Women start WSL 2 season with derby bragging right against Palace, Mitchell completes Hibernian loan switch and Kanu off the mark for Walsall
The latest review of the week - a round-up of Charlton Athletic news
It’s time for the review of the week.
International breaks can sometimes be quiet in terms of news coverage, but not so for this one.
We’ve got the details as Charlton Athletic made a winning start in Women’s Super League 2.
Plus we wrap up the incoming and outgoing business at the end of the summer transfer window.
Charlton Athletic Women celebrate Emma Bissell’s second-half goal on Sunday
Picture: Keith Gillard
DERBY JOY FOR ADDICKS WOMEN
Charlton Athletic kicked off their Women’s Super League 2 season by claiming three points - with the fact they downed Crystal Palace at The Valley making the result all the sweeter.
Emma Bissell scored in the 55th minute for the hosts.
Katie Bradley was sent off late on after receiving a second yellow card, the latter one for time-wasting.
Charlton goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse palmed away Emma Watson’s 33rd-minute shot.
The Addicks broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second period as their pressing from an opposition goal-kick paid dividends.
Palace goalkeeper Shae Yanez produced poor control on a backpass and could easily have been penalised for her panicked challenge on Bradley. Yanez initially saved from Amalie Thestrup but Bradley produced a low cross for Bissell to pounce from four yards out.
The Addicks had a chance to make it 2-0 on 69 minutes. Lucy Fitzgerald was put clean through on goal but Yanez intervened and Hayley Nolan blocked the follow-up effort from Gillian Kenney.
Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Charlton midfielder Mia Ross here.
Below are a few more shots from the Charlton-Crystal Palace fixture by Keith Gillard.
Emma Bissell scores against Crystal Palace while summer signing Amalie Thestrup (below) is closed down inside the penalty area
Charlotte Newsham has a shot blocked at The Valley
Picture: Kyle Andrews
HIBS LAND ZACH…BUT ONLY AFTER SFA HELP PUSH THROUGH LOAN
Zach Mitchell has completed a loan move to Hibernian with FIFA sanctioning the transfer days after the transfer window shut.
The Scottish side had submitted the necessary paperwork before Monday’s 11pm deadline but the governing body’s system was unable to register the move.
The Scottish Football Association went in to bat for Hibs, contacting FIFA to make sure that Mitchell’s move to the Scottish Premiership club was registered.
Hibernian head coach David Gray said: “We’re delighted to bring Zach into the building.
“Zach is a player that caught my eye during his brief spell at St Johnstone last season. He is a young defender with some great attributes and will add extra versatility, strength and depth to our backline.
“He is a young defender who is comfortable on the ball and has a good physical presence. We’re all looking forward to working with him.”
Former Cardiff City and Watford boss Malky Mackay, Hibs’ sporting director, said: “We’re pleased to be able to bring Zach to our club.
“Zach gives us extra strength in depth in our defensive options and is another talented, ambitious young player to add to the dressing room.
“I would like to thank Charlton for their support with the move and we’re all excited to work with him.”
Mitchell could gain his first minutes in their league match at home to Dundee United on Saturday.
There will not be European football for the Addicks centre-back after Hibs lost
5-4 on aggregate to Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League before the international break.
Mitchell has made 20 first-team appearances for Charlton with a further 28 and 10 for Colchester United and St Johnstone respectively.
CAMPBELL MAKES FULL INTERNATIONAL DEBUT
Tyreece Campbell made his first start for Jamaica as they defeated Bermuda 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.
Kasey Palmer, who started his career in Charlton Athletic’s academy, scored one of the goals at Bermuda National Stadium.
Campbell’s Addicks team-mates Kaheim Dixon and Karoy Anderson came on in the second half of the match.
Jamaica, who are in Group B of the Concacaf section, are back in action on Wednesday night when they host Trinidad & Tobago. Curacao is the final country in the group.
Campbell received his first international call-up in June and made his debut as a late substitute in a 3-0 victory over Guatemala.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
COLCHESTER PICK UP MBICK
Young Addicks striker Micah Mbick was a mover on transfer deadline day, signing for Colchester United until the end of the season.
The 18-year-old penned a new contract with Charlton in the summer.
Mbick’s sole appearance for the Addicks this season came in the closing stages of the 3-1 loss to Cambridge United in the EFL Cup last month.
But he is highly-rated by Charlton boss Nathan Jones, who brought the teenager on in the League One play-off final at Wembley.
The Addicks have got a number of players out on loan - Zach Mitchell (Hibernian), Gassan Ahadme (Stevenage), Terry Taylor (Northampton), Alex Mitchell (Plymouth), Daniel Kanu (Walsall), Nathan Asiimwe (AFC Wimbledon) and Kaheim Dixon (Crawley).
Mbick told Colchester United’s YouTube channel: “I’m quite a handful up front. I can run in behind, come to feet and score goals. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m ready.
“Last season was crazy. The manager had a lot of trust in me and worked with me every day. It just topped it off at Wembley, getting promoted. It’s a great story.
“They wanted me around the first team but felt this was a good opportunity for me in a good environment. They know Danny (Cowley, manager) and Nicky (Cowley, assistant boss).
“It is about me getting into men’s football. I’ve had experiences in the past. I spoke to Danny and he laid out his vision for me and the things I need to work on.”
Mbick made his debut as a 77th minute substitute in Colchester United’s 1-1 draw against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
Kyreece Lisbie, the son of former Charlton striker Kevin, scored the equalising goal for Cowley’s side. Their next match is at Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
HOLMES OPENS UP ON CHARLTON ATHLETIC CAREER AND DEPARTURE
Picture: Keith Gillard
Ricky Holmes has opened up about his Addicks career and SE7 exit in January 2018 - in an exclusive episode of South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition Podcast.
The full interview can be found here.
Holmes had signed a new three-year contract in the summer of 2018 but was sold to Sheffield United in the winter transfer window.
The winger had been voted Charlton’s Player of the Year in his first campaign with them - 2016-17 - after scoring 13 goals in 35 matches.
Holmes told our podcast: “I got such a backlash from the fans. I didn’t make a transfer request. I was just honest: ‘I want to play at the highest level’.
“What changed for me (from when he penned a deal extension) is that I thought we would get promoted the following year at Charlton (to the Championship) and I’d be a big part of that.
“But we were underachieving again. Chris Wilder (Sheffield United manager) came knocking again and what changed is they were third in the Championship. I said to Charlton: ‘You can’t deny me this opportunity. I’ve played the young part of my career in non-league, then played League Two and then a season-and-a-half in League One. Please let me go’.
“If we had been in the same league I promise you that I would not have gone, because I was so happy.”
I’LL HAVE THE BREE PLEASE
Charlton Athletic ticked their summer transfer window incomings into double figures before Monday’s transfer window deadline with the loan addition of James Bree.
The Southampton defender, 27, arrived in SE7 on a short-term deal until January. A profile can be found here.
Bree has made 206 appearances in the Championship and 22 in the Premier League.
He is the only temporary transfer made by Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones in the summer period of trading.
Jones had told this website previously that he did not envisage needing to make loan additions and expected all of their business to be permanent.
Charlton retain an interest in adding right-back Shinnosuke Fukuda to their ranks and the 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of December.
Fukada has scored three goals this season and claimed one assist for Kyoto Sanga, who are pushing for the J League title.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
KANU SCORES FIRST GOAL IN NINE MONTHS
Daniel Kanu is off the mark for Walsall - scoring their first-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Chesterfield on Saturday.
The Charlton forward recently joined the Saddlers on loan.
Kanu showed good persistence to retain possession in the lead-up to his goal and displayed excellent composure to finish low across Chesterfield goalkeeper Zach Hemming.
It was the 22-year-old’s third appearance for Walsall and the first time he has netted since December 3 (in the Addicks’ 2-1 home loss to Crawley Town).
Walsall manager Mat Sadler said: “It was a brilliant goal for Daniel and he showed what he is all about. I can’t say I had anything to do with the way he bustled through two tackles with his aggression and then the composure he showed with the finish was very good.
“He is a top striker. He has a way of creating his own chances because of his pace and his power. I’m sure we will see more of what we saw today. He ran himself into the ground today.
“He is a player I worked hard to bring in. We had highlighted him but he was going to League One for a long time during the summer, but then the cards fell for us. He was one I’d courted for a long time.”
Kanu has scored 12 goals in 68 league appearances, 34 of those as a substitute.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
O’CONNELL LEAVES WREXHAM
Eoghan O’Connell has agreed to the mutual termination of his Wrexham contract.
The 30-year-old centre-back joined the Welsh club from Charlton Athletic in January 2023.
O’Connell played 89 times for Wrexham, 33 of those in their promotion-winning season in League One.
The Irish defender had only joined the Addicks in the summer of 2022 but opted to drop down to National League level in the winter window.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said: “I’d like to thank Eoghan for his contributions over the last two-and-a-half years, playing a part in all three of our promotions.
“We thought he had a move prior to the transfer window closing, but it didn’t materialise in time, and Eoghan has decided to part ways so he can look for the next challenge in his career. We all wish him well.”
Picture: Keith Gillard
MCINTYRE IN BANTAMS LOAN
Tom McIntyre will be hoping for a more productive loan move than last season’s one to Charlton Athletic after making a switch from Portsmouth to Bradford City.
The 26-year-old centre-back joined the Addicks in the January transfer window but played just 325 minutes of League One football.
McIntyre made four starts but did not feature again for the south Londoners after a 2-1 win over Northampton Town in March.
The ex-Reading player missed out on the matchday squad for all three League One play-off matches.
Bradford boss Graham Alexander said: “It is great to be able to bring Tom in and add to our strength and quality. He has Championship experience, was involved in a promotion last season and is eager to get going.
"We are looking forward to helping him settle in and enjoy his football.”
SUTHERLAND LANDS AMBASSADORIAL ROLE
Steve Sutherland has been named as a club ambassador for Charlton Athletic after stepping down from a commercial position.
It was his third spell in that department. He first joined the Addicks in 1998.
Sutherland was awarded an OBE for services to sport in June.
“Steve will have a regular presence within the hospitality lounges at The Valley on matchdays and will attend events on behalf of the club,” said Charlton in a statement on their website.
Sutherland said: “Charlton Athletic has been - and still is - a major part of both my professional and my personal life, so to be appointed as an ambassador means a lot to me. I’m particularly proud of the fact I’ll now be an ambassador of both Charlton Athletic and Charlton Athletic Community Trust.”
Be great to see Kanu bag a load of goals and develop into a top top striker for us