non-league player. He has certainly developed over the year. An example was the pinpoint accurate long ball he put in to Yann Kermorgant on Saturday so that he could score his wonder goal. Bradley's energy and commitment have made him a favourite with many Charlton fans. That's not to say that there isn't more work to do. Although his ball control has improved, he sometimes lacks guile and sophistication.

There are many examples of players who had to start their careers in non-league football having failed to make the cut when they left their academies. Bradley came from the first tier of the non-league. Can one make the jump from the third tier to the Championship?

Football League scouts have been in evidence recently at the New Windmill Ground home of Leamington watching young striker Jacob Blyth. The Brakes board knew they had a raw talent on their hands and put him under contract so that that the club could get compensation when he was signed by a higher level team. When Sam Bartram style goalkeeper Breeden was snapped up by Kidderminster Harriers the Brakes got nothing (although Breeden hasn't scored from outfield for them).

It looks as if Leicester City have won the race to sign Blyth. A factor is the friendship between Brakes supremo Paul Holleran and Leicester City's assistant manager. However, Blyth comes from north Warwickshire so signing for Leicester makes a lot of sense. Signing him as a development player could have been too big a punt for the Addicks. I just hope that one day he doesn't score against use for the Foxes.

New Huddersfield triumph and news roundup

Jordan Rhodes is the League 1 Player of the Year, giving Huddersfield a new undefeated record in award ceremonies.  Johnnie Jackson gracuously tweeted that he had lost to a worthy opponent.   However, a boost for the Addicks is that Jordan Cousins was named as League 1 Apprentice of the Year.

Commenting on the situation, a friend who is a Huddersfield fan said, 'My family is very disappointed at Lee Clark's peremptory dismissal by a jumped-up rich local businessman and are having a phase of distaste for Town and football in general. In my view too the Town team is not quite good enough to go up - weak defence (which Lee should have sorted).'

You can vote for Bradley Pritchard as Zimbabewe International Sports Personality of the year here: http://www.zimachievers.com/component/acepolls/poll/9-intl-sports-personality

Ben Hamer has tweeted that he is in the treatment room this morning, alongside Paul Hayes who picked up a hamstring niggle at Wycombe.

Northern lights

We've met quite a few teams from oop north recently.   First we were away to the massive Sheffield Wednesday and then the not quite so massive but still rather large Sheffield United visited us.  After an away trip to cider country we entertain two of the smaller northern sides in League 1, Bury tomorrow and Rochdale on Saturday (by which time I shall be in Montréal).

The Shakers and 'Dale are deadly rivals and it was quite a blow when Rochdale beat them 3-0 on Saturday to complete the double over them this season.   Bury, however, remain just in the top half of the table and this is quite a feat for a team that was expected to be in a relegation struggle at the beginning of the season.  As the Bury fan reviewing the match in The Football League Paper put it, 'The main objective remains to avoid relegation.'

Will Bury be one of those sides that park the team bus in front of the goal?  I remember seeing them play at The Valley when we were both in the second tier and being disappointed with a 0-0, but then they did have Dean Kiely in goal.

This season they have only drawn once away from home but they have won six matches against losing seven.   They have conceded 24 goals away, which is more than any team down to fifteenth, while they have scored 18.   All this does not suggest a particularly defensive stance.

The bookies don't give them much chance, giving them 7-1 against to win and 3-1 for a draw.  It could be an occasion for putting money on them to win as insurance.

Chris Powell has some selection dilemmas as it looks as if Dale Stephens will be fit again after a cameo at Exeter.   He is a very creative midfielder and might be able to feed Bradley Wright-Phillips the quality balls he needs.  

However, it would be difficult to drop the hard working and often skilled Bradley Pritchard or Hollands for that matter.   I wouldn't play a 4-5-1 and drop either Kermorgant or Wright-Phillips.

I am entertaining a Rochdale fan to lunch tomorrow and he has already been e-mailing me about how they will win on Saturday under their new manager.   Indeed John Coleman has already confidently predicted, 'We're at Charlton next weekend so we'll just go there and expect to win again.'   Of his team's performance, he said 'it was just like watching Real Madrid.  If we'd seen anything like that in the Premier League, we'd never hear the last of it.'

We were told that the Blades are the Barca of League 1, but it is quite a surprise to learn that Rochdale are the Real Madrid.  Quite where that puts Charlton for a Spanish comparator I don't know. 

We haven't had a goal scored against us in the league this year so I am going for a repeat tomorrow and a 2-0 win for the Addicks.

Euell strike seals Charlton victory

A substantially changed Charlton side faced Carlisle at The Valley this afternoon.   Sullivan was in goal, Cort and Evina were in defence, Pritchard was operating in central midfield and Hayes was up front.  Kermorgant and Wright-Phillips were on the bench.

The game had a quiet start at a subdued, cold, dismal and windy Valley reports Paul May with the attendance announced at 7,461. Solly made a great challenge to snuff out a Carlisle attack.   The first corner of the game went to Carlisle after their first spell of pressure.  Solly brought the ball under control.

Sullivan made an excellent save to stop the visitors going ahead as the ball floated  in.   Carlisle won another corner, although Evina was able to avert greater danger.   Carlisle won a third corner, although Hollands was not happy about the decision.

Pritchard set up Hollands well with a cross field ball but it went out for a goal kick.   Wiggins made a bit of a mess of a clearance.   Wagstaff was clipped setting up Charlton with a free kick 30 yards out, but it was unproductive.

Morrison put in a left footed drive which was only just over the bar.   Carlisle threatened having broken through the Charlton defence, but Sullivan was able to make the save.   Sullivan was not happy with a poor back pass from Pritchard who felt obliged to say sorry.   Charlton were having trouble retaining possession.

Murphy for Carlisle went down holding his right knee and the physio had to come on.   Chris Powell took the chance of the break in play to speak to the players, particularly Evina.    Pritchard caught one of the Carlisle players with a stray elbow and the physio had to come on again.

Robson pushed Green right in front of the lino, leading to a free kick.   The cross in from Green was excellent, Morrison headed the ball down well but Hollands was unable to make use of a great opportunity.   A second attempt went over the bar.

Carlisle won another corner after the ball was charged down by Chris Solly.   Leon Cort dealt with the ball, but they won another corner.   Cort cleared, but the ball came in again.   The visitors won a throw in. 

Ribeiro got a talking to from the referee after he raised his arm to Evina.   Hayes came forward and shot from 35 yards out, but Wagstaff was in a lot of space and Evina was bursting into the box.   The ball took a deflection and was gathered by the keeper.    Pritchard but in a decent ball, but it was slightly over hit and Hayes was unable to connect.

Wagstaff went down and looked to be in some pain.    Hollands put in some good work, but the pass from Hayes just evaded Pritchard.   An effort by Wagstaff following good work by Green went out for a corner after it took a deflection.   Cort headed over from Green’ s corner.

Carlisle launched a counter attack in the two minutes added on, but Sullivan came out well for the ball.   Green made a great run, but it was ultimately unproductive.

Charlton had not got off to the best start, but their resilience was in evidence and they were brighter in the concluding ten minutes.   However, Hayes did not have much of a presence up front.

Half time: 0-0

Within the first minute Robson put in a shot which Sullivan saved at the expense of a corner which led to a nervous moment.

Pritchard burst through, but his shot took a deflection leading to a corner.   The corner ended in a goal kick.

Wagstaff controlled the ball well, but he was not able to put it either side of the keeper who made the save.   His effort livened up the Addickted.    Hayes released Wagstaff who turned provider for Green who shot over the top.   Charlton were certainly looking livelier.

The ball came in from Hollands, Cort and Morrison came into the box late and weren’t picked up, but it wasn’t a good effort from Morrison. 

Green put in a great effort from only five yards inside the half and it went just wide.    The keeper made a bit of a mess of another effort from Green, dropping it the ball.  Wagstaff was poleaxed in the box but nothing was given.

Hollands won Charlton their third corner of the game.    Green’s corner was well taken.  The initial effort from Morrison was blocked, but he went on to score to make it 1-0 on 62 minutes.

The ball nearly went in from Green, but it was in the side netting.   Carlisle won their seventh corner. Scottish charm merchant Rory Loy went off, possibly to prepare for his impending court appearance and was replaced by Zoko.

Carlisle won another corner.   The ball had to be headed off the line by Wiggins.  Sullivan had to tip the ball away, as the visitors stepped up the pressure.

Green and Pritchard combined well leading to a Charlton corner.   Green’s corner was not a good one.  

Green was fouled and then was taken off without getting the goal he wanted, receiving a good round of applause and was replaced by Kermorgant.     Evina’s free kick was punched away by the keeper.

Miller threatened, but Wiggins defended well at the expense of a corner.   Carlisle skipper Thirlwell went off having picked up a knock and Madden came on.   Evina put the ball over the top having shot with his right foot.

Wright-Phillips came on in place of Hayes.    He advanced on goal, tried to pass it past the keeper, but Collin was able to put it out at the expense of a corner.   Cort’s header went over the bar.

Carlisle made their last substitution while Evina came off to a round of applause and Euell came on.  Hollands advanced into the box well and won a corner.   Pritchard did well to win the ball back after taking the corner.   

The ball was floated in from the right by Kermorgant and Euell scored to enthusiastic applause to make it 2-0.   Wiggins and Wright-Phillips combined well: Wiggins should have carried on the run and he might have scored.

Then the whistle was blown and Charlton were through to the 3^rd round, let’s hope for an exciting draw.

The Silver Biscuit was awarded to Bradley Pritchard.   Trainee Hiss of the Match analyst Reg was in action after moving into his new home this morning, but slept through most of the game before concluding that the referee had a good match.

Job done

4-0 wins are becoming a bit monotonous for Charlton, but it was case of doing the necessary against the Shaymen today to earn a glamorous home time against Carlisle United.   But at least the media attention will be elsewhere, for example at AFC Totton as they take on Bristol Rovers.

Charlton started playing the game as they should have done - cautiously and keeping possession to safeguard against any errors that might give the home side a lead.   Taylor, as he admitted later, missed one good chance, but made amends for it ten minutes later when he scored to put the Addicks one ahead at the break.

Halifax gave a good account of themselves, playing some decent football and threatening more than once.  Sullivan didn't have a particularly good first half, but improved as the game went on.   However, I would be concerned if Hamer picked up an injury.

The Shaymen looked as if they might equalise for parts of the second half, particularly after Jason St. Juste came on, which raises the question of why he wasn't there from the start.   Not sure, though, that it was our toughest test of the season as Johnnie Jackson said afterwards but maybe it seemed like that on the pitch.

Hayes had not looked impressive in front of goal, but he did provide an intelligent assist to allow Johnnie Jackson to score one of his skipper's goals.   It took a slight deflection, but really put the game beyond the reach of Halifax.   Hollands then had a tap in for the third after Halifax had not defended well from a corner.

There was then what was described but not shown on television as a mini pitch invasion.   Given that the Addickted were chanting 'you fat b*****d' one might conclude that a horizontally challenged local bereft of his clothing had gone for a streak.

What I had feared before the game happened when Lowe went in low on Waggy.   The northern clogger was shown a red card by the referee and fortunately Waggy suffered no lasting damage.   (On reflection and having read the comments of others, I do agree that Waggy made the most of it and the card was a bit harsh, but I thought that the referee had a good game on the whole).

The 3-0 lead gave Chris Powell the chance to give Michael Smith his Charlton debut.   Bradley Pritchard made a welcome return from injury and burst through to score his first goal for the club.

It is clear that Hayes and Euell are not our best pairing, indeed Euell contributed relatively little.  Evina is no Wiggins, although he made one nice run.   Solly made some key interventions.

This was a first ever win for Charlton at Halifax and once again it reflected a team full if confidence, even without a few of its best players.

Two wins so far this weekend, so off to the Skydome soon to see if Blaze can overcome Dundee Stars.  Should be able to, but you never know.  

Postscript: Blaze won 4-3 in an exciting game.   Some things never fail to puzzle me in hockey.  Face off was delayed while the ref (often the same one every week, there are only a few of them) had a long and friendly chat with the granite charm merchant minding the Dundee net.   If this happened in football, the crowd would soon have something to say.

Charlton five points clear

Charlton are five points clear at the top of League 1 after their 2-0 win at Sheffield United today in what would have been a Premier League fixture four years ago.   Perceived big threat Preston lost 2-1 at lowly Orient.  No wonder Chris Powell felt able to say, 'We have made a statement.'

My train took me through Sheffield at 16.20, but I didn't hear the result until 18.15.

Charlton substitute Yann Kermorgant was the hero after he came on in place of Paul Hayes.  After an uneventful 65 minutes, with the match looking as if it might be heading for a 0-0, the bouncing Breton stepped off the bench and headed home with his first touch from Johnnie Jackson's corner.   Kermorgant has now scored twice in three substitute appearances.

And two minutes later he set up Bradley Wright-Phillips, who finished at the second attempt from close range.  Blades' Ched Evans hit the post from outside the box deep into injury time.

Someone who was there has said, 'Great win. Worked hard in a tense first half and survived a couple of goalline scares, although we had a good chance at the other end which was fluffed by Morrison, I think. Solly was excellent again.'

'Second half more even, then the substitution won the game. United couldn't deal with the Frenchman in the air and BWP had another chance to score moments before he did.'

'Hamer had a great game, although he misread one first half cross. It was the sort of ground-out but ultimately convincing win that persuades you we will go up, albeit it's too early to say that really.'

'What we can say is that those looking to make a judgement after 10/11 games ought to be singing Powell's praises if they have any sense of fairness because no one could reasonably ask for any more over the 11 games.'

Pritchard has op

Bradley Pritchard has had his operation on his foot and it has been a success.  Chris Powell hopes to have him back in four weeks.

Rory Weal, the 16 year old darling of the current Labour conference, was interviewed by The Times and he had a Charlton season ticket in his hand, great product placement.   This was something the political shows missed as they had been focusing on the fact that he went to a private school before his father's business went bust.

Rather confusingly, a report in The Times says that he had to give up his season ticket when the family moved from Bromley to Maidstone after their financial meltdown.    However, junior season tickets don't cost that much and he could use the Rickshaw.

In any event he came in the top ten in the Charlton section of a fantasy football competition.

Pritchard foot injury

Bradley Pritchard has a broken metatarsal and is likely to be out for a month.

Pritchard has impressed with his commitment in appearances from the bench in league games, although whether his skill is as impressive remains to be seen, but hopefully that can be developed.

Powell's other eleven beat Reading

It's a highly experimental starting eleven at The Valley tonight.   Benson and Euell are the pair up front, while Hamer faces his old club in goal.   Doherty and Mambo blend experience and youthful hope in the central defence positions, while Francis is recalled on the right flank and Evina comes in as left back.   The promising 'Bover' is in midfield, along with Green, Hughes and Pritchard all featuring in the starting eleven for the first time.

An early volley from Benson making use of a long throw from Green went wide reports Andrea Hilton from The Valley.  Green put in a great effort but it had hit the outside of the post and bounced away.    Charlton were under pressure at the other end and Francis had to put it away for a corner.   The ball was hacked off the line by Evina.

Francis charged down the right but the ball was taken away from Benson at the expense of a corner from which Reading made a break.   It was end-to-end stuff.

Euell had a chance to score but it was saved by the keeper.    Reading won their third corner of the game.   Charlton surged forward in a counter attack started by Pritchard, but Benson’s effort was blocked by Euell and went behind.

Hamer made a good save off Church after Mambo and Doherty got caught out.   A shot by Euell was blocked by Benson.    An effort by Howard was turned behind by Hamer for a corner.   Reading put the ball wide.

Evina rode out three challenges, but the Reading defence bundled the ball away before Euell could made use of it.

Charlton took the lead through Benson who got the ball beyond the Reading keeper after their defence had frozen.   Green put the ball in.

Green advanced again and Pritchard had a go.   Benson tried to shoot and the ball was put behind.

Cummings had to clear the ball off the line to deny Pritchard a second for Charlton as the Addicks piled on the pressure.

Charlton advanced well down the right and a good cross came in but Francis was unable to connect. Green put in an effort from long range, but it was gathered comfortably.

Reading won their fifth corner, but they were unable to make anything of it.   Howard went for goal from 20 yards but Hamer made a very good save to push the ball round the post.    The ball was in play in front of goal, but Mambo hooked it away.  

Charlton were in control and looking very coherent.    Pritchard played very well.

Half time: Addicks 1, Royals 0

Reading started brightly and Church put the ball just over the bar and careered into an advertising hoarding.  Benson’s  shoulder  was troubling him and he had to come off.   Wagstaff came on in his place.  Euell moved further upfield and Waggy dropped into the hole that Euell had been occupying where he started to cause all sorts of problems.

Charlton won a corner, Doherty was clattered as he headed towards goal.   Wagstaff put in an early cross who won it back, both times it just missed Pritchard.    As Charlton kept up the pressure with a great one-two between Francis and Green, they won another corner.   Hughes put in a shot from 35 yards.

Reading won a free kick inside the D some 20 yards out.   A six man wall was formed as dead ball man Harte put it round the wall and just over the bar.

Wagstaff’s effort was pushed away, Bover had an open goal but Cummings made a great clearance.  McCarthy got something on it from a good delivery by Green.   Wagstaff advanced down the left but Euell couldn’t connect and Reading cleared.

Green lashed the ball towards goal but McCarthy pushed it away and Euell couldn’t follow up.  Reading made a double substitution, surprisingly taken off Harte.   Bover got a cross in and won a corner, but it was pushed away by the keeper.   A cross by Francis was put out for a throw.   Euell scored to make it 2-0 for Charlton off a great delivery from the right by Francis, re-opening his account after five years.   Chris Powell really enjoyed that goal.

Church fired the ball across the box but Hamer gathered confidently.    Green put in a free kick from 25 yards out which was deflected for a corner.   Charlton won the ball back but eventually Reading got a throw in.

Mills put in a free kick with real pace and Hamer had to tip it over the bar giving the visitors a corner. Doherty was taken off and replaced by Morrison who didn’t deal with the ball well enough.   From the corner the ball was scrambled into the roof of the net by Reading’s Sean Morrison to make it 2-1, dangerous score after Saturday.

Wagstaff cut the ball across the goal but there was no one to turn it in.    Evina was dumped on the ground but no free kick was given and Chris Powell was livid. 

Reading advanced and Morrison headed behind for a corner.  Charlton had to clear off the line through Wagstaff.   Reading kept up the pressure with a free kick near the edge of the penalty area.  The effort by Mills was flicked away by Euell for a corner.   A free header by Sean Morrison went wide.

Mills gave away a free kick.  Then Reading won a free kick level on the left with the penalty area.   A Reading player [McAnuff] got a yellow card for complaining to the referee.   It was handled in the box by a Reading player and the Addicks got a free kick.   Charlton hit the crossbar from Bover.

Solly came on at left back.   Francis defended well.  Four minutes were added on.    Wagstaff fed Evina but his effort was saved in stoppage time.   Evina put in a great diagonal ball to Euell who won Charlton a throw in.   They won a free kick by the Reading corner flag after a foul by Mills, but Reading won a throw in.  The offside flag was raised against Church.   The whistle blew and Charlton were through to the next round and will face Preston at home.