Now there are two ways you could react to that chant.

Take offence to it.

Or embrace it.

Lawrie Wilson did the latter. He even had it in his X/Twitter bio.

The former defender can still vividly remember the first time it was sung, after he scored twice for Charlton Athletic in a 3-2 victory over Brighton at The Valley on Boxing Day 2013.

Wilson had signed from Stevenage in August 2012. The match against the Seagulls was his 55th appearance.

His song also had extra nuance, being a nod to the fact he had been released by the Addicks when he was 18.

“I remember the journey home with my wife after the game, talking about it, and being like: ‘How do I take this? Do I take this in the right way or do I make a big song and dance about it?,” Wilson told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition.

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Charlton Athletic striker Dan Kanu is attracting transfer interest.

The 21-year-old is coming off the back of an excellent season-long loan at Walsall.

Kanu banged in 18 goals in all competitions for the Saddlers - 15 of those in 38 League Two starts.

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Kaheim Dixon celebrates scoring Jamaica’s second goal in their 2-0 win over India in the Unity Cup, which was held at The Valley/Picture: Keith Gillard

Dykes adds to caps after pre-World Cup runout against Curacao

Lyndon Dykes played the entire second half for Scotland in their 4-1 friendly victory over Curacao on Saturday.

Steve Clarke’s side flew to the USA yesterday and have one more warm-up fixture, against Bolivia in New Jersey on June 7, before their World Cup campaign starts against Haiti on June 14.

Dykes, who has made 51 appearances for the Tartan Army, replaced Ipswich Town’s George Hirst at the break at Hampden Park.

Lyndon Dykes celebrates his goal at Leicester with Sonny Carey/Picture: Kyle Andrews

It is the striker’s third cap for Scotland since he signed for Charlton in the January transfer window.

Dykes assisted Lawrence Shankland’s first goal, which put them 2-1 ahead against Curacao.

He said: “I thought I did well. I just wanted to make as much of an impact as I could. Me and Shanks linked up well.”

Dykes was ruled out of Euro 2024 due to an ankle ligament injury suffered while training with his country just days before the tournament started.

Asked about the World Cup, he said: “I’m looking forward to the whole experience. I missed out on the Euros last time and it hurt a lot. You grow as a player and grow as a person doing stuff like this.

“Hopefully I can perform well for my team and my country. I’m going to take it all in and enjoy it, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Dykes is due to be a free agent at the start of July unless the Addicks agree new terms. They stated they were still in talks with the former QPR and Birmingham City player when they announced their retained and released list.

Dykes’ agent seems to have gone into overdrive with the transfer links this week, speculation mooting the big frontman as a target for Leicester City, Millwall and Burnley.

It seems highly unlikely that the Clarets, fresh from Premier League relegation and buoyed by parachute payments, would see Dykes as a viable option. And South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition understands that Dykes was pitched to Millwall when he left Birmingham City, but they passed up on the offer.

Looks a prime example of why not all (make that many) transfer stories are to be believed…..

Hills’ honour

Karen Hills already had plenty of reasons to feel happy after Charlton Athletic’s promotion to WSL 1 on May 23.

But there was more good news on Tuesday evening when she was named as WSL2 Manager of the Year at the LMA Awards.

Hills was appointed as Addicks boss in March 2021. They had an unbeaten league run which stretched 27 matches, spanning the last two seasons, and were long-time leaders of the division in the campaign just completed.

Charlton defeated Leicester City on penalties in a play-off earlier this month to clinch a top-flight place for the first time since 2007.

Karen Hills is all smiles after Charlton’s promotion to WSL1/Picture: Paul Edwards

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with former Addicks boss Keith Boanas, who signed Hills as a player in 2001, as he discusses the club’s return to the big time and also the controversial call to scrap the side following the men’s relegation from the Premier League in 2007.

The Super League have announced a four-year deal with CBS Sports to broadcast their matches in the US. The Paramount+ streaming service will air 183 WSL matches a season.

The Guardian reported “the deal represents a major uplift in the valuation of the rights, which could bring in as much as a fourfold increase to the WSL compared to previous seasons, although the exact valuation has not been disclosed”.

Mia Ross has been called up by Wales for their World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Czechia. Ellie Mason has been selected by Northern Ireland for their matches against Turkey and Switzerland.

Corey Blackett-Taylor holds the ball up in the FA Cup tie at Gillingham in the 2023-24 season/Picture: Keith Gillard

Gillingham friendly is locked in

Charlton announced their second pre-season friendly - a July 18 trip to Gillingham (3pm).

The League Two side finished 18th in the table last season.

Charlie Kelman and Amari’i Bell previously played for the Gills on loan.

The last competitive game between the two clubs was an FA Cup tie in December 2023 - Macauley Bonne and Timothee Dieng scored as the Addicks slumped to a 2-0 reverse.

Charlton start their friendly programme with a fixture at Dartford on July 3. They are expected to jet off to a training camp later that weekend. Addicks boss Nathan Jones has taken his squad to Slovenia in the previous two summers.

Ness heads Wembley goal as County beat Karl Robinson’s Salford City

Former Charlton defender Lucas Ness helped Notts County win Monday’s League Two play-off final.

The 24-year-old joined the Magpies from the Addicks in August 2024. The fee was described as ‘undisclosed’.

Ness produced a towering header to score County’s second in a 3-0 victory over Salford City, who have ex-Addicks boss Karl Robinson in charge.

“I feel that we’ve let people down today,” Robinson told BBC Manchester. “I don’t think we’ve let people down for the last 10 months, we’ve been nothing short of magnificent, but today we had too many who didn’t turn up.

“You can use so many excuses, but we were beaten by the better team.

“Every part of the game we were second best. I apologise to all Salford fans from the bottom of my heart. The club will be back better, stronger next year.”

Ness signed for Charlton from Met Police in the summer of 2020 and impressed enough to earn a new contract in April 2024 that ran until the end of June 2025.

Alex Gilbert/Picture: Keith Gillard

Boro release Gilbert

Middlesbrough have announced which of their squad will be moving on this summer - and Alex Gilbert is on that list.

Boro saw their Championship promotion hopes ended by Hull City on May 23 in the Championship play-off final.

Gilbert, 24, had not made a league appearance in the season just completed until Kim Hellberg was appointed head coach in late November.

The midfielder went on to feature 21 times in the Championship, nine of those starts, but was an unused substitute in all of their play-off ties.

Gilbert made 14 appearances for Charlton in the 2024-25 League One season after signing on loan in the winter transfer window.

There have been suggestions in the local media on Teesside that Boro still remain in talks with the player.

Rob Elliot talks to Charlton boss Nathan Jones before last season’s League One match at Crawley Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Elliot explains reasons for walking out on Gateshead

Rob Elliot has revealed he chose to quit as Gateshead manager because the National League club are unable to deliver on his plans to improve the infrastructure.

The ex-Charlton goalkeeper led them to a fairly miraculous escape from relegation after rejoining the Heed in January. They had lost 11 successive matches prior to his appointment.

“It’s hard to say goodbye when we achieved something so special last year,” said Elliot. “I had belief we could stay up and keep the club in the National League.

“When I first spoke with the club, it was integral to me coming back that things were put in place to also develop the club further on and off the pitch, with a training ground and staffing to be put in place to help develop the players - regardless of which league we were in.

“Unfortunately, that isn’t able to happen. After speaking with the club at length over the last few weeks, it’s not something the club are able to commit to.

“Through this, along with not being able to retain all of the players and staff who achieved safety, it didn’t feel right for me to remain when others who gave so much aren’t able to continue the journey.”

Gateshead published a statement on their official website.

“Unfortunately, terms could not be agreed between the club and Rob Elliot regarding budgets and access to certain immediate infrastructure.

“Rob only wants the best for the club and for it to thrive, as we’re sure everyone does, and that is absolutely the plan being worked on behind the scenes with Stephen.”

Kaheim Dixon scores for Jamaica/Picture: Keith Gillard

Dixon scores his first goal at The Valley

Kaheim Dixon is off the mark at The Valley - but his first goal in SE7 came for Jamaica.

The Charlton Athletic winger, 21, scored for the Reggae Boyz as they defeated India 2-0 in the Unity Cup on Wednesday night.

It’s been pretty much a season to forget for the 21-year-old attacker, who struggled to make an impact after joining Crawley Town on loan last season. He was recalled by the Addicks in February, going on to gain his minutes for the club’s U21s.

Dixon has a Charlton contract until the summer of 2028. He arrived from Jamaican side Arnett Gardens in August 2024.

Dixon has made three league appearances for the Addicks, the last of those as a 52nd-minute substitute in a 2-2 home draw against Lincoln City in April 2025.

Jamaica lost 3-0 to Nigeria in Saturday’s Unity Cup final. Dixon played the full 90 minutes.

Nathan Harness playing for Charlton against MK Dons in January 2022/Picture: Keith Gillard

Harness is an Angel

Nathan Harness has signed for Tonbridge Angels.

The ex-Charlton goalkeeper spent last season with Maidstone United and featured 35 times.

Angels are managed by former Millwall full-back Alan Dunne.

Harness, released by the Addicks at the end of the 2022-23 season, told Tonbridge’s official website: “I’m delighted to be here. I had a couple of offers from different teams but from the get-go my heart was set on Tonbridge. It felt right.

“I had some good conversations with the gaffer and other people and I just got that gut feeling that this is where I wanted to spend my time.”

Dunne added: “Nathan ticks all the right boxes. He’s got good pedigree, starting out at Charlton. He’s a big character with charisma and personality. He’s dominant in the box, kicks well and is ambitious.

“He’s a big addition for us and I’m really, really pleased to bring him in because he had other offers to consider but I’m delighted he’s decided to join us.”

Refer a friend

The striker, who played 139 matches and scored 26 goals for the Addicks, had just agreed a loan switch to Alan Curbishley’s side.

Charlton were 12th in the Premiership table at the time with 21 points from their opening 15 matches - 10 clear of 18th-placed Middlesbrough.

Bartlett opened his account with two goals in a 3-3 draw against Manchester United in December 2000.

He netted seven times before the end of the campaign, including a superb volley against Leicester which won Premiership Goal of the Season in 2000-01.

He was released in 2006.

Shaun Bartlett in action for Charlton Athletic/Picture: Keith Gillard

HEADLINE: I’M ZUR I’LL BE A SUCCESS

Shaun Bartlett is aiming to make up for lost time after achieving his burning ambition to join a team in the Premiership.

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But 33 months earlier the Mancunian admits he was left “on the floor” after being sacked by Charlton Athletic.

Holden was the first managerial casualty of the 2023-24 EFL campaign. The Addicks squeezed to a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient on the opening day but lost their next five matches, including a 3-1 reverse at Newport County in the EFL Cup. Charlton confirmed on August 27 that they had parted company with Holden, assistant Danny Senda and goalkeeping coach Glyn Shimell.

Dean Holden/Picture: Paul Edwards

Holden then had a spell as a coach for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, managed at the time by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, before taking on an assistant role at Turkish club Adana Demirspor.

The 46-year-old returned to the English game at the start of July 2025, accepting an assistant head coach role working under Sergej Jakirovic, also freshly appointed, at Hull City.

That decision paid off handsomely as the Tigers, despite the constraints of a transfer embargo, sealed a return to England’s elite division for the first time since 2017.

But Holden, speaking to South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition earlier this week, can still vividly remember the heartbreak he felt when he lost his job in SE7.

“You roll with the punches,” he said. “I’ve done it my whole life, to be honest. I obviously made some good decisions after leaving Charlton which have led me now to the Premier League.

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Karen Hills (left) lifts up the Premier League Cup with Charlton skipper Casey Stoney in March 2004/Picture: Alamy

Keith Boanas’ initial reaction is to chuckle after being asked whether he saw Karen Hills as management material while she was a player in his Charlton Athletic women’s team when they were a force to be reckoned with in the top-flight.

Hills was signed from Wembley Mill Hill before the Addicks’ 2001-02 FA Women’s Premier League season.

She went on to be a first-team regular under Boanas and played in their 2005 FA Cup final success, only leaving when the women’s team was controversially disbanded a couple of years later.

Fast forward to the present day and Hills, 51, has most definitely shown that being a boss is a perfect fit.

She has chalked up five years at Charlton and Saturday was her greatest success yet - winning a play-off tie against Leicester City at The Valley to clinch promotion to WSL 1.

But Boanas would not have picked out the former defender as managerial material.

“Not in a million years,” he told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition. “I say that because she was a grumpy, moody and moaning whatsit during training. She didn’t strike you as someone who would stay in the game.

“But Karen started her coaching pathway at Spurs and it must have grown on her, or she learned something off the old fella and thought it looked like a decent job to do! We kept in touch and I followed her career.

“She had a reputation on a training night, as a player, of not always being happy. Personality-wise you didn’t think she would get into that racket, but I’m happy that she did. When she was on her UEFA A license we had chats and exchanged messages, because I am a coach educator for the FA. I was able to give her some tips and help with some of the sessions.”

Charlton manager Karen Hills/Picture: Keith Gillard

The top division was rebranded as the Women’s Super League in 2010 but Charlton are finally now back at the same level they graced under the guidance of Boanas between 2000 and 2007. The Hitchin-born boss was in charge of Tooting & Mitcham men’s team, initially he juggled both jobs before focusing fully on the Addicks.

Boanas, married to former Charlton goalkeeper Pauline Cope, attended the game on the final day of the WSL 2 regulation season, a 2-0 loss to Birmingham which saw automatic promotion hopes wrecked, and last weekend’s tie.

“I’m immensely proud that Karen has finally cracked it,” said Boanas, 67. “I couldn’t stay around after the game, because I had to look after a couple of Chihuahuas that we own, but I sent her a message.

“A lot of hard work has gone into it. They led the league for so long and then when it looked like it might not happen that would’ve been devastating. It would have taken immense character, for the staff and players, to come back from that.

“Karen has gone from strength to strength in the job. I think it’s been a tough journey, especially with the changes of ownership because they affect what kind of backing and funding you get. Thankfully she has ridden all those storms and come through at the end.”

Straight-talking Boanas pulls no punches about the challenge now facing the Addicks, who will be facing England’s elite clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

City have just handed a new long-term contract to Khadija Shaw, a target for Chelsea, which will see the striker earn £1million a year.

French international Grace Geyoro joined newly-promoted London City Lionesses in September 2025 for £1.4m, the most expensive signing in the women’s game. But that was also the third time the world transfer record had been broken that summer.

“It’s going to be majorly, majorly tough,” said Boanas, who has been manager of Chatham Town women since 2024. “It is going to be about retention and recruitment. You are talking money - and what the top three or four sides have to spend is incredible.

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Plus we round up other events, including a number of ex-Addicks playing their part in Hull City’s promotion to the Premier League and Ezri Konsa winning the Europa League and inclusion in England’s World Cup squad.

South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition will keep bringing you all the big stories over the summer, so please make sure to subscribe!

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Sophie Whitehouse reads the side of her water bottle - which listed the preferred finishing positions for Leicester’s penalty takers/Picture: Keith Gillard

Addicks achieve Super League dream

Sophie Whitehouse reckons that Charlton’s reliance on defensive strength will boost their prospects of being successful next season in the Super League.

The Addicks sealed their promotion on Saturday with a 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Leicester City.

The play-off tie, pitting the third-placed WSL 2 side against the bottom club in WSL 1, ended 0-0 after extra-time at The Valley.

Whitehouse, who kept eight clean sheets in the WSL 2 campaign, saved four of the Foxes’ spot-kicks.

The 29-year-old won the WSL 2 Golden Glove award and was named in the WSL 2 Team of the Season a week ago.

Asked how excited she was out of 10 to be playing in the top flight next season, Whitehouse responded: “Higher than a 10.

“The way we played this season was very defensive and that probably prepares us very well for going into the WSL. We now have that base of out-of-possession work - we just need to do it again. When we have played against WSL sides this season we have done really, really well. I’m really excited to see what happens.

“We put ourselves in a position to have a couple of opportunities to go up and we have proved we have deserved it.

“We say it is a marathon not a sprint. Today it felt like the longest marathon ever, but we pushed it over the line to finish where we wanted to finish.”

Charlton’s players celebrate after the full-time whistle and Sophie Whitehouse savours a penalty save/Pictures: Paul Edwards

Manager Karen Hills was part of the Charlton side which won the 2005 FA Cup final at Upton Park.

Now she has led the Addicks back to the top division for the first time since they were disbanded in the summer of 2007, a cost-cutting measure after the men’s team lost their Premier League status.

“It’s up there with one of my career highlights,” said Hills. “I feel incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved, but I couldn’t have done it without the team behind the team. I’m just leading that. I’ve enjoyed every moment of working with the players and staff I’ve got around me.

“We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this unless we were a collective group.”

Charlton were not one of the top spenders in WSL 2 and face a huge challenge to retain their newly-acquired status.

Hills said: “I’m excited, nervous and apprehensive, because I have been there and done it before. It is tough. There is no hiding from the fact we are three weeks behind Crystal Palace and Birmingham doing it. You have potentially the best league in the world and it is an opportunity for Charlton to compete against these top teams.

“We have to be realistic and we have to be honest. The club is progressive and it wants us to keep progressing. I was here as a player and we were a top team, in a top division. That will be my ambition.

“Enjoy these moments - but football doesn’t stand still. We have to stay with it. It is an unbelievable moment that these players and supporters should enjoy. But then it parks and a new chapter opens.”

Karen Hills watches Saturday’s play-off final/Picture: Keith Gillard

European trophy is sealed with a kiss

Ezri Konsa posted the above picture on his X account after Aston Villa won the Europa League trophy with, let’s be honest, a very straightforward 3-0 victory over Freiburg on Wednesday evening.

The Premier League side were head and shoulders above their German opposition as they produced a dominant performance in the final, held in Istanbul.

Konsa, 28, played the full tie for Villa.

He joined Charlton from Senrab in 2008 and had two seasons of League One football before he was sold to Brentford, then in the Championship, in 2018 for a reported fee of £2.5million.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Konsa told broadcaster TNT Sports as Villa celebrated their victory against Freiburg on the Besiktas Arena Stadium pitch. “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs at this club. To finally bring back some silverware is amazing.

“The fans have been through thick and thin with us. If you guys saw my letter it said ‘believe’. If you did that, thank you. This is for them.”

Konsa joined Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) and Joe Gomez (Liverpool) in being Charlton academy products to win a major European trophy.

Ian Maatsen, who had a loan spell with the Addicks, came on as a late substitute for Villa.

The week got even better for Konsa as he was named in England’s World Cup squad. The tournament takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The Three Lions start with a June 17 fixture against Croatia in Arlington, USA.

“It has been a tough process to decide on the nomination, but I have full belief in this group of players,” said England boss Thomas Tuchel. “They all deserve their place. The squad and everyone involved with the team will give all we can to make the country proud. We know they are behind us and we hope for a very special summer.”

Refer a friend

Lyndon Dykes/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Lyndon Dykes is going to the World Cup

A key part of Lyndon Dykes’ January switch to Charlton Athletic was about getting enough Championship minutes to make sure of his place in Scotland’s World Cup squad.

Mission accomplished.

The big striker was named in Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad on Tuesday afternoon. The former Birmingham and QPR player is one of five forwards selected.

Scotland start their Group C campaign against Haiti on June 14 before facing Morocco (June 19) and Brazil (June 24).

Dykes, 30, scored three goals in 20 appearances for the Addicks, who confirmed earlier this month they remained in talks over agreeing a longer stay in SE7.

Conor Coady is going to the World Cup too

But unlike Lyndon Dykes, it won’t be in a playing capacity.

The Liverpudlian, 33, will be part of the BBC Radio 5’s analysis team and the station describe him as being “a regular voice” on England matches.

Coady, who spent the second half of last season on loan with Charlton from Wrexham, was in England’s squad for the 2020 European Championships and 2022 World Cup but did not make an appearance.

He has been capped 10 times by his country.

Coady still has 12 months left to run on his Wrexham contract. He has not ruled out a return to the Addicks.

Former Charlton striker Bradley Wright-Phillips is on the ITV panel as part of their coverage of the World Cup.

The Lewisham-born 41-year-old won the League One title with the Addicks in 2012. Wright-Phillips signed for New York Red Bulls after being released in 2013.

News on ex-Addicks - including promotion to the Premier League

Former Charlton Athletic manager Dean Holden will be pitting his wits against Premier League bosses next season after Hull City won the Championship play-off final on Saturday.

Oli McBurnie’s late goal, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, clinched a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Wembley.

Holden, sacked by the Addicks in August 2023, became head coach Sergej Jakirovic’s assistant at the start of July.

Ex-Addicks centre-back Semi Ajayi played the full match against Boro, reinstated back into the knockout competition after Southampton were booted out for spying on opponents.

Liam Millar, who had a loan stint with Charlton in the second half of the 2020-21 League One campaign, played 63 minutes with goalkeeper Dillon Phillips an unused substitute.

West Brom have offered a new contract to Karlan Grant, who is due to be a free agent at the start of July.

Sam Lavelle has been made available for transfer by Grimsby Town.

Chesterfield have released Freddie Ladapo.

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WEST HAM UNITED, COME ON DOWN

We now know the full make-up of the Championship next season after Sunday’s fixtures.

West Ham United were relegated on the final day of the Premiership campaign despite a 3-0 home victory over Leeds United.

It will be the first time since the 1992-93 season that Charlton, Millwall and West Ham will be in the same division.

Charlton posted on their X account yesterday

Tottenham were also in danger of the drop but only required a point on Sunday to make sure of their survival - Joao Palhinha’s goal earning a 1-0 victory against Everton.

It ends a 14-year stay for the Hammers in the top flight, during which time they won the Europa Conference League in 2023.

Charlton’s most recent league visit to West Ham was a 3-1 reverse in August 2006. Darren Bent’s penalty put the Addicks ahead but the hosts bounced back through Bobby Zamora (two) and Carlton Cole.

The Addicks lost 3-0 in an EFL Cup tie at London Stadium in September 2020.

Bolton Wanderers took the final promotion spot from League One as they beat Stockport County 4-1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

Charlton loanee Isaac Oloafe came on in the 65th minute of the tie for County and had a close-range shot saved by goalkeeper Jack Bonham when the score was 2-1.

Rob Apter, also a winter transfer window loan exit from the Addicks, did not make the Bolton squad for any of their play-off matches. The Scouser’s last action came as a second-half substitute against Stevenage on April 14.

Mason Burstow, who came through the Charlton academy, set up Ruben Rodrigues’ third-minute opener for Bolton.

Dartford friendly locked in

Charlton’s first pre-season tune-up match will be at Dartford on July 3.

The Friday night fixture, which has a 7.45pm kick off, is a repeat of last summer.

Dartford were also the opening opposition for Nathan Jones’ side when they started to gear up for life back in the Championship. Daniel Kanu, Greg Docherty and Micah Mbick scored in a 3-2 victory on July 12, 2025.

Tickets for the match are already on sale here.

The Darts finished sixth in the Isthmian Premier Division last season, just missing out on the play-offs.

The Dartford game was our first ever post-match pod. Want to listen back to it? You do? It’s here.

Scott Wagstaff/Picture: Paul Edwaeds

Waggy reunion in July?

Dartford announced the signing of Scott Wagstaff on Thursday. The 36-year-old, who started his career in Charlton’s youth ranks and made more than 100 senior appearances, was previously at Tonbridge Angels.

Darts manager Ben Greenhalgh told their club website: “Scott’s someone who will bring brilliant experience and leadership around the dressing room. He’s a model professional and will add a lot of quality out on the pitch too.

“We are really happy to bring him into the squad.”

Wagstaff was released by Charlton in 2013. He joined Bristol City on a free transfer.

The experienced midfielder could make his first appearance for Dartford in the friendly against the Addicks.

Watt assists in play-offs

Tony Watt set up Aidan Fitzpatrick’s equaliser in Partick Thistle’s 1-1 draw against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership play-off final first leg.

The former Charlton striker made a run on the right of the penalty box before his low cross was converted first time in the 62nd minute.

Thistle finished second in the Championship table and the second leg takes place this evening at 8pm. They have not been in the Scottish top flight since the 2017-18 season.

Unity Cup takes place this week - but Dixon is only Addicks connection

I know this is supposed to be a review of the week, but I also felt the need to plug the Unity Cup, which takes place at The Valley this week.

There actually aren’t too many Charlton links for the tournament with only Kaheim Dixon due to be in action for Jamaica. Karoy Anderson and Amari’i Bell are expected to take on a watching brief in SE7.

There is also no Ademola Lookman or Joe Aribo in the Nigeria squad, which does include Millwall winger Femi Azeez.

Nigeria-Zimbabwe takes place on Tuesday (7.30pm) with India-Jamaica the following evening at the same time.

The finals day is on Saturday (2.30pm) with the two winners facing off along with a third-place tie.

Dixon saw his loan cut short at Crawley Town last season as he struggled for first-team outings.

The Unity Cup has officially been announced as a FIFA tier 1 event.

Kaheim Dixon is in Jamaica’s Unity Cup squad/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Content that appeared on this website last week

The full story behind how Peter Varney became Charlton Athletic chief executive

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire on how new Squad Cost Rules (SCR) will affect the Addicks

South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition podcast discussing Spygate

More reaction to Charlton’s play-off win to reach WSL 1

In the end, Charlton Athletic women’s season came down to a penalty shootout.

And the good news for the Addicks is that it meant a chance for goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse - so often their star performer in the 2025-26 campaign - to underline her worth.

That was precisely what Whitehouse, the WSL 2 Golden Glove winner, did once again. One last time.

The 29-year-old saved four of Leicester City’s five spot-kicks to send Charlton into the Super League as they won a play-off decider. The Addicks have not competed in England’s top level since 2007, when the side was disbanded following the men’s relegation from the Premier League.

Now they can look forward to facing the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal next season. Back in the big time. Plus a continuation of their south London derbies against Crystal Palace.

Charlton had one last chance to win promotion after dropping out of the automatic promotion places in WSL 2 on the final day. They responded admirably to that heartbreaking outcome.

You always felt that this tie at The Valley had a strong potential to go all the way to a shootout and, on a sweltering afternoon in SE7, it went right to the wire. Nil-nil after 120 minutes of sweat and toil. Perspiration rather than attacking inspiration.

Penalties are a chance for a goalkeeper to become the hero and Whitehouse, capped once by the Republic of Ireland, embraced that moment.

She was booked by referee Emily Heaslip for delaying before City’s fourth penalty, taken by Heather Payne, as she took extra time perusing her water bottle, which had info taped to it relating to where each player liked to put their kicks.

Sophie Whitehouse’s water bottle with details on each of the Leicester penalty-takers/Picture: Keith Gillard

If that was purely a touch of gamesmanship, it worked.

The Charlton number one plunged low to her left to push the ball onto the base of the post.

The celebrations could start after Whitehouse once again went the right way to deny Leicester substitute Noemie Mouchon.

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We talk about ‘Spygate’ - Southampton being booted out of the Championship play-off final - and answer a couple of subscriber questions asking if the Addicks suspect they were one of the victims.

But there is plenty more on this episode …

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The Addicks have one last chance to seal promotion to WSL 1 after missing out on automatic promotion, agonisingly slipping out of the top two on the final day after a 2-0 loss to eventual champions Birmingham City at the start of this month.

Charlton’s dip in form, taking one point from a possible 12, allowed the Blues and south London rivals Crystal Palace to secure their places in the top flight in the 2026-27 campaign.

Charlton Athletic women’s manager Karen Hills/Picture: Keith Gillard

But the Addicks can still join the duo if they defeat Leicester City, who finished rock bottom of WSL 1. The Foxes have lost their last 12 league matches, scoring four goals and conceding 35 in that sequence.

The match is a 12.30pm kick off.

Hills, 51, has talked about setting a five-year plan when she was appointed boss in March 2021.

This is her fifth season at the helm, so does that mean that Charlton achieving promotion is key to her journey continuing beyond this weekend’s all-or-nothing fixture?

“It’s a five-year plan and I’ve got another year left on my contract,” Hills told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition. “My aim and ambition is to get Charlton to the top division. I am very loyal, as you can see from my career.

“I always want to keep striving. As long as we are all aligned in terms of the progression of where I am then those questions will be answered, as and when they need to. At this moment in time my main focus is on doing everything I can to help this team get over the line on Saturday.

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Championship clubs have approved a move to new Squad Cost Rules (SCR) from the start of next season. South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition has got the lowdown on the new system from Kieran Maguire, who presents The Price of Football podcast with Kevin Day.

We discussed how the spending measures will impact the Addicks as they get ready to embark on a second successive campaign in England’s second tier.

Before that, here are a few things to note about SCR (all of this information has come from the EFL release announcing the change):

• the SCR allowance for clubs will be set at 85 per cent of income, with a flexible equity top-up allowance of £33m over a three-year period (up to a maximum of £15m a season)

• The new framework allows for real-time monitoring during the season, rather than reviewing ‘after the event’, with the aim of giving clubs greater clarity and the ‘club financial reporting unit’ earlier visibility over clubs’ financial position

• The framework also includes safeguards around commercial deals linked to owners or associated parties

Maguire is one of the leading football finance experts in the UK and has published a book - The Price of Football: Understanding Football Club Finance.

As well as pretty much a full transcript of our chat, there is also the option to listen below.

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In this ninth instalment, Varney reveals how he ended up working for the Addicks - after initially turning a job offer down.

Peter Varney with Charlton chairman Richard Murray and manager Alan Curbishley in April 1998/Picture: Tom Morris

‘IT PUT A FEW PEOPLE’S NOSES OUT OF JOINT THAT I TOOK A POSITION WHERE THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FORMAL PROCESS’

Peter Varney spent more than 10 years at Charlton Athletic as their chief executive before he stepped down in June 2008. He later returned as a director for a short period in 2009 to oversee a £7m bond issue to save the club from administration and then was executive vice-chairman between 2010 and 2012. So how did he go from a supporter to a position of power in SE7? Here is the full story.

I had worked for the Sports Council when Mrs Thatcher was privatising everything. I was second in the team which was set up to privatise the five national sports centres - Bisham Abbey, Lilleshall, Holme Pierrepont, Plas y Brenin, the climbing place in Wales, and Crystal Palace.

The aim was to save £5million. I completed that and went to the CEO at Sport England and said: ‘What is the plan next?’

‘Well, because of the job you’ve done there we would like to put you in with the doping team.’ A woman called Michele Verroken used to run it, but I think she was coming to the end of her term.

That wasn’t something I felt was really me. Coincidentally at the time, I knew Stevie Gritt, who was Charlton’s joint manager with Alan Curbishley. His daughter Hayley got a brain tumour in October 1992. Steve said to me one day: ‘I’d like to do something for the British Brain & Spine Foundation. Would you come along and meet the neurosurgeon, Peter Hamlyn, who is behind the charity?’

Peter is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. Our conversation quickly moved into ‘why don’t you come and do things around Steve Gritt? Do you want to do some events and raise some money under the Hayley Gritt Fund?’

It was very, very successful. Charlton didn’t have many active events programmes at that time. The Charlton fans got behind all this and we were raising significant sums of money.

Jumping back before that, to 1991, I had always been a big fan of Lennie Lawrence and when I heard he was getting a testimonial, I contacted Steve Sutherland, who was chairman of his testimonial committee, and said: ‘I think Lennie talks so much sense. I’d love to run a testimonial dinner for him.’

Steve raised it at a committee meeting and I got a phone call saying: ‘How many people do you think you would get to this dinner?’

I told them probably 500 or so. They dismissed me as the local lunatic (not Steve) and in any event Lennie left to become the manager of Middlesbrough in July 1991. So I then decided to organise it as a Back To The Valley dinner and that I’d give the proceeds to the club. I arranged to meet Roger Alwen and stumbled across his wife Heather, who was the receptionist at the time. Her exact words to me is that they would be happy to get that amount for a match-day function.

I told them if I didn’t manage to reach that number then I would think of another way of doing it.

‘You don’t want to be associated with it, because a failure won’t reflect well on the club.’

That was how it was left - it wasn’t going to be for the club at all.

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Campeones, Campeones, Olé, Olé, Olé!

Well done to Charlton Athletic’s U18s for winning the Professional Development League national final on Friday night.

It is the fourth time that the Addicks youngsters have claimed the trophy, the last time they got their hands on that silverware was in 2018.

Charlton won 3-0 against Wigan Athletic at The Valley. Ellis McMillan put the home team into a 25th minute lead with Raynon Richman adding two more in the closing stages of the match.

Ellis McMillan celebrates his goal right in front of photographer Keith Gillard with Raynon Richman enjoying his first strike of the evening

U18 manager Jason Pearce told the club’s X account: “It’s fantastic. We worked hard all season and we wanted to win something. The players have been magnificent this year - winning the southern league. To win the nationals tops it right off.

“Since I’ve come into the building we had got to the final twice and lost. Third time lucky this year and we absolutely deserved it. The boys were very, very good - the future is bright for the football club.

“We know we will score goals with the attacking quality we have on the pitch. We changed shape from the semi-final to today, the boys have shown good versatility.

“I actually had a little bit of a pop at the players at half-time. I know the levels they can play at and they didn’t show that, whether that was the occasion [that affected them]. It’s a great learning experience for them, playing in front of fans and at The Valley. In the second half we dominated the game a lot better, made more forward passes and punished them.

Jason Pearce makes his point/Picture: Keith Gillard

“Myself and Kev (Lock), we push the players very hard. We demand a lot from them. In the past if players can’t put up with that then they come out of the team. That is just the way I will always run the team, because I believe you have to outwork the opposition. In possession, we want to play the ball on the floor. If teams are pressing high then we’ll go in behind. We try to teach the players loads of variety and to make the right decisions.

“There is always talent at this football club. It is just about getting them through and giving them the opportunity. Nathan (Jones) is aware and has given players the opportunity, hopefully that can continue.

“The fans who came to the game or watched it on TV should be excited about the future. We have just got to keep them grounded and working hard - hopefully we’ll see more coming through.”

Gavin Carter: Ideally we want some outgoing moves before incomings in summer transfer window

Charlton Athletic chairman Gavin Carter has agreed with Nathan Jones’ assertion that the club needs to make some big calls when it comes to reshaping their squad in the summer transfer window.

The Addicks are gearing up for their third trading period as a Championship club.

Carter was a guest on Charlton TV’s monthly show, which aired on Friday night.

He said that the aim for Charlton in their second season in the Championship is to continue building.

Gavin Carter, right, in the directors’s box at Norwich City - along with Nathan Jones, Jim Rodwell and Paul Elliott/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Carter said: “We have got a lot of work to do. As you’ve seen from the player released list, there are not many players that are out of contract. We have got to look at the squad. If we’re going to bring players in then we’ve got to move some players on, which isn’t easy.

“Sequencing this is difficult. Ideally you would get players out - you get the cash in and then you spend the cash - but we don’t live in a perfect world.

“We are going to do stuff in a fiscally sustainable way. I’ve said many times that I’m not going to risk the future of the football club. You see teams do it all the time and owners do come and go. I’m not going to put us in a position where we have made too many commitments that we then can’t fund in the future. But we are going to make progress.”

Charlton TV host Scott Minto referenced Jones’ comments after the final day loss at Swansea, with the Welshman spelling out that “ruthless decisions” and “excellent recruitment” were key to the club kicking on.

Minto asked Carter how ruthless he felt the south-east Londoners needed to be in the summer window.

“I think you’ve got to be pretty ruthless,” responded Carter. “This is tough. Nathan talks about it - this is a great group of players that have got us this far and there are a lot of youngsters in there as well, who have been with us for a long time. But I think you’ve got to make tough decisions. It is not just Nathan’s choice. There is a team there which is making the choice about what the squad needs to be.

“Players are under contract - which is great. When Global Football Partners came in, the squad was in a terrible state…just in terms of contracts. Players weren’t under contract - so assets were leaving without being monetised. People didn’t want to play here, either. Now they want to play here, so it is tough to say: ‘Maybe you have got to go and play somewhere else’. But we believe we have got some assets there. We know where we need to strengthen. And we will be ruthless.”

Carter was also quizzed on which areas of the squad needed reinforcements.

“There are some obvious positions where we had loan players come in for the second half of the season,” he said. “You have got right wing-back (James Bree and Harry Clarke had loans from Southampton and Ipswich). We hope Josh (Edwards) is going to come back stronger on the left wing-back side, but we need more there.

“We need more up front. We didn’t score enough goals this year and that’s painfully obvious. In the middle of the park we don’t want to rely just on Sonny (Carey). We need to make sure we’re carrying the ball and we’re what Nathan wants us to be - fluid and aggressive.

“I don’t think there is one area of the pitch where we can’t improve. That has got to be the mentality. But there were clearly some areas of the squad, where there were loan players, that we would like to bring in squad players for next season.”

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Charlotte Newsham was injured in this challenge during the WSL 2 final day fixture at The Valley/Picture: Paul Edwards

Cruel blow for Charlton defender

Charlton Athletic Women have confirmed that Charlotte Newsham suffered a ruptured ACL in their WSL 2 defeat to Birmingham City earlier this month.

“The 25-year-old’s diagnosis also confirmed that she has suffered damage to her lateral collateral ligament (LCL), posterolateral corner and hamstring tendon,” said the Addicks in a statement on their official website.

“Newsham will now undergo a rehabilitation process. The club will support Charlotte through her recovery and wish her all the best.”

Gillian Kenney has been nominated for the WSL 2 Rising Star award. The winner will be announced today at the WSL Football Awards ceremony.

Kenney has scored six goals and also collected one assist in her first season playing in professional football. She signed from Providence College in July.

Charlton play their play-off against Leicester City at The Valley on Saturday (12.30pm) with the winner clinching WSL 1 football next season. Tickets can be bought here.

Play-off final for Olaofe and Hull City trio of ex-Addicks

Isaac Olaofe has to make the sign off of his loan at Stockport a promotion party.

The striker, who made the return to Edgeley Park at the end of the winter transfer window after a lack of regular game time at Charlton, came on in the 46th minute of County’s 2-0 victory over Stevenage on Wednesday night.

Stockport won 3-0 on aggregate and set up a League One play-off final showdown with Bolton Wanderers at Wembley on Sunday.

Rob Apter, another of the Addicks’ transfers not long after winning promotion at the end of May, is on loan with Bolton but did not make their matchday squad for either of their play-off legs against Bradford City.

There are Charlton connections in the Championship play-off final, which is due to take place on Saturday, although there have been rumblings it could be pushed back after Southampton were charged by the EFL with spying on Middlesbrough.

Semi Ajayi played the full 90 minutes, and performed very well, as Hull City won 2-0 at Millwall on Monday to win the play-off semi-final second leg.

The Tigers, who drew 0-0 in the first tie, have ex-Charlton boss Dean Holden as assistant head coach. Liam Millar, who spent time on loan with the Addicks, also started at The Den with Dillon Phillips and Akin Famewo both unused substitutes.

James Bree played the entirety of Southampton’s 1-0 victory over Boro as they edged into the final. Jeremy Sarmiento and Alex Gilbert were not called off the bench for the losers.

Karl Robinson’s Salford City have reached the League Two play-off final after defeating Grimsby Town.

They face Notts County on Monday.

“When Graham (Alexander) got the club from the National League into the English Football League it was monumental - because that’s the hardest promotion to get and we’re in the footsteps of that,” said former Charlton boss Robinson.

“There’s been so many managers who have come here over the past five or six years and every single person has played their part in that.”

Patrick Casey/Picture: Keith Gillard

Casey offered fresh terms

Patrick Casey is weighing up whether to commit to a new deal at Charlton Athletic.

The 20-year-old scored seven goals in 11 appearances on loan at National League South side Dorking Wanderers in the second half of the 2025-26 season.

Charlton confirmed the offer made to Casey in their academy retained list update. They took up options to extend Ethan Brown, Ty Ewens-Findlay and Jacob Safa.

Reuben Amissah, Toby Bower, Ollie Hobden, Mason Hunter, Max Kuczynski, Paris Lock, Lennon MacLorg and Tommy Reid have been released.

Jojo Wollacott made 20 appearances for Charlton after joining from Swindon Town in the 2022-23 League One season/Picture: Keith Gillard

More news on former Addicks

Crawley Town are in contract talks with goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott, who is set to become a free agent on July 1.

Colchester United have exercised an option to extend Jack Payne’s deal by a further 12 months.

Conor McAleny has been released by Harrogate Town.

Bromley’s X post showing Deji Elerewe with the League Two trophy

Elerewe medals despite Bromley exit

Deji Elerewe popped into Hayes Lane on Thursday to collect his League Two winners’ medal.

The former Charlton defender, 22, featured 19 times for Bromley in the first half of the campaign. He was sold to Lincoln City at the end of January.

Elerewe made 64 appearances in total for Bromley. He joined from the Addicks for an undisclosed fee in February 2024.

Bromley finished a point clear of MK Dons at the top of the League Two table. They are managed by Andy Woodman, who had a spell as goalkeeping coach in SE7 when Alan Pardew was the boss.

Ex-Charlton youngster Carl Jenkinson was one of the players released by Bromley this week. The 34-year-old played just 204 minutes of league football in the 2025-26 season.

Exeter tinker with Taylor again

Matt Taylor has been appointed as Exeter City’s permanent manager for a second time.

The former Charlton centre-back came back on an interim basis in March after Gary Caldwell left for Wigan Athletic.

Taylor won League Two promotion with the Grecians in 2022 before opting to leave for Rotherham United. He left that position in November 2023 and the 44-year-old then had 58 matches as boss of Bristol Rovers.

Taylor said: “Coming back to Exeter reminded me just how special this club is. There’s work to do, on and off the pitch, as the whole club goes through something of a reset and I’m excited to be part of this.”

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Content that appeared on this website last week

Alan Curbishley on what he believes is an acceptable target for Charlton next season in the Championship

Player ratings and verdicts for the attacking midfielders and strikers in the 2025-26 campaign

Scott Minto on his Charlton Athletic career - including tears when he explained why he had to leave - plus his move into broadcasting

Charlie Kelman wins Championship Goal of the Month for April

Bonus pod - Jonny Williams on winning the 2019 League One play-offs with Charlton and why he had to leave in 2021

This bonus podcast episode is the complete chat with the former Addicks midfielder, who was part of Lee Bowyer’s side which won the League One play-offs in 2019.

Williams talks about the highs and lows of h…

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Charlie Kelman has won April’s Championship Goal of the Month award for his corking finish in Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 victory over Hull City in SE7.

The striker, signed from QPR last summer for an undisclosed fee, netted seven times in the 2025-26 campaign.

But the one against the Tigers stood out, both for the quality of the finish, which gave goalkeeper Ivor Pandur no chance, but also because it helped the Addicks pick up the three points that ended fears of being dragged into the Championship relegation places.

Kelman said: “I’m buzzing and I’m thankful to everyone who voted for me to win this award. It’s probably my favourite goal of my career so far, given how the atmosphere was with The Valley rocking and the pressure on the game for both teams.”

Don Goodman, the lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports pundit, said: “Safe to say Charlie Kelman had a lot to do after a lung-busting run into the left channel and being surrounded by defenders.

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“He somehow, though, managed to manipulate some space and curled an absolute beauty into the far top corner.”

Coventry City’s Frank Onyeka, Ipswich Town’s Kasey McAteer and Oxford United’s Will Lankshear were also up for the accolade.

Kelman won a Goal of the Month award when he was 17 and on the books of Southend United in January 2019. Kelman scored from inside his own half against Plymouth Argyle in League One.

James Bree, on loan at Charlton from Southampton, was up for the September award in the Championship for his quality strike against Derby County at Pride Park. But the right wing-back was edged out by Swansea City’s Goncalo Franco.

Have you missed South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition’s ratings and verdicts on the attacking midfielders and strikers? The full breakdown (including subscriber scoring) can be found here.

Picture: Paul Edwards

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He was 22 at the time. His transfer to Chelsea for an initial £775,000, in May 1994, had taken him to one of the biggest clubs in England on a three-year contract.

There was every reason for Minto, capped by England at U21 level, to be overjoyed. And yet he vividly recalls being in tears when he wrote a letter to then Charlton chairman Richard Murray explaining his decision to go.

Scott Minto playing for Charlton/Picture: Tom Morris

“I left purely because I didn’t think Charlton would get into the Premier League,” Minto told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition. “I was playing really well and coming to the end of my contract.

“Curbs (Alan Curbishley, joint-manager with Steve Gritt) says he doesn’t remember it, but they called me in for contract negotiations. Curbs said a figure, I won’t say what it was, and I said: ‘Curbs, if you’ll offer me that then I’ll sign.”

‘Okay, leave it with me.’

“He came back about a month later and they offered me £50 a week more! I was on a contract that I signed when I was 19, so it wasn’t a lot of money at all. Apparently I gave them a look, without saying anything, and then said: ‘Is that it?’

“I walked out, not in a rude way, but I think they understood. Either Rob Lee or Browny (Steve Brown) said to me: ‘They didn’t want you to stay because they needed the money’.

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This is part two of the South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition player ratings for the 2025-26 Championship season.

If you missed the scores for goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfielders, it can be found here.

Players needed to have featured in at least 10 matches in the campaign to be rated.

Below we have the scores awarded by myself, pod host Louis Mendez and also an average rating from subscribers who voted in our survey.

JOE RANKIN-COSTELLO

When we talk about surprises in the campaign just completed, Rankin-Costello’s lack of starts was something of a puzzle.

When you bear in mind that he had seven successive seasons of playing in the Championship, and more than 100 appearances in the league, it felt like he would be one of the first-team regulars after his transfer from Blackburn Rovers.

If Rankin-Costello’s move to the capital was about increasing his exposure to the level then it didn’t happen. He played six fewer Championship matches than the previous season and saw his minutes reduced from 1,237 to 813.

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The Addicks will be facing the likes of Burnley, Wolves and potentially West Ham United in the 2026-27 Championship campaign.

Nathan Jones led Charlton to a 19th-placed finish at the start of this month to ensure there was no instant return to League One.

Alan Curbishley/Picture: Keith Gillard

Curbishley was the Addicks boss when they had a period of success and stability in the Premier League.

The 68-year-old twice led them to promotion from England’s second tier - via the play-offs and also a title win - with Charlton spending seven successive seasons in the top flight.

Curbishley stepped down in the summer of 2006 and the Addicks were relegated in the next campaign, with the appointment of Iain Dowie proving to be particularly disastrous.

Curbishley is well-placed to assess the job done by Jones after Charlton finished six points above the relegation zone.

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This update has details on the U18s producing a big performance in SE7, news involving former Charlton Athletic players that will be free agents this summer and Ezri Konsa closing in on European glory.

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Kayode Peterkin celebrates after keeping his cool from the spot/Top picture: Kyle Andrews Bottom picture: Keith Gillard

Charlton score four as they book final spot against Wigan

Charlton Athletic U18s are into the Professional Development League play-off final after a 4-1 victory over Hull City at The Valley on Saturday.

The hosts were 1-0 down at the break but came roaring back against the Tigers with Sam Washington-Amoah levelled on 56 minutes.

Charlton quickly went into the lead through Raynon Richman. Substitute Kacper Podgorny made it 3-1 in the 75th minute.

Kayode Peterkin, another introduction off the bench, scored from the penalty spot in the third minute of additional time after Podgorny was fouled.

The Addicks face Wigan Athletic this week with details still to be confirmed.

The U18s, managed by Jason Pearce, finished top of the South league - finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Millwall. They lost just three times in 28 matches and won 19 times.

Wigan took first place in the North section and defeated Millwall 1-0 in their semi-final on Thursday.

Tanto featured for County in play-off tie but no place for Apter at Bolton

Isaac ‘Tanto’ Olaofe came on as a 76th-minute substitute in Stockport 1-0 win at Stevenage on Saturday in their League One play-off semi-final.

The 26-year-old Charlton striker replaced Adama Sidibeh in the 76th minute. Ben Osborn scored the County goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Olaofe, who made a January loan move back to the Hatters, has not started the last six matches but has come on in five of those.

The second leg takes place on Wednesday (8pm).

Bolton Wanderers lead 1-0 after their first leg against Bradford City but Rob Apter did not make the squad.

Apter, who also opted for a temporary switch from SE7 to try and secure regular football, was an unused substitute in their final three fixtures of the regulation season.

Karl Robinson at a match at The Valley in October 2022/Picture: Keith Gillard

Play-off action for ex-Charlton bosses

Karl Robinson’s Salford City were 2-1 winners at Grimsby Town on Sunday afternoon.

The Liverpudlian’s side were behind inside 26 seconds but restored parity on four minutes through Kallum Cesay.

There were offside debates about Adebola Oluwo’s goal which put Salford ahead in the 40th minute. The return leg is on Friday.

Robinson, who left his role as Charlton manager in March 2018, said: “It’s half-time and we’re winning 1-0 really. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got to regroup, we’ve got to recover.”

Former Charlton managers Dean Holden and Ben Garner are now number twos at other clubs in the Championship.

Holden has been assistant head coach at Hull City since the start of July.

He filled coaching posts at Adana Demirspor in Turkey and Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia after his dismissal by the Addicks in August 2023.

The Tigers drew 0-0 in a nervy first leg on Friday night. The return is at The Den tonight (8pm).

Dean Holden applauds the Charlton fans after Hull’s recent loss at The Valley/Picture: Kyle Andrews

Garner was appointed as Southampton’s assistant coach in January. He had not had a domestic job since being sacked by Colchester in October 2023.

Saints boss Tonda Eckert praised Garner ahead of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Boro in their play-off semi on Teesside.

“I’m so happy to have him around,” said the German. “He’s been in many of these moments and in different situations. There’s so much love and dedication for the game, and so much detail in the way he prepares. He’s a big support for me.”

The second leg is Tuesday at 8pm.

Tom Lockyer in action for Charlton against Reading in July 2020/Picture: Keith Gillard

Player movement

Plenty of clubs have announced their retained and released list - with a number of former Charlton players let go.

Among those to be released are Michael Morrison (Cambridge United), Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers), Ben Amos (Port Vale), Ben Hamer (QPR), Josh Magennis (Exeter City) and Diallang Jaiyesimi (Leyton Orient).

AFC Wimbledon are in discussions with Patrick Bauer while Blackpool have exercised Albie Morgan’s 12-month contract extension.

Konsa reaches Europa League final

Ezri Konsa is one win away from lifting the Europa League trophy with Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s side thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park on Thursday to win their semi-final tie by 4-1 on aggregate.

Villa will face German club Freiburg on May 20 in Istanbul.

Konsa, who came through Charlton’s youth ranks, played the full match against Forest.

Emery has won the Europa League four times already - three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Konsa, voted the Addicks’ Young Player of the Year in 2016-17, won the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2017. He is expected to be part of England’s squad for the World Cup finals in the USA this summer.

Charlie Kelman scores against Hull City/Picture: Paul Edwards

Kelman up for EFL Goal of the Month accolade

It will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that Charlie Kelman’s delightful finish against Hull City has made the shortlist for the EFL Championship Goal of the Month for April.

“Chasing a long ball, Kelman beat one defender but knew he had to improve his angle for the shot by taking it inside another before unleashing a breathtaking curler into the far corner,” is the way that the EFL press release described his seventh goal of the season.

The 24-year-old forward is up against Will Lankshear (Oxford United), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town) and Frank Onyeka (Coventry City) for the award.

Fans are invited to vote for their favourite goal on EFL.com before 5pm today.

The supporters’ votes will be combined with the choices from a panel to determine the winners.

The judging panel comprises Sky Sports’ pundits Don Goodman and David Prutton.

David Davis/Picture: Paul Edwards

David Davis piece

David Davis has revealed that his decision not to return to Charlton Athletic after the Covid outbreak in 2020 hampered his chances of getting a new club as he looked to leave Birmingham City.

The midfielder, now 35, joined the Addicks on loan in the January window, just a couple of months before the virus shut down the Championship season.

English football resumed in late June at Premier League and Championship level but Davis ruled himself out of featuring.

He played five times for Charlton prior to lockdown.

“I went to Charlton and it wasn’t great there,” Davis, who played non-league for Kidderminster Harriers last season, told the Made In Brum podcast. “It doesn’t start well. I’m constantly back and forth, my missus is coming down and what not. It’s a long way, isn’t it?

“I shoot myself in the foot by not going back to Charlton as well. With the Covid stuff, I’ve got a newborn and you see all this shit that is coming on. I know we had all those meetings and the doctor is saying this and that. Where I live is an apartment block. So I’m thinking if I’m going to be on lockdown then my missus and kid are going to be with me in an apartment…it’s not right.

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“In my head I was not coming back until I knew it was safe for me and my family.

“So they were like ‘so you are refusing to come back?’ ‘I’m not refusing’. Before this I had spoken to people at Charlton and they were like ‘yeah, listen, we totally get it but we’re going to have to throw you under the bus in public’. I was like ‘I get that’. But it was not for footballing reasons.

“When I look back now, with hindsight, that was a detriment to me. I had a duty to go back and play because they were in a relegation fight. But also, we started the next season and [Aitor] Karanka said: ‘You’re not for me’.

“My agent was on the phone to managers and they were like ‘why didn’t Digga go back to Charlton?’ He explained to them and they went ‘is he going to bail on us when shit gets tough?’

“It’s tough but I get the way football works. As soon as someone sees you are not all in then your character gets questioned, of course it does. Then I am scrambling to get a club.”

CAST free webinar with academy boss Miller

Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust are holding a Q&A with the club’s new academy manager Greg Miller on Thursday (7.30pm).

The webinar is open to all fans and you can register here.

Miller, appointed recently after Tom Pell moved to a role in Tottenham’s academy, will be joined by Joe Francis, head of education.

A player from Charlton’s U18 squad will also be on the panel.

Picture: Charlton Athletic FC

Content that appeared on this website last week

Charlton Athletic sign partnership with the Mark Fish Foundation.

Addicks appoint Richard Law as a non-executive director.

Rick Everitt looks back at the 2025-26 season as Charlton achieve their ultimate goal.

Retained and released list confirmed - including our first post-season pod to discuss those developments.

Seasons ratings and verdicts on Charlton’s goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfielders.

The Charlton Athletic 2025-26 Championship season is a wrap.

In the words of Lloyd Grossman, we have deliberated, cogitated and digested.

Now come the scores on the board for Nathan Jones’ squad. Not just from myself and Louis Mendez, my podding brother by another mother, but also from you.

Plenty of you took the time to fill out the survey I linked to in the chat section.

Players needed to have featured in at least 10 matches in the campaign to be rated. Those sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed I had Collins Sichenje in the original voting, despite not meeting that marker, so the Kenyan (who averaged 6.6 in your eyes) is not part of the piece below.

We kick things off by focusing on the goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfield positions.

The attacking midfield positions and strikers will be in part II, which is set to be published relatively early next week.

THOMAS KAMINSKI

When you consider that only five goalkeepers in the Championship kept more clean sheets than the summer signing from Luton Town, it makes the scoring below feel harsh. Kaminski kept 11 clean sheets and three of the stoppers above him - Carl Rushworth (Coventry), Christian Walton (Ipswich) and Solomon Brynn (Boro) - have either clinched promotion to the Premier League or stand a chance of going up via the play-offs. But, being totally honest, it felt like so many of those shutouts were down to the organisation and defensive structure in front of the 33-year-old.

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