Here we go

So 91 days after the Addicks poetically won promotion from League One at Carlisle’s Brunton Park, we play our opening Championship game of the season in Birmingham tomorrow at St Andrews, home also to a magical moment in Charlton’s history.

Since the party after the Hartlepool match, Addicks’ fans have mostly moderated their expectations for this season and I don’t think I was alone when a little anxiety struck me after the fixtures came out.

It is a tough start to the season, in 8 days time we would have already have played three teams with promotion ambitions. This is an unforgiving league, with the games coming thick and fast and all 24 teams capable of beating everyone else on their day.

One thing in our favour this season is that we won’t be the big scalp that everyone wants to beat, there are many clubs with stadiums, wagerolls, expectations and egos bigger than ours. Yet they will do well not to underestimate our little club, with players still brimming with confidence and togetherness.

I’ve said before that players don’t worry about what happens behind the scenes at clubs, as long as they are getting paid. They take their instructions from the manager and they get their belief and support from you and me.

Over 1,500 Addicks will make the journey to St Andrews tomorrow and as Powell said, the Blues fans will make the atmosphere full on. Equally they will be the first groan when things don’t go their own way and I am sure our lot will make themselves heard.

I don’t expect to see any of the four new signings start, and although I for one wish we could have brought in a different or alternative spine to the side with the ability to play at a higher level, a start for the team that demolished League One last season, can only give them a boost.

One of those expected to play tomorrow is Danny Hollands, his first game at this level. In an effort to contribute to the club’s coffers I have once again decided to sponsor a player’s kit. I sponsored Hollands last season and my two mates who sat next to him at the end of season Sponsors Dinner, were full of what a top bloke he was, so I’m going with Danny again and Chicago Addick will happily sponsor his home kit for the 2012/13 Championship campaign.

This is it, one more sleep. Come on you Addicks.