Following the launch of Charlton’s 2024/25 away kit, we take a look back at the club’s rich history in yellow.
Yellow is a colour which has been a part of the club’s identity for nearly 50 years. The club’s first ever yellow away kit came in 1980/81, and brought immediate success. 23 goals from Derek Hales propelled the Addicks to promotion from Division Three that season, with Mike Bailey’s side claiming more wins than any other side in the division.
1999/00 would, of course, also see success in yellow. Along the road to promotion, the Addicks claimed a number of impressive results on the road in their changed strip - the most notable of which came at Walsall in March when braces from Andy Hunt and Mark Kinsella claimed Charlton’s 12th league win in a row.
The run was crucial in Alan Curbishley’s side’s promotion to the Premier League, and they would next wear yellow at the peak of their powers. 2003/04 saw the club’s highest-ever league finish, with one of the campaign’s most memorable moments being Shaun Bartlett ripping off his yellow shirt to celebrate scoring against Liverpool in the Addicks’ first win at Anfield in 50 years.
The following season would also prove successful, with Charlton finishing in 11th, above the likes of Newcastle United, Fulham and Crystal Palace. The Addicks’ away game against the latter would provide one of the moments of the season, when Dennis Rommedahl’s 90th minute winner silenced Selhurst Park and left Andy Johnson to rue his earlier penalty, which had been saved by Dean Kiely. Needless to say, the Addicks were in yellow that night.
2004/05 was not just successful for the men’s first-team. Having finished as runners-up to Arsenal in both the league and the FA Cup the previous season, the women’s first-team had their revenge in the Community Shield, with Ann-Marie Heatherson’s strike proving enough to overcome the Gunners at the start of the campaign.
It would be nearly 15 years before Charlton wore yellow again, but when they did it would prove a good omen once again. The club’s record win came in 2018/19, when a hat-trick from debutant Toby Stevenson helped the Addicks to an 8-0 triumph at Stevenage in the EFL Trophy.
2018/19 is, of course, remembered for the Addicks' promotion to the Championship, and Charlton were in yellow for their play-off semi-final first leg win at Doncaster Rovers, when goals from Lyle Taylor and Joe Aribo set the Addicks well on their way to Wembley.
Charlton have not worn yellow since then - until now.