Return to The Valley
The club celebrated the 30-year-anniversary of Charlton's famous return to The Valley in the 2022/23 season.
In September 1985, the bombshell was dropped on supporters that Charlton would be leaving The Valley to move to Selhurst Park.
With the club’s new board unable to retain the freehold of The Valley from former Chairman Michael Gliksten, who wanted to reclaim two acres of land behind the West Stand, the decision was made to move away from Charlton’s home.
On September 21st, 1985, the Addicks played their ‘last’ game in SE7, beating Stoke City 2-0 with Robert Lee grabbing the final goal before the club’s exile, while fans invaded the pitch in protest of the move at half-time and after the match.
The Addicks spent years in exile at Selhurst Park and Upton Park respectively, as supporters rallied round in a bid to get Charlton to return home.
In 1990, after Greenwich Council rejected Charlton’s planning application for a return to The Valley, political history was born with the creation of the Valley Party.
A highly impressive campaign saw supporters put in place a plan to contest all 36 wards in the local election. 60 candidates and a host of dedicated Addicks canvassed Greenwich to ensure maximum publicity for Charlton’s fight to return home, ultimately earning 14,838 votes. It would become a major factor in the club’s eventual homecoming.
After a seven-year exile, Charlton Athletic returned to The Valley on December 5th, 1992. The Addicks secured a 1-0 win over Portsmouth upon their return home, with Colin Walsh netting the only goal of the game.