Charlton timeline

A calendar of important events in the history of the club

June 9th, 1905

Charlton Athletic Football Club is formed by a group of teenagers on East Street (later known as Eastmoor Street).

1913

The club joins the Lewisham League and adopts senior status.

1920

The club turns professional and joins the Southern League, appointing Walter Rayner as the first manager.

1921

Charlton are elected to the Football League, joining the Third Division (South) in time for the 1921/22 season, which they would finish in 16th.

1928/29

The Addicks clinch their first ever promotion to the Second Division, but are relegated four years later.

1933

Jimmy Seed takes over as manager and leads the club to two successive promotions, finally reaching the First Division in 1936.

1934

Goalkeeper Sam Bartram makes his debut for Charlton - he would go on to record a total of 623 appearances, a club record.

1936/37

Charlton record their highest ever league finish to date, coming second in the old First Division. They also take the fourth and third spots in the next two seasons before World War Two causes league football to be abandoned for six years.

1937/38

Charlton record their highest ever attendance at The valley when 75,031 turn up to watch the Addicks take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

1946

The team reaches it's first ever FA Cup final but is beaten 4-1 by Derby County after extra time.

1947

Seed takes his team to a successive FA Cup final, but this time leaves with the trophy. Charlton beat Burnley 1-0 thanks to a Chris Duffy goal. Captain Don Welsh lifts the FA Cup at Wembley before 98,215 fans.

1948/49

The club attracts it's highest ever average attendance of 40,216.

1951

South African forward Eddie Firmani joins the club for the first of three spells (1951-55, 1963-65, 1966-68), scoring 89 goals in a total 177 appearances. Firmani would later become manager betweem 1968-70.

1956

Seed is sacked as manager after 23 years in charge. Jimmy Trotter is his replacement and after a poor start, the Addicks are relegated at the end of the 1956/57 season.

1973

Derek Hales signs for Charlton for £4,000 from Luton Town. During two separate spells with the club (1973/74-76/77, 1978/79, 84/85) 'Killer' became the Addicks record goalscorer with 168 in 368 games.

1982

Danish international Allan Simonsen, the 1977 European Footballer of the Year, joins from Barcelona. He scores nine goals in just 17 appearances for Charlton in the Second Division.

1984/85

The club records it's lowest average attendance of 5,104. September 21st,1985.

Charlton leave The Valley. Robert Lee scores the last goal in a 2-0 win over Stoke City in front of 8,858 supporters. Several years of financial turmoil including a bankruptcy hearing at the High Court in 1984 leads to the club's exile from its home as it embarks upon a five-year groundshare at Selhurst Park.

1985/86

Manager Lennie Lawrence steers the Addicks into the First Division for the first time in 30 years as they finish second in the Second Division.

1986/87

Charlton finish 19th in the First Division and are forced in a play-off situation. After beating Ipswich Town, Second Division Leeds United take Charlton to a replay. Two late extra-time goals from captain Peter Shirtliff preserve the Addicks' First Division status as they win 2-1.

1989/90

Charlton are the second worst supported team in the First Division behind Wimbledon, with home gates as low as 5,000, although they gradually increase to an average of 10,978 during the 1989/90 season.

March 1989

Then club chairman, Roger Alwen announces that the Addicks will return home to The Valley at Woolwich town hall.

January 1990

Greenwich Council rejects the club's planning permission for the rebuilding of the derelict Valley.

May 1990

The Valley Party, campaigning against the council's decision, wins 14,838 votes in the local elections. Charlton are relegated after four years in the top flight.

April 1991

Greenwich Council grants planning permission for a revised Valley scheme. Martin Simons and Richard Murray join the board.

July 1991

Lawrence resigns as manager after nine years in charger; he joins Middlebrough. Reserve team coaches Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt take over as joint managers of Charlton.

August 1991

The Valley is not ready in time for the new season, so Charlton move to West Ham United's ground Upton Park, initially for three games. Contractors withdraw from The Valley.

September 1992

Lee is sold to Newcastle United for £700,000 to raise much-needed funds. The Valley Investment Plan raises more than £1m to put towards the club's return.

December 5th, 1992

Charlton finally come home. Colin Walsh scores the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth at The Valley. The old east terrace is closed and temporary seating is in place under the west.

1993/94

The 5,700-seater east stand opens for the Addicks' match against Southend.

1994/95

'Target 10,000' is launched and the club achieve an average crowd of 10,211 that season. Martin Simons becomes chairman and Richard Murray vice chairman.

Summer 1995

Curbishley takes sole charge of the team. A £40,000 sponsorship deal with Greenwich Council is announced.

Summer 1996

Eighteen-year-old Lee Bowyer, the club's top-scorer the previous season, becomes the most expensive teenager when sold to Leeds United for almost £3m.

1996/97

Plans to extend the west stand and take ground capacity to 20,000 are unveiled.

August 1997

Paul Konchesky becomes the club's youngest first-team player when he makes his debut at Oxford United, aged 16 years and 93 days.

May 25th, 1998

The Addicks win an epic play-off final against Sunderland at Wembley; Richard Rufus scores his first goal for the club, Clive Mendonca gets a hat-trick and it's 4-4 after extra time. Charlton goalkeeper Sasa Ilic saves a Michael Gray penalty during a sudden death shoot-out and Curbishley's team win 7-6 on penalties. Around 33,000 Charlton fans witness the famous victory.

1998/99

Top flight football returns to The Valley after 41 years. The upper tier of the west stand opens and the club reaches its 20,000 target attendance, as 20,043 turn up to see Charlton versus Coventry. Plans for further development of the north stand are published. The Addicks are relegated from the Premiership the end of the season.

1999/2000

The council approves plans to extend ground further, and after several late stumbles, Charlton clinch promotion back to the Premiership after they are runaway leaders in the First Division championship.

2000/01

Defender Chris Powell is called up by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, becoming the club's first England cap since Mike Bailey in 1964.

Work begins on the new north stand as the old Covered End roof is removed before the final game of the season.

The Addicks finish ninth in the Premiership their most successful season for 47 years.

July 2001

Charlton break their transfer record in signing Jason Euell from Wimbledon for £4.5m.

2001/02

The Valley's north stand is completed midway through the season raising capacity to 26,500. Charlton end the campaign in 14th.

2002/03

The Addicks finish 12th in the Premier League as every home match is attended by more than 25,000 fans.

2003/04

Club announces plans for further extension of The Valley to 40,000. Despite the sale of Scott Parker to Chelsea for a record £10m in January, Charlton attain their best league finish since 1952/53 when the end the campaign in seventh.

Summer 2004

Charlton spend almost £9m during the transfer window, which includes signing England internationals Francis Jeffers from Arsenal and Danny Murphy from Liverpool.

2004/05

The Addicks celebrate their centenary season and secure the club's sixth consecutive Premiership campaign by finishing 11th.

June 9th, 2005

A host of Addicks legends attend the unveiling of the statue of Sam Bartram at The Valley to commemorate Charlton's 100th birthday.

April 29th, 2006

Alan Curbishley announces his resignation from the club after 15 years as Valley manager, citing a need to take a break from football.

May 30th, 2006

A new coaching set up at the club is announced with former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie taking control as head coach working with Les Reed (assistant head coach) and Mark Robson (development coach).

2006/07 season