May 16
Fantastic win by Charlton’s U18’s last night to become Professional Development League National Champions for the third time.
The PDL is for Category Two Academies and has 20 clubs split in two regional divisions. The young Addicks won the South Division for the fifth time in six years and booked their place in the final with an impressive 4-1 semi-final victory over Hull City in SE7 last Saturday.
Please click for moreA year ago tonight the roof came off the Covered End. By common agreement The Valley was one of the loudest, if not the loudest it had ever been, and on 81 minutes the wonderful old place exploded.
Godden again, ole ole.
Please click for more🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅
I think I’d rather forego next season’s 6 points than have Millwall join Palace in the Premier League.
Please click for moreInterested to see Patrick Casey being offered a new pro deal.
The club released their academy squad update today with Toby Bower, Ollie Hobden, Paris Lock, Lennon MacLorg and Tommy Reid being the most high profile leavers.
Please click for moreI enjoyed having the stress levels reduced over the weekend with no Charlton game. Less so if you are a West Ham fan. Looks like we’ve come to the point where VAR will decide the Premier League title and relegation.
Play-off semi’s conclude this week, the Championships ones were tight. Bolton, with no Rob Apter in their squad, and Stockport (Tanto came on as a sub) have the advantages.
Please click for moreJust a few words on Luke Berry. The club is in a much better place than it was when he joined.
Berry and Nathan Jones were reunited after he was released by Luton in the summer of 2024 following the Hatter’s relegation from the Premier League.
Please click for moreIt’s hard to take the scalpel to the squad when there isn’t much lying on the operating table.
The only long-term contracted players that expired this summer are Luke Berry and Terry Taylor, both will be released. As expected TC will have his additonal year triggered. The club also have an option on Godden, but with him and Lyndon Dykes the club “remains in discussion.”
Please click for moreLast weekend we were at the Ft. Lauderdale International Swimming Hall of Fame, and their impressive aquatic complex, which is midpoint of a $220 million redevelopment that is planned to be finished in 2028.
We saw it before but I had to look up why this impressive competitive arena was chosen over anywhere else in the country. According to ChatGPT in the early 1960s, Fort Lauderdale had already established itself as a premier training destination, notably hosting the College Swim Forum and international teams, making it a natural fit for the Hall of Fame.
Please click for moreGood to see Addicks’ Conor Coventry be selected for the upcoming Republic of Ireland friendly.
Heimir Hallgrimsson added seven players included for the first time for this month’s friendly against Grenada.
Please click for moreNathan Jones has stated numerous times, and yesterday more forcefully that this summer will see a big turnaround in playing staff following the consolidation of our Championship status, the first time the club have done that since 2013, and the first time ever following promotion through the play-off’s.
Jones said yesterday: “We need an influx of quality, athleticism, better decision-makers and pace. Everything. We need better.”
Please click for moreAnd relax. That’s it then, all over.
Defeat on the final day of the season losing to Swansea 3-1 in South Wales.
Please click for moreSo here we are then. We made it, game 46. Swansea City away.
You could’ve had a baby in the time since the opening day against Watford, which is actually still quite fresh in my memory. Not having a baby, I’ve never actually had a baby, but the Watford game. What a great day that was even though I spent 14 hours of it on an airplane.
Please click for moreLloyd Jones’ name will appear on the POTY trophy for the second successive season.
Jones follows such Addick luminaries as Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood, Nicky Johns, Richard Rufus and Keith Peacock in winning the fan voted for award two year’s running. John Humphrey won it three times in a row between 1988 – 1990.
Please click for moreI was lucky enough to be invited to the Zurich Classic this past week(end). This is the only PGA Tour’s regular-season team event, when 80 pairs of pro golfers compete at the TPC of Louisiana.
TPC Louisiana is a stunningly beautiful golf course in Avondale, 15 miles from New Orleans, built over wetlands, still home to hundreds of alligators, and carved from a forest of cypress and oak trees.
Please click for moreI had this photo sent to me of Lennie Lawrence’s dinner at The Valley on Sunday. Had me feeling all sentimental.
Lennie is an Addicks legend, a miracle worker who bought, and coached some of my favourite ever (and best) Charlton players of the last half a century. And at 78 years old is still working in the game.
Please click for moreHow nice was it to follow yesterday’s results after the conclusion of our game. Stress levels: zero.
Oxford shoved Wednesday aside and Derby, Hull and Wrexham will contest the final place-off place next week. Meanwhile it does look like Millwall will need to beat Oxford, whatever happens in the Southampton v Ipswich game on Tuesday.
Please click for moreI’ll say it again. Phew.
Fantastic to win today to secure our Championship status after our first year up. Two wonderful goals allowed us all to let out massive sense of relief.
Please click for moreNathan Jones has recorded a message to supporters on the official channels. We’ve had a few of these over the years, but this one seems as significant as the many others that have come before them.
There are so many thoughts swirling around my head that I’d like to get down in writing, but I don’t feel this is the time for that. That needs a clear head and it is nothing but that at present.
Please click for moreI felt I needed to sleep on last night’s game.
That wasn’t particuarly successful as I couldn’t get our situation out of my head, plus my alarm went off at 4.30am as I had an early flight to catch. The anxiety is real.
Please click for moreSad news reaches me that the Addicks’ fan magazine My Only Desire are calling it a day after five years.
It’s bloody tough, time consuming and expensive to produce a regular fanzine but the guys at MOD have done an excellent job of keeping it relevant and engaging.
Please click for moreWe are such a hard watch. There was absolutely nothing praiseworthy about that, and we were second best all over the pitch.
It is like every game is on a loop and we’ve been playing the same match for weeks. We are simply incapable of taking care of ourselves.
Please click for moreHow we all feeling?
I’m making my way home after being away for 15 of the last 17 days and in that time saw the Addicks in the flesh twice, watched the Watford game on the box, and will be back in front of the small screen on Saturday.
please click for moreApologies for another delay on my post match thoughts. I was at The Valley again yesterday and again had to drown my sorrows afterwards.
This morning I woke with my stomach churning and that was not due to the late night Brick Lane curry.
Please click for moreOn his 500th appearance Conor Coady was entrusted back into the defensive midfield role today, and I was pleased to see it.
He had a strong game, but just after the officials put up 6 minutes of added time, Conor took a shot from Tom Ince straight in the face and lay prone unconscious for 9 minutes.
Please click for moreAnother very good away performance. It’s been a nice run since the Millwall debacle.
Today we held a better structure, defended smarter, characteristically battled for everything, and wasn’t it great to see Matty Godden score.
Please click for moreI had been in the UK since last Monday. This week begins a crazy period of work travel. If anyone has a potion for preventing illness after extended trips, then please share.
I beleive they call it the ‘Let Down Effect,’ which after extended periods of stress or travel or both, elevated hormone levels drop quickly, resulting in a ‘crash’ of the immune system.
Please click for moreI’m heading home to Florida today and was at the game yesterday. We really are crawling to the finish line, well not even crawling more frozen to the spot.
It was another frustrating display as we lost at home for the third time in four matches.
Please click for moreI know a fair few of you pay close attention and watch Charlton Women’s team.
I follow their results enough to know that under Karen Hills they’ve hardly been showing scintillating form despite being sitting on top of the WSL 2 table, and despite going over a calendar year without defeat and being top of the table this entire season the Addicks have been wobbly for a while.
Please click for moreSo here we are then, the final block of matches. 7 left, 4 at home, 3 away. The finish line in sight.
Hopeful too, that we see the return of Matty Godden and Harvey Knibbs, although the official channels are being usually schtum about the injury situation.
Please click for moreI am one of those rare Englishmen that likes to see other ‘home nations’ qualify for big tournaments, so that went well this past week.
You just know that Lloyd Jones would have won that header against Edin Džeko at that late corner!
Please click for moreThe silly season is back.
Bristol City today sacked Gerhard Struber and replaced him with 78-year old Roy Hodgson. The ex-England manager has been retired since leaving Crystal Palace over two years ago, and will take charge of City for the remaining seven games of the season starting with us on Good Friday.
Please click for moreThe Addicks fell to their 7th home defeat of the season today losing 1-0 to in-form Norwich City.
For 45 minutes we were second best by a stretch, but we had a good go in the second period and although the best team won, on another day we could’ve snatched a point with more luck, and a better referee.
Please click for moreIt wasn’t a surprise that Lyndon Dykes was called up this week for the Scotland squad, who play friendlies against Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday and then take on fellow World Cup qualifiers Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday.
What wasn’t a surprise was the lack of a call up for Conor Coventry from Ireland and Lloyd Jones from Craig Bellamy of Wales as those two nations enter a huge week in the World Cup play-offs.
Please click for moreThere hasn’t been an Addicks player that splits opinion for a number of years like Tyreece Campbell does.
Campbell has been at the club since he was 9 and made his debut just over 4 years ago. He tops the appearance list comfortably within the current squad and as we know is favoured by manager Nathan Jones and has featured in every league game this season thus far.
Please click for moreI’ve never had a second team, never really understood the concept. One team gives me enough headaches.
When I lived back at home (sic) I used to watch a whole range of local sides – Welling, Bromley, Tonbridge, Hornchurch, Eastbourne Borough. It was a nice little outlet if the Addicks weren’t playing or were away.
Please click for moreI’ll take that. 7 massive points this week, and from three such different games.
We were excellent last Saturday at home to Birmingham and thoroughly deserved the 3 points. The long Wednesday trip up north to Middlesbrough saw a masterclass defensive performance and we snuffled all 3 points to take home. Today we were poor, and we contributed to a poor match, but still managed to come away with an important point.
Please click for moreFor those that follow our loan players they would’ve seen Micah Mbick take a really bad tackle during his first full game back for Colchester from his recent hip injury on Saturday.
I say tackle as it wasn’t even given as a foul as the ref played on following a high challenge from Newport County’s Cameron Evans’s
Please click for moreWow.
A breathtaking result and 3 points being brought 300 miles home tonight. Heroes on the pitch, and heroes in the stand.
Please click for moreCharlie Kelman finished his goal yesterday like the striker we had hoped we had signed in the summer.
There were some interesting interviews after the game from both Nathan Jones and Kelman, which basically said the same and I don’t expect they had time to collude beforehand. I think we all want to see Kelman wheel away cupping his ears after scoring more often. Question is, will we.
Please click for more1-0 to the Charlton boys.
Huge win at home today that was peppered with some really strong individual performances and a real desire from the team to get the win.
Please click for moreThe attempted Americanization of the planet sport continues. In America’s MLS 18 teams qualify for the play-off’s and they have a best of three ‘knockout’ in the first round, so we can only look forward to that.
It was annonced today that EFL Championship clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams effective next season. I mean of course they did, it was owners casting the vote. The day before Turkey’s voted to abolish Christmas.
Please click for moreWe did not deserve to lose that. At all.
Our best attacking display for many weeks, but it resulted in defeat and a blank in front of goal telling the serial story of us not being clinical enough. Seminally we were just unable to create enough clear cut chances from our midfield and wide players.
Please click for moreThe Thursday weekly pre-match Nathan Jones club presser follows a similar format each week. It is obviously heavily managed and at best we get a look back at how well last week’s oppositon were coached, how well this coming week’s team are coached, and injury news consisting of updates that players are a week less injured than they were last Thursday.
However, Rich Cawley asks the questions that we want answers to.
Please click for moreThere I was thinking wouldn’t it be great if we really took the game to them tonight and show that we are better spirited, better organized and a better team. Then the game kicked off….
We were bad, very bad, but one piece of quality grabbed us a valuable point. Losing really wasn’t an option tonight.
Please click for moreWell, sadly that is it for four more years. That’s my armchair coaching and commnentating on sports I know little or anything about over until next time. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person shouting at the tele’ for Bruce Mouat to takeout or Charlotte Bankes to straightline!
I was lucky to see a lot of this year’s Winter Olympics and I enjoyed BBC, TNT and NBC’s coverage. The closing ceremony this afternoon was also stunning. The Italians are cool bastards, aren’t they. I do need to get myself to that Roman amphitheater in Verona that was built in 30 AD. Breathtaking.
Please click for moreThat was a terrific and hard-fought point today.
Tuesday was so disappointing, but the players showed real character today to bounce back and take a point from a very good Southampton side, who have individuals a cut above this level.
Please click for moreQatar side Al‑Sailiya have joined the race, not sure if that is the right word, to sign free agent Michail Antonio.
The BBC suggested yesterday that Antonio has options but continues to train with Charlton.
Please click for moreMe and the songstress-other-half knocked off a long time bucket list item last night. We went to see Andrea Bocelli live in Tampa.
He never ceases to tour but for a host of different reasons we have never been able to see, or get tickets to watch him. As it was he chose a night in Tampa as part of his Romanza 30th Anniversary tour, and we long ago snapped up tickets.
Please click for moreI couldn’t watch yesterday’s game as we were on our way to watch Andrea Bocelli in Tampa. Me and the operatic-other half drew straws to see if we listened to the game in the car or Bocelli’s greatest hits.
Fortunately she won.
Please click for moreOn a work trip last year to Zurich, we took the train to Lucerne in central Switzerland for a day trip. It took less than an hour and the train dissects through the Swiss mountainside with lakes for company all the way.
The train station is impressive but we exited to a murky Lucerne shrouded in a low-lying fog.
Please click for moreMichail Antonio has been training with the Addicks for a few days as Nathan Jones and the medical team cast their eyes over the ex-West Ham striker with a view of putting together a deal for the free-agent.
Antonio has not played a competitive game in England since the highly-documented car crash in December 2024 that left the 35-year-old with multiple leg fractures.
Please click for moreA big, big win.
It was an enjoyable watch, the odd bit of anxiety aside, but better still was the huge 3 points that gives us some breathing space. The clean sheet was fully earned and we wanted it more all over the pitch. We are so better structured, Clarke and Chambers give us balance and poise, Coady is the linchpin, and Dykes an old school number 9, who leaves it all out on the pitch.
Please click for moreAs the clocked ticked around to 90 minutes I was bemoaning that it was two points dropped. We had done more than enough to win the game.
Then during the 8 minutes of injury time, QPR had 5 chances and we were clinging onto the point
Please click for moreLeicester City have been docked six points by the EFL for breaching financial rules after they were charged by the Premier League in May for a profit and sustainability (PSR) breach in the three years leading up to 2023-24.
The deduction is applied immediately meaning they fall from 17th to 20th in the table and put another body between us and the bottom three.
Please click for moreA little disappointed tonight. It is the early hours in Orlando where I have had back to back meetings all day and evening trying to grab quick searches to see how the transfer deadline was going for us.
In hindsight I was happy I kept busy and didn’t sit in front of the computer / social media / Sky Sports.
Please click for moreIt feels good doesn’t it.
An absolutely vital win on the road at Leicester today, and brilliant for those 2,500 Addicks that went up there. They deserved that and it was great to see the scenes at the end.
Please click for moreHere’s one for those Addicks looking for the club to widen their transfer net.
Kenyan and Serbian media (as well as Rich Cawley to add a little bit more source to it) are reporting that Charlton are set to sign Kenyan centre-back Collins Sichenje from Serbian top flight club Vojvodina.
Please click for moreAs anticipated this morning Conor Coady signed on loan until the end of the season. The experienced ex-England international leaves Wrexham six months after his £2million arrival.
The charismatic 32-year old will bring experience and leadership to a defence that is in desperate need of it.
Please click for moreRob Elliot was probably influential in Charlton’s signing of Gateshead ‘keeper Tiernan Brooks today.
The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal, with a club option of a further year.
Please click for moreIt was a strange evening down at Sparrows Lane. Clearly the club have never heard of the theory of priming emotion protection.
Researchers use this term to describe the, usually subconscious, desire to “ease into” bad news by starting with something positive. The old good news first approach.
Please click for moreIt’s hard to imagine that Ashley Maynard-Brewer has been at Charlton for 10 years after moving from Perth in Australia.
Ashley has signed only an initial 6-month deal for Dundee United, who are 8th in the Scottish Premiership. Any fee was described as undisclosed.
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Tampa, Florida
