On This Day – 21st September
A crowd of 8,858 watched Charlton Athletic’s final game at The Valley for seven years on this day back in 1985.
Their last match at their home ground was a 2-0 victory over Stoke City in the old Second Division. Due to financial problems, the club had to up sticks and temporarily move out, making do with playing ‘home’ games at West Ham;s Upton Park and Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.
Fans gathered on the pitch after the victory over The Potters and many ripped chunks of the turf out, fearing that they would never get to see their team play at the beloved ground again. Their fears were partly true as the ground had undergone a makeover by the time they returned in 1992.
An emotional return to the ground took place on 5th December 1992 when Charlton beat Portsmouth 1-0 thanks to a goal from Colin Walsh. 8,337 fans were in The Valley that day, just under five hundred fewer than the attendance at the last game played at the ground.
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