No. 1 in South London Many Miles
What a day!

Sporting Life
...Palace should have gone ahead in the 15th minute, but for the reactions of Addicks goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, who tipped James Scowcroft's close-range header around the post.

Lone Charlton striker Chris Iwelumo then narrowly failed to connect with Andy Reid's whipped cross, before the big Scot grazed the Palace crossbar with an angled shot following a goalmouth scramble as Charlton took control...

Hot Toddy sinks Eagles – cafc.co.uk
Svetoslav Todorov snatched the winner as Charlton claimed South London bragging rights on Saturday...

Todorov’s touch too much for Palace – Times Online
...the Bulgarian, on as a substitute, latched on to a long ball, lobbed the onrushing Julian Speroni and then tapped into the empty net...

Holmesdale Online
...and in stoppage time, Addicks sub Izale McLeod should have made the game safe with with a one-on-one on Speroni, but the keeper thwarted him...

Pards pleased with derby win cafc.co.uk
Charlton boss Alan Pardew was a happy man as his side won Saturday's South London derby against Crystal Palace ... and go into the first international break of the season in a healthy position.

Of newcomer Mills, the gaffer said: "I thought he looked a bit rusty and we had words at half-time as there were times he tried to be a bit too clever and got us into a mess. But he was far more solid in the second half, so he should be pleased.

Todorov pounces on Speroni gaffe - Daily Mail
Pardew said: "I was always going to put Todorov on. It was so important to win this match and pleasing as always to come out on top in a derby match."

bbc.co.uk
Alan Pardew: "It's been a great day"

Still Lovin' It Down Here – Frankie Valley
Can’t we play Palace every week?

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Charlton 4-3 Stockport bbc.co.uk
Charlton squeezed into the third round of the Carling Cup with a thrilling win over League One side Stockport...

Frankie Valley
...I can't remember the last time I was so royally entertained at a game of football. Ricochets, slices, hooks, air-shots, step-overs from Chris Powell, forty-yard piledrivers from big Jonny Fortune - this game had everything...

Late-man Paddy seals cup cracker cafc.co.uk
...First-half goals from Svetoslav Todorov and Zheng Zhi - a re-spotted penalty after Izale McLeod's initial effort had been saved - saw Charlton in firm control and seemingly cruising into the third round...

Views from an Iberian Valley
...But crap defending again as this time 3 goals are conceded in 15 minutes to a Tier Four team and that after seemingly cruising at half-time two goals in front...

Charlton vs Stockport Stockport County official site
...County looked set for a fantastic victory but they were pegged back 15 minutes from time...

Manchester Evening News
...Lloyd Sam drew the sides level...

McCarthy saves Charlton's blushes in cup KentOnline
...with a minute remaining, McCarthy advanced to meet Sam's corner and head the winner...

All Quiet In The East Stand
... C'mon, where else in London would you get entertainment like that for a tenner?

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Cast your mind back - if you can - to 1996. Kinsella had been on trial at The Valley, whilst on the books of Colchester United. Alan Curbishley wanted to buy him, but the board had to think long and hard about the massive fee: Colchester wanted £150,000. As usual, the board did the right thing, dug deep and found the money to sign the player who became Charlton's most influential signing - along with Clive Mendonca - of the 1990s.

Kinsella's passionate, committed displays laid the foundations for the growth in Charlton's fortunes in the 1990s. He was named Charlton Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999 (and is the only former winner currently employed by the club). He lifted the Play-off winners' trophy at Wembley in May 1998 and, following relegation in 1999, helped drag Charlton back up as Division One Champions in May 2000.

Injury, and the form of Scott Parker saw Kinsella drop down the pecking order and it was with a heavy heart that Charlton fans read about his departure to Aston Villa in 2002. But, perhaps that was a good deal all-round for Charlton. The fee of £1m represented a profit of £850,000 on Kinsella, whose Villa career was blighted by injuries. And Parker's subsequesnt sale to Chelsea for a then club record £11.1m represented an even bigger slice of net revenue.

Kinsella was capped 48 times by the Republic of Ireland - including captaining his country against Finland - mostly whilst as a Charlton player. And in 2000, he was named as the eircom/FAI Senior Player of the Year.

Following a loan spell from Villa to West Brom, Kinsella signed for Walsall, for whom he played for two seasons. But throughout his career, Kinsella remained Charlton through and through. And, when Les Reed came calling, he quit Walsall and joined Charlton as Development Coach, with responsibility for the development of young professional players, liaison with the academy and the managing the reserve team.

"Walsall have been brilliant to me," he said. "But they know how I feel about Charlton, which is my club. It's difficult to leave, but I'm very excited about coming back to Charlton." bbc.co.uk

He is currently Reserve Team Coach.

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In 2000, however, Robson returned to The Valley as coach in the Academy. He continued in this position until promoted to reserve team coach in May 2006.

Under his coaching, Lloyd Sam, Osei Sankofa, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Barry Fuller have all gone on to the first team squad, Campbell-Ryce being awarded a full international cap by Jamaica.

On Iain Dowie's arrival in May 2006, Robson was promoted again to the position of "Development Coach", working with both the first and reserve team squads. Six months later, Les Reed was appointed Manager, with Robson being given the title Assistant Head Coach.

Alan Pardew appointed Robson as First Team Coach to work alongside Phil Parkinson. Robson completed his UEFA Pro Licence in the summer of 2007.

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Former Southampton trainee Parkinson made his league debut after signing for Bury, but it was at Reading where, after signing in 1993, Parkinson was to make his name as a no-nonsense, hard-tackling midfielder. A bit like Claus Jensen. But more no-nonsense. And more had-tackling.

He was eventually named by Reading World as their number one central midfield player ever, beating the likes of Webb, Gooding and Beavon. (No I don't know either).

From Reading, Parkinson moved to Colchester where he established a growing reputation as a manager. In 2005/06 he secured promotion for Colchester, before resigning in the summer. He replaced Peter Taylor as manager of Hull City in what was to become an ironic twist of fate. Taylor himself had enjoyed a growing reputation as a manager, but now is without a proper football job whatsoever.

Parkinson's tenure as Assistant Manager at The Valley was originally a short-term appointment, scheduled to end at the end of the 2006/07 season. However, in April 2007, he was offered - and apparantly accepted - the role as Manager of Huddersfield Town, only to withdraw his acceptance on the offer of a permanent role as number two at The Valley.

Phil Parkinson's appearance on Channel4's Deal or No Deal.

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In 1987 Alan Scott Pardew was working full-time as a glazier when, ironically he was offered a contract by Crystal Palarse who signed him from Yeovil town for £7,500. The highlight of his stay at the Croydon outfit was to score the winner in the FA Cup Semi Final against Liverpool and thus taking that club the closest they have ever been to winning something. And in 1990, Pardew inspired that team to third place in the old first division, thus ensuring that their best-ever finishes in both the FA Cup and the League are one place worse than Charlton's.

South London-born Pardew became Alan Curbishley's highest paid player when he was signed on a free transfer in 1991. From Charlton he moved to Barnet to play under former Charlton player Terry Bullivant. And when Bullivant moved to Reading, he took Pardew with him to run the reserve team.

John Madejski's strange running of the Royals then saw Pardew remain in place even though the first team manager was replaced; then Pardew was sacked following Reading's disbanding of the reserve team; then he was brought back to the club some months later, not as reserve coach, but as Manager. Charged with securing a return to the first division, Pardew delivered in 2001/02, with a team captained by Phil Parkinson. And in 2003/04 had laid the foundations for a promotion push to the Premiership, when Madejski struck again. The Chairman refused Pardew permission to talk to West Ham about their Manager's role, so Pardew resigned. Madejski (you couldn't make it up: "mad" really ARE the first three letters of his surname) took out a High Court injunction against Pardew working at West Ham.

Nevertheless, Pardew took the reins at West Ham, where, once again he was to be treated badly by a megalomaniac Chairman. In 2005 Pardew secured promotion to the Premier League. In 2006 Pardew took West Ham to the FA Cup Final, qualified for Europe and Magnusson sacked him.

(I would like to point out that it is purely coincidental that Alan Curbishley's exit agreement with Charlton meant that the club were to continue paying his wages if he were not to secure a management role before November 2006. Curbishley took over at West Ham in December 2006).

From West Ham, Pardew made the short trip to The Valley as Manager, since when his unique style has won him over as a fans' favourite.

Managerial Honours
2001 - Division Two play-off final - runners up (Reading)
2002 - Division Two - runners up (Reading)
2004 - Division One play-off final - runners up (West Ham)
2005 - Championship play-off final - winners (West Ham)
2006 - FA Cup - runners up (West Ham)
2007 - Managed to get rid of Kevin Lisbie

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Iwelumo double caps stunning fightback - cafc.co.uk
Chris Iwelumo inspired a stunning second half fightback...

Season Kick Started - cafc.co.uk
... Alan Pardew was convinced that the comeback would prove to be the club's turning point. "Talk about results to kick-start a season - you can put that down as one, that has to get our season going,” the manager told the media in his post-match press conference...

IWEL'S ON A WINNER- News of the World
... And Iwelumo — on his full debut after arriving on a free transfer from Colchester in May — sent The Valley into pandemonium...

Pardew in Great Escape - The Sunday Times
... Visibly angry as he stormed off the touchline, Pardew presumably spent the break making his feelings strongly known...

CHARLTON 3-2 SHEFF WED - Sunday Mirror
After a gutless first-half display, which saw them roundly booed from the field after the Owls scored two well-taken goals in the first 15 minutes, the Addicks fought back strongly...

Charlton vs Sheffield Wed - Sheffield Wednesday official site
... Something of a makeshift Wednesday outfit did well to keep the bookies favourites for the Championship at bay until the break but it was a different story after half time...

Frankie Valley
Reidy is gonna take this league by storm...

Addicks' Championship Diary
... Pards had called in the programme for the team to be quicker to opposition defences before they get set...

Addicks FotoPage
... If we can keep this level of performance going until Holland and Varney return from injury I think we could have a very satisfying autumn.

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One group of fans, however, will not be making their anticipated north-bound motorway dash today. Burnley's fixture with QPR this afternoon has been postponed following the tragic death, early this morning, of QPR's teenage striker Ray Jones.

We take for granted the ease with which we can reach any part of England by car. If you are going to a match today, spare a thought for Ray's family. And drive carefully.

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Has a GTFABM. Scored twice to complete a second-half turnaround in his first league start against Sheffield Wednesday in August 2007.

I have not got any direct quotes from Chris Iwelumo, but I am pretty sure if I did, they might be on the lines of:

Hoots mon the noo, it's a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht.
Donald where's yer troosers?
There's a moose loose aboot this hoose.

Factoid: Chris Iwelumo has played for the "U's" (Colchester United), the Potato Beetles (Alemannia Aachen), the Potters (Stoke City), the Seagulls (Brighton & Hove Albion), the Spa (Cheltenham Town), the Minstermen (York City), The Buddies (St Mirren) and Aarhus Fremad who appear not to be able to afford a nickname.

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Yassin Moutaouakil signed for Charlton for €600,000 in June 2007, following an impressive European U21 tournament.

He has started off saying all the right things:

I chose Charlton because I feel that this is an ambitious club and I believe that I will progress well under the manager here. Charlton have shown great interest in me, for which I am very grateful, and after the discussions I had with the club I wanted to be a part of this project. The most important thing for me is the trust and the confidence that I have in this club.

Factoid: to help with pronouncing Yassin’s family name, consider that it rhymes with this.

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Dublin-born McCarthy has been capped at U16, U19, U20, U21 and “B” level by Ireland, but has a fat chance of making it through to the full squad if he defends as badly as he did when Stoke City lump Jon Parkin nutmegged him in the box before sliding home the winner. Described by some as “no nonsense”, his performance in that match would be better described as “no good”.

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Whilst Semedo never made a league appearance for Sporting, he made his Serie A debut while on loan at Cagliari against AC Milan. Which probably provided him with plenty of relevant experience on which to draw when he was handed the task of anchoring Charlton’s midfield in his English league debut against sleeping minnows, Scunthorpe.

Capped at U-17, U-19 and U-21 level for Portugal, Semedo’s normal position has been in the centre of defence, but Alan Pardew prefers to play him in the Makele role or, as it is more accurately described, “pozitione Keith Jones”.

Factoid: Semedo is not the only London football club-based "Jose" whose home town is Setúbal. But I am not going to bother telling you who the other tosser is.

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However, Lloyd’s family’s emigration to Senegal curtailed his involvement in Charlton’s youth set up and it was at the Dakar Academy where he was to nurture his footballing talent as well as track and field and volleyball. Lloyd’s all-round athletic ability is by his list of sporting achievements whilst at Dakar Academy: he holds the African Schools’ record for the 100m. And the 200m. And 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 4x100m relay and the long jump.

In 1998, Lloyd was asked to attend a trial at Italian giants Empoli , with his older brother Andrew. However, neither was successful and, when Lloyd’s family returned to London in 1998, he was offered trials at both Wimbledon and Arsenal, but instead re-joined Charlton on Academy terms.

Lloyd made his debut in 2005 in the glorious demotion fixture against the Glaziers in 2005 as a 76th minute substitute for Danny Murphy. And he has now played for England at under 18 and under 20 level.

Factoid: Lloyd’s brother Andrew plays for Dartford FC. One of his team mates is Mike Flanagan’s son, Alan.

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Sankofa was dismissed for a foul on van Persie (the “Dutch Bryan Hughes”), during Arsenal’s 4-0 thumping of the Addicks in January, ’07. Cesc Fabregas’ goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Scott Carson, but fell kindly to van Persie, who was offside when the initial strike was made. Sankofa clumsily barged over the Dutchman and referee Mike Riley pointed to the spot and sent Sankofa off, despite the presence of Talal El Karkouri which meant that Sankofa was not the last defender.

Riley’s errors of fact gave Charlton enough ammunition to request that the FA rescind Sankofa’s red card and his one-match ban. The FA, however, decided that the appeal was “frivolous” and doubled Sankofa’s punishment to a two-match suspension.

Thus, a player who should not even have had a foul called against him was red-carded, awarded a penalty against him and had a ban imposed and then doubled.

Charlton chose to take matters further and queried the decision in the high courts. But the judge, Justice Simon ruled that the FA had the right to make its own decisions on footballing matters and that any cases where the courts should be involved would be “wholly exceptional”. So, there you have it. The FA can do pretty much what they like and it is very unlikely that the courts would ever intervene.

This ruling was to resonate disastrously a few months later when the FA’s ridiculous handling of the Wet Ham/Carlos Tevez case was not reviewed for the reason stated by Justice Simon in the Sankofa case.

Factoid: he’s a pretty good defender, better on the right than the left, but he can’t throw.

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Factoid: His sister is his mother, etc...

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Charlton’s official website describers Zheng - a £2m signing - as a "versatile international, who can play anywhere in midfield as well as a second striker and in defence" – so that's pretty much everywhere, isn't it?

Zheng accidentally made headlines when he accidentally caused the accident which accidentally broke the leg of Djibril Cisse. In an accident. The fact that it was an accident seems to have been missed by this fair-minded correspondent.

Charlton keeps waiting for me since relegation from the top-flight last season.

They showed their sincerity and the head coach has also recognized my performances in the team.

Another reason for my return is I know I will have more time to play for the club than if I was in premiership clubs. Enough competition time is very important for a professional player. Full article...

Factoid: Zheng Zhi is captain of China, the world’s largest nation. He is therefore, de facto, the world’s best footballer.

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But, significantly he scored 25 goals in 42 games in Crewe’s 2006-7 season, finishing third-highest scorer in the division that season. He was voted into the League One “Team of the Year”.

Factoid: Luke Varney is no relation to either Peter or Reg Varney.

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Todorov, who scored the winner for Charlton at Crystal Palace in September 2007, came to Charlton on a freebie, following moves to Harry Redknapp's West Ham (for £500,000) from Litechs Lovech and from West Ham to Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth (for £750,000). Harry seems to have done pretty well out of Todorov.

53 starts and 23 sub appearances for Portsmouth produced 33 league goals for Todorov in the Premiership and in Portsmouth’s Championship promotion season. So clearly Alan Pardew sees potential, experience and goals in the Bulgarian.

Factoid: Svetoslav Todorov has been voted into the all-time greatest Litechs Lovech XI along with Radostin Kishishev.

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I first saw Reid play live for Nottingham Forest at MK Dons. Prior to the match I asked Alan Curbishley whether he was there to check up on the Irish play-maker. Curbs told me he was only there to watch a good game of football. So clearly I was right; after all no-one would choose Milton Keynes in the search for a "good game of football".

Charlton missed out then and Reid was snapped up by the Tottenham Hotspur in the January window in 2005. But Reid ditched the Spuds a year and a half later when Charlton offered £3m for him.

Andy Reid was given the captain's arm-band for the opening League game of the 2007-2008 season.

Factoid: Andy Reid's weight gives rise to a lot of inaccurate comment by fans. So, to clarify, his Body Mass Index, based on the figures given on the Charlton website (80kg and 1.75m) is 26.122448, placing him in the overweight category. This should put an end to all that "big-boned" nonsense.

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Let’s get one thing straight early on. He played for the Glaziers. Which takes the sheen off a bit, doesn't it? But, in fairness, it was two decades ago and he's played for millions of other teams since then. And, back then, even Charlton were playing at Selhurst Park.

I first saw him at The Valley on day the East Stand was opened in 1994, when he was playing for Southend United, following a loan spell at Aldershot. He then moved to Derby County, from where Charlton snapped him up in 1998 for £825,000, making his England debut in Sven Goran Erickson’s first match in charge, in 2001. He left Charlton for West Ham in 2004, returning a year later, before making one final trip away from The Valley a further year later. Finally, Chris returned "home" to Charlton in the Summer of 2007 to complete his UEFA coaching badge and, possibly, to show the youngsters a thing or two on the left of defence.

Chris Powell was once described as "a player to be proud of – on and off the pitch". I don’t think there would be many people who would disagree with that.

Factoid: When Chris Powell made his England debut at the age of 31, there were no other Charlton players who had played for England during his lifetime. By the time he made his last appearance for England, he was Charlton’s most-capped England player ever.

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He's not very good, he's not worth a great deal (even Stoke City can afford him, apparently) and he's not scored many goals since he made his debut six years ago.

But he is an all-time hero for the equalizer he scored against the Glaziers in 2005 that sent Simon Jordan’s muppets down on the last game of the season. Ha ha ha!

Factoid: Jonathan Fortune is the cousin of Grime, Rap, Hip Hop and Garage artiste Kano.

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Since signing, Matthew has sported a vast array of hair styles. Sometimes short, sometimes neat, but never either long or untidy. Matthew Holland is, in every sense of the phrase a model footballer.

Matthew, who is English and was born in Bury and has lived in England for his whole life, has a Welsh middle name (Rhys) and a surname of another European country. Therefore it should be of no surprise to learn that he has 49 caps for Ireland.

Matthew deserves a place in Charlton's list of all-time greats. Not just for his battling leadership abilities, his general "professionalism", nor even for the fact that not a jot of scandal is ever written or broadcast about him. But mainly for the way in which he takes time to thank each and every area of the home support after every game. He doesn't have to do it. And, frankly when your lungs are bursting and your legs are turning to jelly, from covering every blade of grass at The Valley, the last thing you want to do is an impromptu extra lap clapping fast-exiting fans. Trust me, I know.

I enjoy playing at the club and think we've got a manager who's well-equipped to get us back into the Premier League. Full article...

Factoid: Matt's official website, www.matthollandweb.com is described as the "Matt Holland Official Site – Ipswich and Ireland", thus making it at least four years out of date, even more than this one.

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Born on 7 October 1982 – the day that Cats opened on Broadway – the 6' 2" central defender was born in France and plays his international football for Algeria.

A player of huge potential who will surely benefit from playing under Alan Pardew, Bougherra's skill on the ball and willingness to run the ball out of defence will provide Charlton with more attacking options.

Oh that's right, it was Brian Laws.

Madjid recently wrote in his website...

I will never thank enough my father for all that it did for me, it followed always me and was persuaded that I was going to succeed. I thank my mother, my brothers, my sisters, my wife for their support.
My pals Makan, Nasser, Mamadou, Gary, Abdel, Kamel... and all those which I forget of my district the Fountain of Ouche, of largest with smallest.I thank for the bottom of the heart, all Algerian, courageous people and demanding but indéfectibles supporteurs.

...you can stick your fishermen and trawlers, Monsieur Cantona.

And finally, if you want to know just how good this player is, click here.

Factoid: "Charlton Defender Bougherra" is an anagram of The Aged London Crab Fuhrer

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Miss Lloyd is a fully qualified nail technician. A qualification which must have brought tears of joy to her parents, Jackie (a bank manager) and Arthur (an engineer). Her stupidity appears to have no limits. An example: when asked on BBC1's Test the Nation, Who was Winston Churchill - A rapper, US President, The PM or King? Miss Lloyd replied Wasn't he the first black president of America? There's a statue of him near me - that's black.

Still, she’s probably a better footballer than her ex, Marcus Bent.

Factoid: Marcus Bent has been relegated with four teams.

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Each had his head turned by offers from abroad. So no light-on-his-feet, quick, dainty and, if I may, "effeminate" wide-boy seems prepared to dig deep, grit his teeth and get stuck in. All except our Darren. Ambrose stayed until the bitter end of Charlton’s relegation season: no one was going down without him, that was for sure. Darren stayed for the hard graft ahead in the Championship.

Darren "Ams" Ambrose broke a few hearts in the Summer of 2007, when he got married in Florida. Who’d have thought, eh?

Darren’s favourite restaurant is in Chelsea. A bit steep for the Championship Darren? But at Benihana, you can get seven courses for £16.50. And, just like our Darren, that’s a real bargain!

He may not be the best footballer in the country, but he deserves some credit. First for overcoming some of the more outrageous slurs published in the press. And second for being prepared to roll up his sleeves and get on with the job in hand. Good on you, Darren.

I think I was always going to stay at Charlton - I was involved in the relegation and it wasn't very nice, so now I want to be involved in a promotion. Full article...

Factoid: Darren will celebrate his seventh birthday this season. He was born on 29 February 1980.

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