This season, BETDAQ launched the #PrideOfTheValley to reward die-hard Charlton fans. Each home league game, a fan is selected to win the reward and the individual will be presented with a signed shirt on the pitch.
This week the Charlton women’s team selected Alan Watts, a season ticket holder with both the men’s team and the women’s team. We asked him for some of his Charlton memories.
Why I became a Charlton fan: My Dad was a regular fan before and after the war, so like most kids I was hooked from the start. I can remember seeing loads of cars decked out in red off to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Burnley.
My first game at The Valley was: Home to Stockport in the Fourth Round of the Cup in January 1948. It might have been only Stockport but the crowd seemed massive (around 40,000). The old East Terrace was well packed and us little ‘uns needed plenty of help to see the game.
My first Charlton women's team game was: At a night match at The Valley in October 2002. The club had encouraged fans to go along and support the women's team. It was against Fulham, who were a top women's team at the time, and ended in a 3-3 draw and I'd found a new team to follow by the end of the match. By the next season I was a regular supporter at their home games.
My first away day with Charlton was: I had been working up north for some time and went to Gigg Lane to watch us play Bury in February 1964. It was a win for Charlton including a Mike Kenning goal I think.
On May 25th, 1998 I was: At Wembley to experience the whole package - goals, atmosphere and that remarkable shoot-out and even the tube journey there and back. Apart from that brilliant Mendonca hat-trick I can remember going mental when Rufus scored the equaliser in normal time with just minutes to go.
My favourite game (not including the play-off final) is: Apart from that emotional Back to The Valley game vs Portsmouth, I think my favourite would be the opening home game against Southampton in the season following the play-off promotion. We crushed the Saints 5-0 with another Mendonca hat-trick, a result we had dared not dream of. If I'm allowed a digression to the women's team it would have to be the FA Cup Final win in 2005 but even that was matched by this year's Championship win at Sheffield. Both meant so much.
My favourite Charlton player is: So many from the different eras. My heroes from my young days like Sam Bartram, Charlie Vaughan and Johnny Summers have been matched by several in more recent years but I think Chris Powell stands out to count as my favourite - his surprise call-up for England and his trademark salute to the fans are just two of the reasons.
My favourite Charlton kit is: The 2005 Centenary kit mainly for what it represented of our history but amplified by the that Women’s FA Cup final win over Everton in the same year.
The best part of being a Charlton fan is: The battle to get back to The Valley and the outstanding work in the local community sum up all that's good about the club. Makes the playing achievements - when they come - all the more sweeter.
My starting Charlton XI would be: Phillips; Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Page; Aribo, Lapslie, Cullen, Fosu; Grant, Taylor.
My starting Charlton women's XI would be: Startup; Kerr, Coombs, Ritchie; Stobbs, Clifford; Churchill, Ejupi, Gurr; Graham, Bryan.
The Charlton Player of the Season will be: Lyle Taylor - hopefully he will have scored enough goals to fully deserve the honour.
The Charlton women's Player of the Season will be: Kit Graham - she's been so good for us in the last few years – I just want her to have another season like it in the Championship.
The game I am most looking forward to is: Our home game against Southend - just because of Powelly.