EssieSeven

CROSSBAR CHALLENGE FINAL SCORE: Crystal Palace 0

Charlton 4-3 Stockport County
Svetoslav Todorov
Zheng Zhi
Lloyd Sam
Paddy McCarthy

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?

Let's not over-use the word great, especially when referring to Charlton players. If we're honest, there haven't been that many. But, without doubt, one of the greatest post-War players was the midfielder Mark Kinsella. And I mean the Boer War.

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.

Former Exeter and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mark Robson joined Chartlton from West Ham in 1993 and enjoyed a four-year spell before joining Notts County.

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.