Charlton Athletic guide - history, emblem, titles, stadium map

Charlton Athletic

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Full Name: Charlton Athletic Football Club
City: London
Founded: 1905
Stadium: The Valley (27,113)
Colors: Red, White
Nickname: The Addicks
Rivals: Crystal Palace, Millwall, Gillingham

Official Website: charlton-athletic.co.uk

Description:

Charlton Athletic were formed on June 9th, 1905. Charlton is a neighborhood of southeast London. After several years in local football, then the Lewisham, Kent and Southern Leagues, Charlton joined the Football League in 1921. In the early years, the players used a nearby fish and chip shop as a changing room, and this is the origin of the Addicks nickname - Addicks being a pun on on the word haddock. The club's emblem is based on the coat of arms of the Spencer-Percival family, once prominent in south London.

The Valley:

The stadium is apparently called The Valley because it was initially dug out of a chalk and sand pit (by volunteer supporters) and upon completion had a 'valley-like' appearance. Charlton Athletic left their longtime home The Valley during the 1985-86 season and shared a ground with Crystal Palace and later West Ham for seven years before returning during the 1992-93 season. During this time there were plans to demolish the ground and force the club to move elsewhere. A supporters group formed a political party (The Valley Party) to run in local elections and eventually forced the local council to approve a redevelopment of the ground. Previous stadiums - Siemen's Meadow (1906-07), Woolwich Common (1907-09), Pound Park (1909-13), Horn Lane (1913-20), The Valley (1920-23), Catford (1923-24), The Valley (1924-85), Selhurst Park (1985-92), Upton Park (1992).