Abbott to start life at Vicarage
Smiling striker Pawel Abbott can't wait to get started after joining Charlton for a nominal fee from Oldham Athletic on Friday evening.
The striker, who penned a two-year contract with the Addicks, goes straight into Phil Parkinson's squad for the final pre-season friendly of the summer at Watford on Saturday (3pm).
And the English-born former Poland U21 hitman is relishing the chance to blaze a trail in SE7 ahead of the new League One season, which starts on August 7th.
"I'm happy to be on board,” Pawel told CAFC Player after sealing the deal on a busy day which also saw Parkinson recruit right-back Simon Francis from Southend United. "It's a massive club and I'm really happy to be here.
"I think the deal has been ongoing for a while and I'm happy it's finally done and I can start to get ready with my new team for the start of the season.”
Abbott, who coincidentally played his last game for previous club Oldham against the Addicks on the final day of the regular 2009/10 season in May, hit 13 goals last term, and adds some vital firepower to Parkinson's squad ahead of the League One opener against AFC Bournemouth.
He will link up with former strike colleague at Huddersfield Town, Akpo Sodje, at The Valley, as well as midfielder Alan McCormack, with whom he played at Preston North End soon after returning to England.
"I've got a Polish mum and I lived over there between the ages of 11 and 18, but I was born and brought up in York,” said Pawel, whose accent shows little signs of any Eastern European twang.
"Time flies; Alan McCormack and I first met up at Preston about eight years ago, and I know Akpo as well from our time together at Huddersfield.
"It's always nice coming to a team where you already know someone so you are not sitting in the corner on your own; you've got someone to hang onto. And Charlton head of sports science Donough [Holohan] was with us at Preston for a bit as well.”
Abbott was a youth player at LKS Lodz in Poland and played youth football for his chosen nation, netting a goal on his debut for the U21 side.
After returning to England, he played for Preston, spending two loan spells at Bury, and also represented Huddersfield, Swansea City and Darlington before joining Oldham last summer.
"I remember that last game of the season well,” said the 28-year-old, whose Christian name is pronounced 'Pavel'. "At one stage, Charlton were up. It was quite a long shot, though, Leeds had to lose and two teams had to draw.
"For Charlton it was exciting, but I was at Oldham and we lost, so it wasn't really a day to remember.”
On his form at Boundary Park, he noted: "I think there is always room for improvement. I think you can never settle on what you achieve; you are always greedy for more.
"Hopefully, I can achieve that bit more with Charlton.”
Abbott actually found the back of the net at The Valley last season, only to see his strike disallowed, and ended the campaign with a baker's dozen to his name.
"I've only come up against Charlton twice in my career, last season,” he added. "I had a goal disallowed - and I still don't know what it was for.
"I think it should have stood. It was from a free-kick, but apparently there was a foul in the box.
"It was great to play at The Valley, though. It's a great stadium, one of the best in the league and it's great I'll be able to play every other week there.”
Indeed, the lure of a first playing spell in London - his previously southernmost home was Swansea - was too strong to turn down, said Abbott.
"As soon as I found out Charlton were interested, I wanted to get it done and go there,” he said.
"I don't think there are many people who can actually say 'I don't want to go to Charlton.'
"Outside the Premiership and including the Championship, I don't think there are many better clubs where people would want to ply their trade. I'm looking forward to showing the fans what I can do.”
A regular goalgetter in his career, Abbott's season best was the 27 he rattled in when playing for Huddersfield in 2004/05, and he will offer a much-needed goal threat to the Addicks ranks ahead of the upcoming campaign.
"I can hold up the ball and link the play, and throughout my career I've scored quite a few goals. Hopefully, I can continue that here,” he continued, shortly after finishing his first training session at Sparrows Lane on Friday.
"Training was good. They are a nice bunch of lads and everyone is really friendly, which obviously helps when you are coming to a new club.
"They made me welcome and I want to kick on now and start the league season, start winning games and get us on top of that table.
"Charlton were a bit unlucky not to get promoted last season after starting off really well, and were unlucky in the play-offs with the penalties.
"That was a harsh way to get knocked out. But that's football, and hopefully those who experienced it last year will have that hunger to go on and go up this time automatically.
"I hope the new lads coming in can show what they can do and push together for promotion.”
CAFC Player continues to have all the big names this summer, bringing subscribers interviews with Abbott and fellow Friday signing Francis joining the likes of Phil Parkinson, Dailly, Kyel Reid, Mark Kinsella, Jackson, Chris Solly and Donough Holohan, while fans will be able to hear live commentary from every Charlton fixture - home and away - this season via the video website, courtesy of the club's official radio partners, BBC LONDON 94.9.
With yearly subscriptions available from just £34.99, or £3.99 per month, CAFC Player is the place to be for all your Addicks news, views, action and reaction.
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