Inver respect of Paddy.

If I lived in the Highlands of bonnie Scotland I'd jump at the chance of spending a weekend away in the bright lights of London to watch my football club. About a hundred or so of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle faithful did just this and made the very long journey to South London as their club took up the invitation for a pre-season friendly which Charlton then doubled up as a testimonial match for former winger and Valley groundsman Colin Powell. It's a shame so few of the home 'faithful' did the same.

The club opened the East, Lower West and Lower North stands but in all honesty could have squeezed us all in just the one. Having looked at the club web site it appears nobody is actually keen to publish the exact attendance. Watch me get all political but I'd love to imagine the crowd would have been equally as low if we'd hosted Real Madrid at sixty quid a head.

The two teams gave Colin Powell a guard of honour, those present clapped and cheered gallantly, I know he is a player from a long time back now, and only the groundsman, but it was still pretty embarrassing. A little like our search for a striker.

Adamo Coulibaly has signed for Lens after looking rather impressive for us on his week's trial. Lens of course have that missing ingredient, the money to pay him, although I believe very early contract discussions broke down due to the hindrance of awkward communication with an agent. Next up on the trial stakes, Simon Church a striker released by Reading.

I firmly believed I'd see this Welsh striker for at least an hour yesterday, I never expected the lad to be missing completely. We lined up with that defensive old 4-5-1 formation which I fear we'll see home and away this season with unwelcome regularity. This didn't bode well for our pursuit to fill the vacant number nine and ten shirts with less than a week to go until the competition proper starts. Would there be a better opportunity for the gaffer to cast his eye over a potential signing? It hit me like a bullet at three o'clock Saturday that this really is it, we haven't as they say got a pot to urinate in.

Church did eventually appear today for a 'strong' Charlton XI at Ebbsfleet alongside another trialist, former Tranmere Rovers forward Adam McGurk. The Northern Irish front man had been on trial with Birmingham prior to this but they didn't see him as worthy of a contract. I very much doubt they'll be an announcement on either of these two from us either, Chris Powell has lost out on his targets through no fault of his own and it does appear like he's clutching at straws as we sieve through the dregs of what's left, no offense intented. I'm starting to feel a little jealous of the New York Red Bulls for their acquisition and celebration of Bradley Wright-Phillips now.

Yann Kermorgant may well feel the same. With every ball he won and every nod down he completed he looked more and more frustrated. Fitness and injury avoidance were obviously contributing factors but there was no-one to pick these balls up and take them goal-wards.

If this was Powell's preferred starting eleven (Saturday obviously, not today) for next week then there was little inspiration. Cort surprisingly wasn't at the back, Dervite and Morrison taking up the center berth. I was impressed how we switched from four at the back to just three as we ventured forward, it was almost seamless at times, but there were occasions when communication between keeper and defenders was minimal at best. Mark Gower sat in the heart of midfield with Jackson and Stephens, they were flanked by Pritchard and Harriott. The passing was neat but the lack of ideas was a worry. Yes it's still a friendly but Inverness are a good stern quality test, they certainly showed we still have some cracks which could prove costly, especially with this lack of firepower.

Nobody can question the passion, after giving a soft goal away we threw everything forward, Kermorgant especially, showing facial expressions of hurt and irritation. It's clear they don't like losing no matter how friendly the fixture. As a game though it was a non event, unfortunately similar as a showpiece to the recognition of the day.

On the plus side, it was great to take the London Bridge train from home full of expectation of a good day of football and beer once again. We had a few ales and VAT's post game and I can happily report all is looking good, my tolerance is of matchday requirement. I'm just about there and raring to go.

Cherry Red

It felt like the other Kingston tonight, not the one residing upon the Thames. A shatteringly hot day in South London, who'd have thought the Cherry Red stadium was named after a record label and not the colour of our heads after all this sun.

My first ever visit (I think) to the ground which many know by the name of Kingsmeadow and I have to say I enjoyed it. I did once watch Sutton United in a Surrey Senior Cup final at Kingstonian's ground in the late eighties but I think that may have been their old Richmond Road ground. We stood tonight down the length of the pitch in a terrace with a low roof built for noise and atmosphere. This would be a great ground to get drawn at in a cup match.

It was the other team from Kingston, AFC Wimbledon that hosted Charlton this evening though, the Addicks first teams third pre-season friendly and the first since returning home from Spain.

Charlton put out a strong side which featured both our trialists from the off. Richard Wood partnered Leon Cort at the heart of the defence while Yann Kermorgant lined up alongside Adamo Coulibaly, a fellow Frenchman who has spent the last four seasons in Hungary playing for Debreceni VSC. A tall powerful front man with a good turn of pace, the 31 year old is only with Charlton for a week and hopes to impress. He got a good hour in tonight but is a week or two behind the rest of the squad when it comes to fitness.

As is the case with pre-season friendlies, the football was quite low key and the challenges mild. Moments of note were few and far between but Wimbledon had by far and away the best chance of taking the lead when a good ball from just outside their box from a lad with a little Jason Lee pineapple thing going on put through their striker who rounded the keeper and had the easiest of finishes to put it away but somehow hit the foot of the post instead, up there with Ronny Rosenthal. It transpires apparently that Button clipped him and the home side were claiming it worthy of a spot kick. Just looked like a comical miss to us.

Danny Green put the visitors in front with a lovely strike a little later, only for Wimbledon to equalise on the half hour as the Charlton defending went to pieces. A lad on the back post was ignored by all and left alone to calmly nod home when the ball floated over everyone else. Stealth like he was, except to the three hundred travelling fans, we all saw him.

The highlight of the second half except for the officials change of tops (from murky white/grey to yellow) was a sublime piece of skill from Kermorgant. He won the ball on the edge of the box from a Dons defender, turned and tried to chip the keeper. Chip him he did but unfortunately the ball went just over the bar, it was exquisite and deserved a bigger result.

Speaking of shirts, we saw tonight the new N**e home shirt for the first time and I must confess, it looks a lot better on a football pitch than it does on a mannequin (or for that matter an overweight fifty-something on a terrace). It did help that it wasn't violated with either a shirt sponsor or a players surname although that little peek through a retro keyhole won't last for long!

The linesman on our side made a name for himself with his balding head, his rather large waistband and his total lack of understanding as to why a goal kick is awarded. He then proceeded to lose his rag with Bradley Pritchard while the Charlton player was warming up for reasons only he could know. He got quite heated and for a moment looked capable of a Basil Fawlty explosion. Needless to say from this moment on he was heckled non stop.

The final whistle blew and one youngster next to us hurdled the advertising hoardings and ran onto the pitch, not to cause a disturbance but for a laugh and to show off to his mates. This kid didn't really know what to do once there and circled the players before legging it as a steward walked towards him. Good old Kingston police, they must have a quiet life as when we exited the ground one bobby was making it his sole purpose of the week to find this youth and lay the law down. Never have I seen a more peaceful pitch invasion or such an unnecessary manhunt.

A 1-1 draw in summer evening sunshine, a pint or two with friends I haven't seen for far too long, yes football is back. The pre season is as much for the fans to get back into it gently as it is the players. Me, I'm feeling almost match fit already.

Goals, Goals, Goals.

And so it's begun. Charlton Athletic are not only back in training but are kicking footballs on a pitch in front of paying spectators. And doesn't it feel good!

The first team have now had three matches, the traditional opener at Welling United followed by a now nearly traditional trip to Spain where they've faced a Gibraltar XI and Scottish Premier League side St Mirren.

At Welling a healthy crowd saw a five goal show from the visitors with young Joe Pigott bagging a hat trick and causing a minor storm on twitter with the #feedthepig hashtag.

A two-nil victory at Gibraltar's national stadium followed by this morning by a four-nil convincing victory over The Buddies to take our non competitive tally to eleven goals scored, none conceded. Great reading I'm sure you'll agree but I'm still concerned, we've lost Wright-Phillips, Haynes and Fuller yet haven't appeared to do anything about filling that void. Does Chris Powell have a cunning plan to unleash upon returning to our shores?

Haynes has gone to Notts County, young Waggy has gone to Bristol City, everybody seems to be moving in the transfer market except for us. We've signed Mark Gower and brought defender Richard Wood in on trial. I thought we were keen to sign Jonathan Obika permanently, and if that was the case wouldn't that have been one of the quick deals so he could have gone on the gaffers Spanish bonding session?

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see us sign players for the sake of it, and as I discussed last night with a good friend over a pint of London Pride or two, I'd much rather see youngsters given a chance ahead of loan signings that don't share the club's passion, but isn't Yann Kermorgant our only striker of note at the moment? Pigott, Cook, Smith, Azeez, all strikers on the books but not a Championship first teamer amongst them yet, and love big Yann as I do, he's not a twenty goal a season striker is he.

If a neutral looked at our first three scorelines they'd never ponder such a situation, let alone worry where the goals will come from. We've been blessed of late with midfielders and defenders getting themselves on the score sheet, but if we're going to build on last season we need match winners. Despite Haynes' fitness and Fuller's age, they were for all intents and purposes match winners, they had a bit of class about them and a real presence on the football field.

We shall see, Powell knows his job (and his resources) far better than I do, but surely there's got to be an announcement or two soon hasn't there? We're in grave danger of being left behind. While we're at it, another midfield general and a centre half would be nice but I'll settle for just a striker right now. I keep thinking I've just forgotten someone, this tropical summer heat getting to my head but I've checked the first team squad list to quash this paranoia and sure enough we look as light as I feared.

Perhaps a new front man will arrive in SE7 at the same time as the new kit. Many would assume that if you've picked a design straight out of a catalogue the suppliers would have it on your doorstep very sharpish. And then you remember we're Charlton, not really on Nike's 'A' list of clientele so we can quite happily sell replica's to the supporters and keep the coins entering the sportswear giants pockets but they in return can't quite manage to kit the players out? Well done Nike, your nonchalant sentiment never fails to make me smile, keep it up. Perhaps they are waiting to officially release it at the much anticipated 'club day' on the 21st July. I do hope not.

And so to Wednesday evening, and my first visit to Kingstonian's ground for the friendly against AFC Wimbledon. I've only ever been to one of their fixtures before, a friendly away to Sutton United at Gander Green Lane which was coincidentally their first ever match. I'm quite excited, who knows there's even time between now and then that I could witness the arrival of a new player or even a new shirt.

Then again.......

From The Mail with love

All quiet on the western front. Or so we thought. Charlton fans woke up this morning to news that a Russian consortium were in talks with Tony Jimenez and Michael Slater to buy the club, if The Mail are to be believed.  Yes, I realise the comical assumption i made in that last sentence too.

Jimenez has property in Cyprus, a country I know relatively well and which has been bombarded by Russian businessmen over the past few years buying up hotels, property and anything else the cash strapped locals think they can sell. Forgive me if I assume it was actually a golf club (or even a whole bag of them) that was the main text of these supposed talks.

There were no facts, no names, just that Jimenez was 'understood' to have held talks with the Russians. I could 'understand' things all day long and compose lazy journalism for the needy and rumour hungry (if someone paid me to), so don't start bothering yourselves on which players we'll be outbidding Chelsea for, or how we'll lose any personal relationship with the club during the course of the season. We won't be selling our soul to buy the league any time soon, we've heard these kind of rumours before and they remained just that.

No news always used to be considered good news, I mean to stand by that. The club have nothing really to say, still living off the back of last season publishing daily the latest of their twenty best moments of the campaign, whilst trying to get us enthusing about the release of the new away kit next week. We've seen pictures of the first team squad returning to training, I presume something for the kids to get excited about, but that's all there is. No transfer stories, no breaking news, perhaps Powell and company are just quietly enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon or the music at Glastonbury for now. I expect they've certainly been following the pointless Confederations Cup in Brazil in between rounds of golf with the boss man in Cyprus.

For those desperate for 'proper' news, the first pre-season friendly at Welling is now less than a week away. It won't be long before you can't blink without missing something, let's just enjoy a moments peace while we still have it.

A new season, a new sticker album.

How many stickers is a 'shiny' worth? It probably varied from playground to playground but these glittering childhood treasures were, at the end of the day, just run of the mill Panini items. The Football Attic however have gifted us with true collectables, albeit unlikely to eventually reach the same dizzy heights financially as the Panini variants of yesteryear.

This is the second League of Blogs sticker album and, as good as the first one was, this has a far more traditional look to it, enhanced by the inclusion of each blogs crest alongside their kits. The design is a credit to the lads from the Attic, the paper and printing is of a high quality and once again the finished article is alluring and professional.

You can read how I chose both the badge and kit designs in a previous post blatantly 'borrowing' inspiration from both the club and football kit supremos Admiral, but suffice to say they had more than a little impact as they made the front and back covers respectively.

Charlton content is aplenty amongst the albums pages, as both Charlton Casualty and Hungry Ted two great Addicks bloggers have entries. The Stone Roses influence is loud and proud with the bucket hat in one whilst the other has a real brute of a man, the sort of chap that would have Subbuteo's Tommy Smith quaking in his base, modelling the kits.

Mine wasn't the best by a long shot, the creativity included in the pages is phenomenal from a Stormtroopers head to detailed goalkeeper gloves, kits with road signs on to a complete map of the world on another. I may need to up my game to be a contender next year, my thinking cap is already on!

Once again, a huge thank you to The Football Attic for the idea, it has been a privilege to be involved in such an enjoyable (and rapidly becoming established) aspect of a football bloggers year.

PS Rich, I see Tesco printed the books again, your good lady must love the clubcard points!

Are we nearly there yet?

They say a week is a long time in football. This is true, unless of course it's the start of the summer interlude when a week just seems like a long time full stop.

After a lovely summer holiday in Prague with my wife, the next 'light at the end of the tunnel' to get me through the working week will be the pre-season friendlies which start less than three weeks away at Welling. The past seven days have seen the Charlton machine gathering momentum with almost daily 'breaking news', I went to the Czech Republic blissfully unaware that every time I found a WiFi hotspot my phone would vibrate like the clappers, timelines more congested than border control at Gatwick.

Before departing we had the news of the St Mirren friendly in Spain, it was then announced that the Addicks would play a second match whilst abroad, this time facing a Gibraltar XI. As much as I cannot afford (or get time off work for) another European jaunt this summer, I'm a little saddened I cannot venture to Spain. How many of us can boast we've seen Gibraltar play football at their national stadium on Winston Churchill Avenue? These truly are little football 'bucket list' gems aren't they! And as for St Mirren, well I've a true soft spot for Scottish football as a whole and The Buddies side of the early 80's did of course contain the legendary Jimmy Bone. Need I say more?

picture courtesy of The Football Attic   

          

Charlton, as faithful a dealer as there ever was, are still going to give me a little injection of Scotland though as they announced that for the only home friendly we will be hosting Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a side I've followed with some interest since their inception and their Highland League days, an amalgamation of two teams far more successful than anything Robert Maxwell attempted a decade earlier.

Another game now confirmed is a League Cup fixture at home to Oxford United. Not something to get particularly excited about I know, given our record in the tournament and last season's poor showing against Leyton Orient. The ground will only be open in small areas, the atmosphere will be non-existent and it will, in fairness, feel like one more friendly but for me again another soft spot.

When I think of Oxford I always picture Paul Konchesky making his debut for the first team against a side featuring former Sutton United man Stuart 'yes I did eat all the pies' Massey. Then of course there was their old Manor Ground, a random collection of sheds and steps, possibly the allotment of all old football grounds..........

And so came Monday evening, I'm at Prague airport and looking for an internet connection. I was well aware of an event taking place at The Valley, the unveiling of the upcoming season's new home shirt, the second home offering from N**e.

New signing Mark Gower along with Under 21 captain Bradley Jordan sported the new attire complemented by two very meticulous haircuts. The fantastic free WiFi in Prague's impressive if somewhat disorganized airport meant I too could share the moment with them. The lighter shade of red is a traditionally more Charlton colour (it's not a variant of orange we are told), the trim is white but that is where my positivity ends. The collar/neck is, we are told, buttoned at the front although they are obviously invisible when done up, this to me just makes it look like a Velcro fastening. The thin white trim on the sleeves isn't overpowering and a nice touch but I don't think we'll ever go on to consider it to be a classic, not like this beauty!

The internet had been full of creations by amateur kit designers on possible new Charlton shirts, some of them ripping off old templates, others creative, fresh and intriguing. Maybe some of these big brands should take note of what's achieved on lap tops around the capital. Perhaps these ideas fuelled my anticipation and heightened my disappointment of the real thing.  As all the wise old heads on twitter are quick to point out though, it's the team that matters, not the shirt and, if truth be told I wouldn't be giving N**e any of my money for one no matter how lovely a design so who am I to  moan.

Tomorrow morning sees the announcement of the fixture list and the final piece to shape the landscape of the impending season. People supposedly 'in the know' have already tried to leak opening day fixtures, I expect to achieve more virtual followers or friends, I'm happy to sit it out and ponder the possibilities for another twelve or so hours. Then I'll start scribbling dates on the calendar and making travel and work plans. Are we nearly there yet? Almost.

Worked hard, showed potential and ultimately achieved a good grade.

After ten months of moments of both ecstasy and, more often than not, agony, we're down to having just the one English domestic football match left to play, the most lucrative of them all. The Championship play-off final is a fixture close to the hearts of all Charlton supporters, the greatest day of them all for those of us too young to remember the FA Cup final of  '47, and this season's encounter bears more than a passing interest to those in and around SE7.

Our bitter rivals, Crystal Palace, will endeavour to defeat Gianfranco Zola's Watford to gain entry to the ludicrous Premier League on Monday. It's a game I for one am glad Charlton aren't involved in this season.

Having walked away with the League One title the previous year, some expected the Addicks to follow in the footsteps of Norwich and Brighton, taking the Championship by storm. However, whispered financial insecurities over the summer left supporters a little concerned that survival was a far more obtainable goal than promotion. The traditional comings and goings in the transfer market were few and far between although Charlton did manage to keep hold of the nucleus of the title winning squad including player of the year Chris Solly, despite interest from some of English football's big names. Lawrie Wilson joined from Stevenage as Charlton beat Peterborough for his signature, whilst former Glasgow Rangers wide man Salim Kerkar also signed after a successful trial period. Perhaps Chris Powell's shrewdest piece of business was capturing French defender Dorian Dervite. Dervite has been an unsung hero stepping up to the mark when called upon both in the heart of the defence and also playing just ahead of the back four when Powell experimented with a 4-5-1 formation. He's been known to come up with the odd goal as well, just when we've needed it.

The season started as many have with disappointment and cup heartache, a Charlton phenomenon we'll forever have to endure. League One Leyton Orient, a side we had become very familiar with, fought for a draw and ultimately beating us in a penalty shoot-out, Jackson and new boy Wilson missing our first two. This was always going to be a season when we had to concentrate on the league anyway.

The opening day was at St Andrews; Birmingham full of play off misfortune and determined to go one better this time around. Charlton started their league campaign where they left off the last one, the better side for the majority of the match and snatching a late goal through Leon Cort. A momentary lapse of concentration at the back saw Birmingham equalise with almost the last kick of the ninety minutes, they celebrated like they had just won whilst we were left reeling and in no doubt that mistakes this season would be punished with a regularity we were not accustomed to. A harsh but perhaps needy lesson. Three days later Leicester came to The Valley, one of the promotion favourites. Both Wright-Phillips and Yann Kermorgant got off the mark and although the visitors pulled one back it was a solid Charlton performance on a frenzied and charged night. Our first victory, third in the table and we'd played two of the most fancied sides in the division off the park at times. This Championship lark was going to be easy, a day later we signed Ricardo Fuller who had been let go by Stoke. Buoyant is probably the most apt adjective I can think of looking back for the late summer of 2012. August was rounded off with a draw at home to Hull, another much fancied side, in torrential rain. Five points from nine, were we punching above our weight or had we really found our natural level? Chris Powell was certainly the man of the moment.

September came and with it a change of fortunes. Nottingham Forest gave us a footballing lesson, probably the best we would see all season, the 2-1 scoreline and a late rally of Charlton pressure both deceiving and ultimately flattering us greatly. What better a fixture to bounce back in then, than the much anticipated visit of Crystal Palace. The Eagles packed the away end with great support both vocally and visually, it was unfortunate that a few idiots from both camps decided to punch and kick their way to the station afterwards. A tight affair, Palace inflicted a successive defeat on us although in fairness we had a perfectly good goal ruled out earlier from Bradley Wright-Phillips. These incidents never hurt as much as they do in a local derby; the following week was hard to stomach at work as Palace fans seemed to creep out of the woodwork. The first Palace league win at The Valley in my lifetime, this was lamentably a notable landmark in a season full of sharp milestones.

The Palace flares did look good though.

After a third consecutive defeat, this time at Derby, another club supported by a friend happy to heap more mockery upon me, we found ourselves just outside the relegation zone a drop of eighteen places in four weeks. An early indication of how tight the division would stay all season.

The next couple of months saw complete extremes of emotions. Bradley Wright-Phillips was dropped as it became apparent he really didn't cut it in the second tier as was Danny Hollands. Two stalwarts of the title winning team that struggled to step up a level. The club captain, Johnnie Jackson, was also struggling to adjust as Chris Powell changed line ups and formations in an attempt to bring some stability to the team. Rhoys Wiggins had picked up a nasty injury in that clash against Palace, whilst Kermorgant also found himself in the treatment room for a month with an ankle injury. Chris Powell was always going to be tested as a manager and now he was, in the toughest of manners. He came in for criticism from some, his substitutions were badly timed and largely ineffective whilst it was obvious to many that he certainly had, and forgave, his favourites. If ever a manager was going to have to be brave and take a risk or two...

An encouraging and unexpected win at Blackpool was followed by probably the poorest performance of the season. Barnsley were the guests, football for a fiver was the event and 26,185 paying fans expected us to rise to the occasion to give first time viewers and long forgotten returning fans a spectacle. It was a drab game with very little atmosphere, the Tykes won with a single goal and there wasn't the merest hint of anything to encourage anyone to come again for the full asking price.

Those hardy souls that did return were treated to even worse in the next fixture, a 4-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough. Two away draws in between have given many false hope, the season wasn't even three months old and already The Valley was looking anything but the fortress we could depend on.

The high flying and re-branded Cardiff City were next, as if it couldn't get any worse! The crowd was much smaller than three days previously, many couldn't face going through all that again but those rugged enough to handle what Charlton could throw at them were in for a treat, the sort of night that will live long in the memory and told to future generations. Three minutes in, Cardiff had taken the lead, we slumped back in our seats resigned to another unwelcome battering. The only real surprise was that it took Cardiff twenty minutes to double their lead and as that goal went in I was so very tempted to make my way back down the pub to warm up. Something was different that night though, a feeling in the crowd that I last remember when we entertained West Ham in a thrilling 4-4 draw. This is one of those atmosphere's you couldn't recreate on a Saturday, it only happens under the floodlights but it was like an electrical charge running through the stands. We started to sing and sing and it just got louder and louder, akin to a mantra, we became a unit bound by a desire to not see our team capitulate but instead fight back with bravery and dignity. Bang bang, Johnnie Jackson rose to the call with two quick fire goals before the break to leave Cardiff shell-shocked. Malky Mackay's half time team talk must have been a stuttering and stumbling passage of disbelief whereas Powell's was obviously a rousing and proud speech. The Addicks returned to the battleground and knocked seven shades out of Cardiff for twenty minutes netting three times, the mother of all comeback's! Except for Huddersfield of course. The officials decided six minutes of stoppage time was needed, mainly for goal celebrations, and Charlton did their very best to give each and every one of us a cardiac arrest. Oh Charlton why do you always tease me so! Twice during those six minutes Cardiff found the net and looked very likely to finish the job before the referee finally brought the proceedings to an end.

We had beaten the league leaders 5-4, what could possibly touch me now? I was delirious. Even a Crystal Palace packed East Croydon station as I waited for a connection didn't really dampen things, albeit that they had also won and were rejoicing in now being top of the league, replacing Cardiff. Darn.

Momentum carried itself over from that game, we won three and drew one in the next four entering December with a much anticipated trip to The New Den. Things were looking 'dench' as our new loan signing Emmanuel Frimpong would say. The Arsenal lad would, it transpired, become subject to mockery for his actions off the pitch and completely forgotten for those on it. Another loanee that failed to make an impact at the same time was Danny Seabourne of Southampton although experienced and much traveled Rob Hulse, also 'borrowed' by us looked the real deal to me. Unwanted by QPR, the striker was keen to make an impression in the hope of a job offer from Powell. Hulse would later sign for Millwall where he was as popular with the natives as a Charlton supporter brandishing a flare. A lucky escape perhaps?

The game at Millwall won't be remembered for the football but for how Charlton and their 'geeky' fans stood up to the Lions. Charlton never backed down even when things got intimidating, many noses were put out of joint so much so that the Metropolitan Police, and the clubs for that matter, were worried that certain factions would seek retribution come the return fixture. Much was of course made of how all parties dealt with this, many feeling like Charlton fans were made to feel like second class citizens on our home patch in an effort to escort Millwall off the premises as quickly as possible. Those that like a bit of politics had a field day! We only took one point off Millwall in the end over the two games.

From that moment on Christmas had a distinctly miserable feel to it as the Addicks struggled to gain a measly two points from the next fifteen, the only highlight being Danny Haynes peach of a goal against Derby which would ultimately go on to be voted the clubs goal of the season.

As 2012 rolled into 2013 we sat in 18th place in the table. The confidence of the previous season was a distant memory, as was the 'homely' feel of League One. It would be fair to say that, with a couple of obvious exceptions, I wasn't really enjoying being back in the second tier of English football. I'm in no way a glory hunter, I certainly don't only watch the club when they are winning, but i missed the friendliness of third division football. The Championship is a lot more stressful both on and off the pitch.

New Years Day gave me a perfect opportunity to visit Vicarage Road, a ground I hadn't been to for many years. I could never have picked a better time to reacquaint myself with the place. Now Watford didn't play a nice game to be fair, I'm only going to support them on Monday because of the opposition. Full of Italian loanee's they played up, fell over and generally cheated in an attempt to win, much like the real McCoy on the other side of Europe. They may not have endeared themselves to us but Charlton did the complete opposite refusing to go down and winning the match by playing football. No matter how much we thought we loved our club, we loved them a little more after the game. Twice we went behind, twice we came back eventually running out 4-3 winners. Johnnie Jackson scored the winner, his face full of passion, it was a face he would pull again before the season was out. An early kick off meant a good long celebratory drink afterwards, first in Watford and then back in Euston. I was in the dog house for days afterwards once I'd returned home!

This form was taken into our next league match, Blackpool's visit to The Valley. There was the small matter of the third round of the cup between these two fixtures, we entertained Huddersfield and in true Charlton tradition we were abysmal so I shan't dwell on it. Not only did Blackpool mark our first double of the season but also our first home Saturday 3pm win of the campaign too. Had we turned over a new leaf? The 2-1 victory saw a goal for Scott Wagstaff who had returned from a loan spell at Leyton Orient with the bit between his teeth. If ever a player was out to prove his worth to his manager this lad was showing it. He would keep his place for the next three games including a win at Ewood Park. The last of these was our trip to Selhurst Park, a sad day for the club as the Eagles inflicted a second defeat upon us whilst our fans shamed themselves both inside and outside the ground with acts of needless vandalism. The actions of the police didn't help matters but even so.....

One point out of four South London derbies. I started this piece mentioning agonies don't forget.

February saw the long overdue return of Rhoys Wiggins, Cedric Evina had done a good job filling in but our first choice left back certainly gave a feeling of stability in our defence. We needed that stability as Ben Hamer was starting to feel the pressure, his mistakes became more apparent and, with it, more costly. David Button was given his chance between the sticks. Again our away form carried us through with the second double of the season at Leicester whilst Sheffield Wednesday, Forest, Burnley and Millwall all triumphed in SE7.

Chris Powell once again dipped into the loan market picking up Jonathan Obika from Tottenham and Mark Gower from Swansea. Last season's top scorer, Bradley Wright-Phillips was now enjoying a spell at Brentford (which would culminate with an appearance at Wembley) and may well have played his last game for the Addicks. Callum Harriott had been given the nod for the first team and raised his game pulling full backs here there and everywhere with his youthful exuberance. His performances along with the forgotten man of Charlton, Andy Hughes, were to transform our season end run in.

Bolton Wanderers came to The Valley at the end of March, another much fancied side in a rich vein of form. This game, at the beginning of the final straight, was I believe the turning point, not just because it was the start of our unbeaten climax to the season, but also because it finally showed the belief of the the players, the management and the supporters. After the poor showing against Millwall a week previously, we were again two down and this time after only twenty minutes. The visitors went defensive with a substitution, we immediately capitalized pulling a goal back and then never let go. Bolton had two players sent off but that was merely a statistic, with Andy Hughes dominating the midfield on his long awaited return to action. The 72 minutes he played that afternoon were nearly enough to win him the 'player of the year' award on their own!

A credible draw at Brighton midweek and another very spirited win against Leeds followed, we were up to twelfth and although not mathematically safe, I felt we had done enough. The Leeds game also saw the start of  something that will go down in Charlton folklore, Jonathan Obika and his last minute winner. The Bolton game left us elated, this last minute victory over Leeds even more so. We had snatched this after an old boys club had tried to steal the points from us. Luke Varney, governed by Neil Redfearn had thought they'd done enough equalizing with less than ten minutes to play. Obika duly became a hero!

The trip to Barnsley that followed really didn't need any last minute heroics from anyone. For the first time during my years supporting the club we scored six goals in a game, and as if that wasn't enough they all came from different individuals. That will teach anyone to come to The valley and spoil the day for all those kids! We were up to ninth and some were calculating the possibilities of a top six finish. We then gatecrashed Cardiff's promotion party as we held the best side in the league to a draw before entertaining a very troubled Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If ever a side looked resigned to their fate it was Wolves. Wasteful in attack, void of ideas in midfield, the very real threat of a second successive relegation stared everyone in the face. The pitch at The Valley had looked in awful condition for a few weeks by this time, Wolves needed to grow accustomed to it as it will mirror many they'll visit next season in League One. Charlton being Charlton have never taken the obvious route and after going a goal up threw Wolves a lifeline and the opportunity to claim a vital point. The visitors finally sensing the gravity of the situation took it with both hands only for that man Obika to once again kick a visiting team in the teeth at the death. As loan signings go there have been few with that much impact.

A draw at Middlesbrough and a comfortable win over bottom club Bristol City saw the Addicks finish the season unbeaten in their last eight and top of the last 'current form' table. Chris Powell said himself that he wished there were another ten games to go. Without doubt it instills great confidence for the start of the next campaign.

Behind the scenes there had been much gossip surrounding the owners and the staff. We often saw rumours stating Powell's frustration and unhappiness at both the funds available and those not supplying them, although at least he still found himself employed. Many at the club lost their jobs, some that had been central to the Charlton cause for many years. There were also sounds being made of foreign business consortium's being in attendance at The Valley on a matchday but this has since been rubbished. Of course we have no idea how the books look, or for that matter the future intentions of those pulling the strings. We can however assume that survival has meant everything to the club, if the worst had happened and we'd gone straight back down I fear a very big nail would have entered our coffin. It's just a feeling, I could of course be wrong.

In a season of many hero's it was Chris Solly that once again picked up the accolade of 'Player Of The Year'. Johnnie Jackson must wonder what he has to do to get his name on that particular trophy, he turned his season completely around after struggling to adapt for the first few weeks, scoring twelve goals in the process, many of them priceless and game changing. As faces start to leave throughout the summer I pray the skipper's isn't one of them. I do wonder if we can continue to hold on to Chris Solly, West Ham are still keen and his signature must now be worth a pretty penny, whilst Aston Villa were as we know keen on Dale Stephens back in January. It's hard to say if that was genuine interest or more of a panic scenario due to their precarious situation at the time.

Young Callum Harriott has signed a new deal which is great news for the club, as has Dorian Dervite while Danny Haynes and Scott Wagstaff will both be leaving. Haynes has been unfortunate not only during his time with us but for most of his career with injuries while it really is a little sad to see Waggy go. A youth product who has played at all levels for Charlton and seems to have been around the club for so long already obviously isn't a part of Powell's bigger picture. With the utmost respect to Ricardo Fuller, Matt Taylor, Salim Kerkar, John Sullivan and Yado Mambo (we never got a chance to sing that song) who all also leave this summer, none of them were Charlton through and through. It's a sad day when one of your own move on to pastures new.

So we now know all of our league opponents for next season except one. I'm a tad biased, i follow more Watford fans on twitter (two) than I do Palace fans and besides I want another chance to claim bragging rights over drinkers in my local pubs. What fun would it be to see Palace lose every week in the Premier League anyway? Like I said at the beginning, I'm glad we are not involved, it would be far too early for this squad to get promoted but, fifteen years on from the greatest of days in my living memory, I don't begrudge any supporters their day out at Wembley tomorrow.