Club Profile
Charlton Athletic
Almost a forgotten team in London, especially since they have been out of the Premier League since 2007, Charlton is nonetheless a fun day out: an easily reached, family-friendly club in a part of London that might surprise you with its visitor options.
LOCATION: South East London, 15 minutes east of London Bridge station by train
CONTACT: cafc.co.uk, 020 8333 4000, #CAFC
NICKNAMES: The Addicks—and that’s not a British spelling of addicts. Apparently it’s based on the pronunciation, in a South East London accent, of haddock, which back in the day a local fishmonger gave to the team as a reward. Sometimes you’ll also hear them called the Red Robins.
History
Charlton started in 1905 as a youth team but soon turned senior and then professional. They made the Football League in the 1920s and, in the ’30s, became the first team to ever achieve consecutive promotions. For the three years just before the war, they were in the top four in the league. Just after the war, they were briefly one of the biggest…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Rivalries
Their south-of-the-river neighbors Millwall and Crystal Palace are rivals; so is Wimbledon to a lesser extent. Any game between Charlton and either of those is considered a South London derby. Millwall is less than four miles away, Palace about eight. Charlton fans consider Millwall the main enemy, but the other clubs rank Charlton as the…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Women's Team
Charlton Athletic Women’s FC play in the FA Women’s Championship, tier 2 of the pyramid. Home games are a little bit east at VCD Athletic’s ground, The Oakwood, in
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Songs
The teams come out to a happy, clap-along, big-band-era tune called “Red Red Robin” by Billy Cotton. Otherwise, they have one about being “kings of the south” and hating Palace “because they’re all mouth.” There is also one called “Wanky Millwall” to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” This is a good place to point out that their accent is…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Stadium
On your way to a League One club in a neighborhood that seems ordinary bordering on dull, seeing this 27,000-seat stadium appear seemingly out of nowhere may take you by surprise. It seems bigger than that inside. It also has a steeper pitch to the seats than most stadiums, so it could be loud if it was ever filled. Almost all of what’s here has…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Going to a Game at Charlton Athletic
GETTING THERE: The Valley is one of the easier grounds to reach; it’s about a five-minute walk, if that, from Charlton railway station. Service runs there from London Bridge and Charing Cross. PUBS: The Rose of Denmark, close to the station, is a good choice. The Royal Oak on Charlton Lane, on the other side of the stadium from the station, is a…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Charlton Athletic, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Charlton Athletic Tickets
Last year tickets ranged from £17 to £31. It’s unlikely they sell out anything except an FA Cup draw with a big club or maybe a derby.
To make it super simple, Groundhopper Guides is an official registered ticket agent at Charlton, with seats in the upper tier of the West Stand, close to midfield. See below for more information.
Videos
Charlton Athletic: Teams Come Out Pregame
Charlton fans abuse Fulham's Scott Parker, 2014 at Craven Cottage