Review of the week: Charlton Athletic achieve a club first after securing Championship consolidation, Jones wins POTY and women's team know final day scenario if they want to secure WSL 2 promotion
Plymouth Argyle want Alex Mitchell - but expect competition for his signature in the summer
Charlton Athletic have clinched their Championship status for next season and only have one match remaining, at Swansea on Saturday, before their players hit the sun-loungers.
But just because the football will be stopping, South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition will be powering through the summer, making sure to keep plenty of content flowing out.
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In this review of the week, we cover the 2-1 victory over Hull City that ended any worries about relegation and we have the latest in terms of Charlton Athletic Women’s WSL 2 promotion push.
Jayden Fevrier celebrates his winning goal against Hull City/Picture: Paul Edwards
Don’t worry, about a thing
Everything is alright. Those relegation fears? Gone.
I’ve got to thank Jonathan Grade for the stat that kicks off this look back on Saturday afternoon.
This is the first time that Charlton have stayed up after play-off promotion with the 1998-99 and 2019-20 seasons, when they were promoted via that route, ending in relegation.
That is discounting the play-offs in 1987, when it was a very different format. Back then the Addicks were in the old First Division (they finished fourth from bottom) and had to beat Ipswich and Leeds, from the league below, to retain their top-flight status.
I posted the above video on social media of Nathan Jones running onto the pitch as Jayden Fevrier had a big chance to make it 3-1 to the Addicks in the closing seconds of Saturday’s match.
Luckily the fact the Stockport loanee did not convert the opportunity was no issue. Excellent finishes by Charlie Kelman and Fevrier ended Charlton’s seven-game winless run.
The bottom of the Championship table (Source: BBC)
“Relief is the biggest thing,” said Jones. “If you had asked me at the beginning of the season ‘would you have taken this?’ - I probably wouldn’t have. But as the season goes on, the important thing is for us to move forward and do what we want to do next year, the first stage has to be us being a Championship side.
“I’m proud of the group, the club and staff. What a day.
“We can’t be in this position next year. We have managed to survive in a monster of a league, but if we’re in that exact same position next year then I haven’t done my job because we evolve and we move forward. Every single season we have moved forward. Every single season I will be judged if we do.”
For Charlton to be higher up the table in 12 months time it will depend on another close-season of strengthening.
Asked how much work it will take in the summer to get to the next stage, Jones replied: “Trust me, you have no idea. The stress. This is where it begins. I try to have a holiday, but you don’t. You’re on the phone. You’ve got to be bold and persuade people to come to your football club.
“You have to drive, drive and drive everything. I’ll have a few days now where I relax and then we prepare for Swansea. Then we start again.”
Charlton scored twice in a game for the first time since January 31 and both goals were from outside the box.
Charlie Kelman enjoys his strike/Picture: Keith Gillard
Kelman’s seventh goal since arriving from QPR was the best goal scored at The Valley by a home player (Abdul Fatawu produced a moment of brilliance for Leicester City in SE7 in August).
“We never do it easy,” said Jones. “We have missed chances from five or six yards in all the home games and then we score two absolute bangers.
“We should’ve added a third right at the end which would really have put the icing on the cake. I’m so proud of the group because the amount of pressure is immense. Hull were under pressure because they want to get promoted but the pressure of going down is totally different.”
Charlie Kelman scores for Charlton on Saturday/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Blinding moment for Kelman
When this website asked Charlie Kelman how he would be celebrating on Saturday night, the answer was a little bit different than expected.
The 24-year-old forward scored a sumptuous goal against Hull City - Charlton have not lost when he has netted - and the job was done in terms of Championship consolidation.
So how was he going to cut loose?
“First things first, I’ve been telling the missus for the past seven weeks, I’ve just moved into my new house, that I would get blinds once we stay up,” said Kelman. “The first thing she said to me on the pitch was: ‘We’re getting the blinds now’. That’s fine.
“We say about celebrating, but we shouldn’t be celebrating consolidating in the Championship because that is the minimum we wanted. There is relief that we can take a breath now, it is done. We need to get the season over with and then kick on next year.”
Jones has preached patience with Kelman’s development as this is his first full season in England’s second tier after minimal game time at that level with Rangers.
“What you find is a lot of people come up with the system and team they play in,” said the former USA U20 international. “The system I played in last season is a lot different to the system I am in now.
“It takes a while for it to click. It is starting to click now and I can push on. It is definitely a bigger jump (from League One, when he won the Golden Boot last season on loan at Orient) - everyone’s an athlete, everyone can play and the grounds you go to every week are proper grounds.”
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Kelman is intending to do extra work over the summer of 2024 in the States, just like he did before bagging 27 goals in all competitions for the O’s. The former Southend United youngster used the Ford Center in Frisco, a practise facility for NFL side Dallas Cowboys, to be bang at it.
That was not an option last season as his transfer to Charlton proved to be a protracted one.
Kelman said: “I’ve played with lads before and they’ve gone ‘I’ve not had a pre-season’ and I would be like ‘ah, shut up mate’. But you don’t realise how much you end up playing catch up.
“I’ll come back a different animal - that’s my mentality. I’m going to have a nice holiday and then straight back to work.”
The forward was asked for a rating for his season. He said: “I would give it a five. When I signed there was a lot of expectation - not much has been expected of me in my career before, so it was probably the first time that I felt that way.
“The fans have been brilliant and behind me. Everyone has been behind me. It just hasn’t quite clicked for whatever reason and today it did. It’s not about doing it once, it’s about doing it consistently and that’s what I need to do.”
Lloyd Jones is handed his Player of the Year award by Charlton co-owner Gabriel Brener/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Water is wet…..Jones does the double as awards handed out
Charlton Athletic did their post-season awards on the pitch straight after Saturday’s game.
It will come as absolutely no surprise to anybody that Lloyd Jones was voted Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.
It is the second season in a row that the Addicks vice-captain has claimed the accolade. Jones follows Jordan Cousins, Chris Solly, Richard Rufus, Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood and Nicky Johns in collecting the honour in successive campaigns.
Sonny Carey was second in the POTY running with Tyreece Campbell third.
Ibby Fullah (below) was voted Young Player of the Year.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Charlton Women only need a draw to seal WSL 2 promotion
One more game to go in the WSL 2 season and Charlton Athletic know a draw at home to Birmingham City on Saturday at The Valley will clinch promotion.
The Addicks probably need to win if they want to finish top of the table as Crystal Palace, in third place, are heavy favourites to beat rock bottom Portsmouth.
Below is how the standings look after Sunday’s round of matches.
Even if Charlton had managed to beat Southampton yesterday, instead of drawing 2-2, it would still not have changed the scenario they face this weekend. Namely, just do not lose.
It did look like Karen Hills’ side were going to be victorious at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium. Emma Bissell was subbed on to take their penalty in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Her first touch was to convert past Fran Stenson.
But Atlanta Primus, who had a loan stay with the Addicks in 2024, forced the ball in a couple of minutes later as goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse dealt unconvincingly with a cross, pushing it onto the crossbar.
Charlton still had time to hit the woodwork direct from a corner kick before referee Alice Parker blew for full-time.
Jess Simpson put Saints ahead in the 26th minute. Gillian Kenney equalised just past the hour mark.
Hills said: “We didn’t play our best football, but we showed a lot of character and identity today.
“We’re playing at our home ground, we’re playing against another top team that we know is going to be a fantastic game in front of our home crowd as well.
“This week is all about us recovering, knowing that we’ll set the game plan and the players will execute it as best they can.”
The full match can be watched below. The match against Birmingham is a 3pm kick off. You can buy tickets here.
Boyd moves to the Bees
Corey Boyd, appointed head of football administration at Charlton Athletic nearly a year ago, has joined Barnet as their general manager.
The Bees announced the appointment on Monday.
Boyd arrived at Charlton at the start of May, stepping up from an academy role at Tottenham. Chris Parkes had been interim club secretary prior to the position being filled.
Barnet chief executive Natasha Kleanthous said: “We are delighted to welcome Corey to the team. He brings a strong track record in football operations and administration and his ability to drive high standards across departments will be invaluable as we continue strengthening the club both on and off the pitch.
“As we strive to grow and evolve, getting the operational foundations right is critical. We are all looking forward to working with him.”
Have you got a story which you think should make our Charlton Athletic review of the week? If so, please drop me a line - richhighpress@gmail.com.
Alex Mitchell/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Argyle set to try and land Alex Mitchell
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley reckons a number of clubs could be in the mix to sign Alex Mitchell in the summer.
The 24-year-old centre-back was loaned to the League One club in the middle of August after just one outing for the Addicks, the 3-1 EFL Cup win over Stevenage.
Mitchell has scored three goals in 46 appearances for the Pilgrims.
Cleverley told Plymouth Live: “Mitch is going to have a lot of interest. I don’t know what Charlton’s plans are with him. That’s probably one for the off-season, with both clubs really fighting for end-of-season goals
“Yeah, Mitch will have a lot of interest in the summer. I think if he is available, then we have put our hat in the ring in terms of how much he has enjoyed it, what a key figure he is, and how connected he is to the supporters.
“Those things all matter, as well as the key thing, which is the money we can offer.”
Jackson keeps Dons up and they will face Alex Gilbey’s MK next season
AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday means that they have retained their League One status.
The Dons, managed by Charlton Athletic legend Johnnie Jackson, had lost six matches in a row heading into the away fixture. One point from a possible 27 left them hovering above the trap door.
Antwoine Hackford scored in the 90th minute to move Wimbledon up to 18th in the standings.
Jackson took the Plough Lane-based side up last May as they won their League Two play-off final a day after the Addicks prevailed at Wembley.
Wimbledon fans will be overjoyed at staying up but will be less pleased that detested enemies MK Dons have been promotion. Former Charlton midfielder Alex Gilbey scored in their 3-0 victory against Tranmere Rovers.
Gilbey has got 12 goals this season.
I imagine Louis is ecstatic, as the quality of catering at Championship grounds is so much better than in L1.