Saturday’s edition of Valley Review is a very special one as the club celebrates 100 years of The Valley.
With the anniversary of the first ever game to take place in SE7 falling on Friday, Saturday’s game against Birmingham City is dedicated to the centenary of the Addicks’ famous home and the bumper 100-page programme features tonnes of Valley content.
As well as a full history of the ground, there are some never-before-seen photos, including one from 1907 which shows the area 12 years before The Valley took shape, while the one-off front and back cover depicts the earliest known photo of the ground from 1920.
There is also six pages full of memories from supporters who explain what The Valley means to them and a special piece by supporter Ray Bates who tells a special story about how the Addicks’ famous home and its former groundsman helped turn his life around.
Meanwhile, there is not one, but two instalments of ‘Talk us Through it’ as Robert Lee discusses his goal against Stoke City in 1985 which many thought would be the ‘last’ goal in SE7, while Colin Walsh recalls his goal against Portsmouth on December 5th, 1992 when Charlton returned home.
Elsewhere, club legend Derek Ufton recalls the astonishing 7-6 victory over Huddersfield Town in 1957 – perhaps the greatest game the ground has ever seen – while Charlton Museum Trustee, Clive Harris, talks us through the history of the club’s association with ‘The Red, Red Robin’ and Club Chaplain Matt Baker writes about the importance of The Valley’s memorial garden.
As well as all the historical content, Jason Pearce features as the main interview as he discusses his side’s unbeaten start to the season and there are all the usual features, including the latest from the U23s and U18s, as well as the women’s team.
All this and more can be found in Saturday’s special edition of Valley Review, priced £5, with 50p from every sale going directly to the Valley Centenary Committee.
The 100-page programme will be available from in around the ground, as well as from the Valley Superstore.