Alan Curbishley has helped make Charlton one of the success stories of the Barclaycard Premiership. His astute management and transfer dealings give fans at the Valley every reason to be cheerful.
In Alan Curbishley, Charlton have one of the brightest young managers in the FA Premier League. Curbishley and his team showed great character to bounce back from relegation in 1999 and immediately reclaim their top-flight status at the first attempt.
On this occasion, Charlton had come prepared and they beat Manchester City 4-0 in their opening match as they turned their Valley home into a fortress.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle were all beaten and Charlton finished an outstanding season in ninth spot, despite being odds-on for the drop at the start of the campaign.
A 4-2 victory at London rivals Arsenal, who went on to be crowned champions, and the emergence of some promising youngsters alongside their established players was the highlight for Curbishley’s team in the 2001/2002 season.
Goalkeeper Dean Kiely has become an invaluable part of the Addicks side and has excelled with a series of outstanding performances in recent seasons. Kiely is ably assisted by solid defence in front of him, and Chris Powell earned international recognition with England for his displays at left-back. While up front, record signing Jason Euell is proving an astute purchase.
Charlton Athletic Football Club History
After formation in 1905, the Addicks joined the Football League in 1921 and reached the First Division in 1936. The Addicks finished their debut top-flight season in second place and after the Second World War, success continued with an FA Cup final win in 1947.
But relegation in 1957 was the start of a 30-year spell in the lower divisions and the financial implications of their time outside the top-flight became apparent in 1985, when they were forced to leave their home of 66 years, The Valley.
Despite being tenants at Selhurst Park, Charlton were promoted in 1986 and proved the sceptics wrong by staying in Division One for four years. But the day the fans had waited for arrived with a move home in 1992. Six years later, they claimed their place in the FA Premier League for the first time after a Division One play-off thriller.
In an unforgettable game at Wembley, Charlton drew 4-4 with Sunderland, before a 7-6 penalty shoot-out win. Charlton’s FA Premier League stint lasted just one season but an immediate return saw a vast improvement with a ninth-placed finish in 2001 and 14th in 2002.
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