Charlton Athletic Football Club

Charlton were founded in 1905 and moved to The Valley in 1919. The club's golden age came in the 1930s and 1940s: they finished runners-up in the First Division in 1936-37 and won the FA Cup in 1947, defeating Burnley 1-0 in the final at Wembley. Sam Bartram, the legendary goalkeeper, became the most iconic figure in the club's history during this period.

The post-war decades brought decline, and by 1985 The Valley was deemed unsafe and abandoned. Charlton spent seven years ground-sharing — first at Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace, then at Upton Park with West Ham — before a remarkable supporter campaign, including the formation of the Valley Party which stood candidates in local elections, forced Greenwich Council to approve the club's return to The Valley in 1992.

Alan Curbishley's appointment as manager in 1991 began the most successful sustained period in Charlton's modern history. The club won promotion to the Premier League in 1998 via a memorable play-off final against Sunderland, were relegated the following year, but bounced straight back as First Division champions in 2000.

Charlton then spent seven consecutive seasons in the Premier League (2000-2007), with a best finish of seventh in 2003-04. Curbishley built a competitive side on a modest budget, with players like Scott Parker, Matt Holland, and Paolo Di Canio representing the club at the highest level. The Valley was redeveloped to hold over 27,000, and Charlton were seen as a model club: well-run, community-focused, and financially stable.