An eventful first season back in the First Division included Jim Melrose scoring the club’s quickest ever goal after just nine seconds in a 3-1 win against West Ham United at Upton Park, while a return to Wembley was secured in the Full Members’ Cup, with the Addicks losing 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers in the final.
But the 1986/87 campaign will always be remembered for its dramatic conclusion as Charlton took part in the first incarnation of the newly-introduced play-off system.
The Addicks finished fourth from bottom, meaning they would fight for their top-flight status against Second Division Ipswich Town in a two legged semi-final before coming up against Leeds United in the final.
The first-leg of the final saw Melrose score an 87th-minute winner at Selhurst Park, before Leeds levelled matters in the second leg at Elland Road. With an aggregate score of 1-1, it all came down to a replay at the neutral venue of Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s.
After a goalless 90 minutes, the Yorkshiremen took the lead in the 99th minute through John Sheridan, but Peter Shirtliff would prove to be the unlikely hero for Charlton.
With just seven minutes of extra-time remaining, he stroked the ball home to make it 1-1, before heading in from a well-worked free-kick to keep his side in the First Division and send the vastly-outnumbered travelling Addicks into raptures.
