Villa provide Solly opposition

I was disappointed that Aston Villa got promoted. Not because I don’t like them, because I do. I’ve had soft spot for them ever since that European Cup winning team. Who can forget Bremner, Withe, Shaw, Morley. Nigel Spink off to bench to play in goal.

Villa Park is a cathedral of a stadium. That day in the Premier League. May 1999. Robinson, Mendonca, Mills. Steve Brown in goal. What a day.

Good for them, but selfishly disappointing that they won’t appear on our fixture list next season. They are a proper club. Dean Smith is very talented and done a great job there, and they will make honourable opponents for Chris Solly’s testimonial match on Saturday 27th July.

It was just over 10 years ago when Chris Solly made his Charlton debut and has seen the highs and the lows in that time. The Wembley victory was as much for him as the rest of us. The twice player of the year deserves this acccolade.