June 9th, 1905
Charlton Athletic Football Club is formed by a group of teenagers on East Street (later known as Eastmoor Street).
December 22nd, 1905
This is the first time a Charlton match is mentioned. A friendly between Charlton and Silvertown Wesley ended with a 6-0 Charlton win according to a report by the Kentish Independent.
1906
Charlton entered the Lewisham League (Junior), Third Division and won their first match against Braby Ironworks 4-0.
March 2nd, 1907
Charlton beat Millwall Rangers 7-1 to top the division and win promotion to the Second Division of the Lewisham League
April 17th, 1908
Charlton player Bill Pirie sadly drowns after a boating incident in the Thames. The Easter Monday game was called off and a benefit game was played on April 30thagainst Bostall Heath Athletic, which ended in a 4-0 Charlton victory.
1909
Charlton won the First Division in the Lewisham League. The club went on to exit the league and join the Blackheath and District League.
1913
The club joins the Lewisham League and adopts senior status.
August, 1919
The Valley becomes Charlton’s ground after a five-year lease is signed with the local landowner. The site was a derelict sand and chalk pit. An army of volunteers dug the pitch into shape.
1920
The club turns professional and joins the Southern League, appointing Walter Rayner as Charlton's first manager.
1921
Charlton are elected to The Football League, joining the Third Division (South) in time for the 1921/22 season, in which they would finish in 16th position.
May, 1925
Alex MacFarlane takes over as Charlton manager.
January, 1928
Albert Lindon takes over as manager and lasts just six months as Alex MacFarlane returns as Charlton manager.
1928/29
The Addicks clinch their first ever promotion to the Second Division by winning the Third Division, but are relegated four years later.
December, 1932
Albert Lindon takes over as manager again but only lasts six months.
1933
Jimmy Seed takes over as manager and leads the club to two successive promotions, finally reaching the First Division in 1936. Seed goes onto manage 730 games for Charlton.
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, finishing second in the old First Division. They also take the fourth and third spots in the next two seasons, before the Second World War 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 its first ever FA Cup final but is beaten 4-1 by Derby County after extra-time.
1947
Seed takes his team to a second successive FA Cup final, but this time leaves with the trophy. Charlton defeat Burnley 1-0 after extra-time thanks to a Chris Duffy goal. Captain Don Welsh lifts the FA Cup at Wembley before 98,215 fans.
1948/49
The club attracts its 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 and 1966-68), scoring 89 goals in a total of 177 appearances. Firmani would later become manager from 1968-70.
1956
Seed is sacked as manager after 23 years in charge. David Clark takes over for less than a month as caretaker until Jimmy Trotter is appointed as his replacement and, after a poor start, the Addicks are relegated at the end of the 1956/57 season.
October, 1961
David Clark retakes over as caretaker manager, and takes control of the club until November when Frank Hill is appointed as the new manager.
August, 1965
Bob Stokoe is appointed as Charlton manager.
September, 1967
Bob Stokoe leaves Charlton and Eddie Firmani is appointed as the new manager, becoming the first Charlton manager to not originate from the UK.
March, 1970
After poor performances, Eddie Firmani is fired as Charlton are facing a relegation battle. Theo Foley takes over as new Charlton manager.
1973
Derek Hales signs for Charlton for £4,000 from Luton Town. During two separate spells with the club (1973/74-1978/79 and 1984/85) ‘Killer' becomes the Addicks' record goalscorer with 168 strikes in 368 games.
April, 1974
Theo Foley leaves the club and is replaced by Les Gore as caretaker manager. Gore lasts just a month before he is replaced by Andy Nelson.
1975
Charlton are promoted to the Second Division after finishing in third place.
March, 1980
After relegation, Andy Nelson leaves the club and Mike Bailey takes over as Charlton manager. He wins promotion to the Second Division in his first season after finishing third.
June, 1981
Mike Bailey leaves Charlton to manage Brighton & Hove Albion. He is replaced by Alan Mullery, who lasts one season until he is replaced by Ken Craggs, who lasts just five months.
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.
November, 1982
Lennie Lawrence is appointed new Charlton manager.
1984/85
Charlton endure several years of financial turmoil, including a bankruptcy hearing at the High Court in March 1984. The club records its lowest average attendance of 5,104.
1985/86
Amid controversy and a huge backlash from fans, Charlton leave The Valley on September 21st, 1985. Robert Lee scores the last goal in a 2-0 win over Stoke City in front of 8,858 supporters as the club embarks on an exile from its home and what would turn into a five-year groundshare at Selhurst Park. Despite the problems, manager Lennie Lawrence steers the Addicks into the First Division for the first time in 29 years as they finish second in the Second Division.
1986/87
Charlton finish 19th in the First Division and are forced into a play-off situation, the first time the system had been used. After beating Ipswich Town, Second Division Leeds United take Charlton to a replay after a two-legged final. Two late extra-time goals from captain Peter Shirtliff preserve the Addicks' First Division status as they win 2-1 in the decider at Birmingham City's St Andrews.
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. The following January sees Greenwich Council reject the club's planning permission for the rebuilding of the derelict Valley.
May, 1990
The Valley Party, a fan-led single issue political party formed to campaign 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
Lennie Lawrence resigns as manager after nine years in charge; 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 but for what would become 16 months. Contractors withdraw from The Valley.
September, 1992
Robert 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 United.
1994/95
'Target 10,000' is launched and the club achieves an average crowd of 10,211 that season. Martin Simons becomes chairman and Richard Murray vice-chairman.
Summer 1995
Alan 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 wins 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 City. Plans for further development of the north stand are published. The Addicks are relegated from the Premier League at 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 Premier League 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 Three Lions 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 Premier League - their most successful season for 47 years.
July, 2001
Charlton break their transfer record in signing Jason Euell from Wimbledon for what would ultimately total £4.75m.
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
The 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 they end the campaign in seventh place.
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 Premier League campaign by finishing 11th.
June 9th, 2005
A host of Addicks legends attend the unveiling of the statue of Bartram at The Valley to commemorate Charlton's 100th birthday.
2005/06
Alan Curbishley announces his resignation from the club in April 2006 after 15 years as Valley manager, citing a need to take a break from football. Curbishley managed a total of 729 games, one less than Jimmy Seed. A new coaching set-up at the club is announced on May 30th, 2006 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
Dowie is sacked as Addicks head coach on November 14th, 2006, and Reed takes over the manager role with Robson as his number two. In December, former Addicks captain Mark Kinsella joins the club's coaching team. On Christmas Eve, Reed leaves his position as Charlton's head coach by mutual consent and Alan Pardew becomes manager, bringing in Phil Parkinson as his assistant the following month. Despite a marked improvement in form under Pardew, the Addicks are relegated to the Championship at the end of the campaign. Top scorer Darren Bent signs for Tottenham Hotspur for a record £16.5m on June 29th, 2007.
2007/08
Fans' favourite Chris Powell returns to The Valley for a third stint in a player-coach role on July 3rd, 2007. Charlton start the new campaign with 17,500 season-ticket holders but ultimately fail in their attempt to bounce straight back to the Premier League, finishing in 11th place. On April 26th, 2008, Jonjo Shelvey becomes the club's youngest-ever player after starting Charlton's 3-0 defeat at Barnsley aged 16 years and 59 days.
2008/09
Alan Pardew leaves The Valley by mutual consent after a 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United on November 22nd, 2008 sends the Addicks into the bottom three of the Championship. Parkinson is named caretaker manager and is later handed the job full-time on December 31st, but cannot prevent the Addicks from being relegated to League One.
2009/10
The Addicks set a new club record for the best-ever start to a season on September 5th, 2009 after storming to six successive victories in the new League One campaign. On April 28th, 2010, Charlton agree to sell 18-year-old midfielder Shelvey to Premier League giants Liverpool. The Reds pay an initial £1.7m for the England youth international, with further potential payments. Charlton reach the League One play-offs but lose out at the semi-final stage after a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Swindon Town at The Valley.
December 31st, 2010
Charlton are taken over by a group represented by former Addicks chief executive Peter Varney. Varney returns to the club as executive vice-chairman, while Michael Slater replaces Richard Murray as chairman alongside fellow owner Tony Jimenez. Murray remains as a director, while former Charlton managing director Stephen Kavanagh becomes chief executive.
January 4th, 2011
Manager Phil Parkinson, assistant manager Tim Breacker and first-team coach Mark Kinsella leave the club. Keith Peacock becomes caretaker manager.
January 14th, 2011
Addicks legend Chris Powell is named the club's 20th permanent manager.
May 7th, 2011
Charlton finish the season in a disappointing 13thplace. Although Chris Powell wins his first four games in charge, Charlton only pick up 11 points in the final 19 games.
August 6th, 2011
After a huge squad reshuffle over the summer that would end in 24 new signings by the end of the campaign, seven players make their Charlton debut in a 3-0 win against AFC Bournemouth. The season ends with dozens of records broken, including equalling the Third Division’s highest points tally (101). The Addicks win the League One Championship, with promotion clinched three weeks before the end of the season.
