SHEP'S CHARLTON SHORTS

Cardiff City historian Richard Shepherd takes a look at historical ties and more ahead of our upcoming fixture v Bolton on Saturday.

THE FIRST TIME with Charlton Athletic was on August 31 1929 in the original Division Two. It was at The Valley where we lost 4-1 in front of 24,193.first meeting: Our very

THE FULL MONTYS
who was in Cardiff on military ceremonial duty in his role as Chief of the Imperial General Staff. The Field Marshall, who was President of his local side Portsmouth, was introduced to both sides before the kick-off and saw us win 5-0. Included in our side was defender Stan Montgomery, and the Field Marshall ordered him up to Boardroom in his playing-kit immediately after the match to have their photograph taken together. Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery of Alamein: On October 31 1953, we played Charlton in the old First Division at Ninian Park. Guest of honour at the game was the famous war-time leader

THEIR FORMATION, and in South London parlance they became known as, and still are, 'The ‘Addicks'.Haddock was their favourite with chips: They were founded on June 9 1905 by a group of teenage youths who lived in streets close to where the Thames Barrier now exists. Their progress through local leagues was so rapid that after the 1914-18 War they joined the Kent League where they spent a season before turning professional in 1920 when they joined the Southern League. A year later they were elected to Division 3 (South) of the Football League. In their amateur days, the players would go to the local fish and chip shop after midweek training.

HOME FROM HOME which seemed more viable as regards support. But it didn’t work out and they returned to The Valley in 1924, remaining there until 1985 when they were forced to leave as a result of legal-ownership problems. They then played at Selhurst Park and later Upton Park. The Valley became derelict and the local authority prevented a return. But Charlton supporters formed their own political party and gained enough seats on the local borough council to have an influence. Volunteers restored the ground, and they returned in 1992.The Mount at Catford: When The Valley was created for Charlton in 1920 from a gravel pit in the side of a hill, they only occupied it for three years until moving to

LENNIE was manager of Charlton from 1982 to 1991. Although they became homeless during his stay with them, he took them to promotion to the old Division One in 1986, and remains a major figure in their history.Lennie Lawrence: Our former manager

LAST TIME
were our scorers, Charlton went down at the end of the season. Our side was: Heaton, Comminges, Kennedy, Rae, Johnson R (sub.Purse)., Gyepes, McCormack, Bothroyd, Chopra (sub. Burke), Ledley, Parry. Chris Burke and Gabor Gyepes: Our last visit to The Valley was on April 21 2009 in the Championship when we drew 2-2.

GREAT START. It was, however, a false dawn – we lost 4-1!after the startfifteen secondsTrevor Ford scored: The fastest goal scored by any Cardiff City player from the kick-off came at Charlton in a First Division game on October 23 1954. Welsh International centre-forward

WHAT A RECOVERY!:, winger Johnny Summers scoring five. Bill Shankly’s reaction afterwards cannot be repeated!They fought back to win 7-6Charlton were involved in the greatest-ever come-back by a Football League side. In a Second Division match of December 1957 at the Valley, they were 5-1 down against Bill Shankly’s Huddersfield Town, and they were down to ten men through injury (no substitutes in those days).

A 75,000 ATTENDANCE for an F.A. Cup Fifth Round tie on February 12 1938.75,031 against Aston Villa: The current capacity of The Valley is 27,111 (all seated). But in the days of standing terraces, the ground once held a record

CURRENT FORM with two apiece. Their highest attendance so far this season is 26,185 for the visit of Barnsley on October 20.Ricardo Fuller and Leon Cort, Johnnie Jackson: Charlton have not won in their last four matches (two defeats, two draws) and were beaten 4-1 at home by Middlesbrough last Saturday. Their leading scorers are