Charlton Athletic FC Tickets

Charlton Athletic FC: pushing for a place back in England's second tier

Currently playing in the third tier of English football, Charlton Athletic FC is based in south-east London. The club once finished as runner-up in the top flight of English football, when they came second in the then First Division in 1937. Just after the end of World War II, the club claimed its greatest ever prize when it won the FA Cup against Burnley at Wembley stadium. The previous year, Charlton Athletic had been runner-up in the competition, when they were beaten by Derby County.

Although Charlton were champions of the second and third tiers of English football, they have never come closer to the top prize than they did in their heyday of the 1930s. The club has had four stints in the top flight, both the Premiership and the old First Division. These ran from 1936 to 1957 and from 1986 to 1990. Charlton came back to the top tier of English football in the 1998–99 season and then from 2000 until 2007.

Charlton Athletic history

Put together by a group of teenagers from East Street in Charlton, Charlton FC formed in June of 1905. Prior to the First World War, the club was mostly only able to field youth sides and its competitive performances reflected this fact. Adopting a senior side in 1913, the club was accepted into the Southern League where it competed for just one season from 1921. After this, Charlton Athletic was passed into the Football League following a vote on the matter and the club never looked back. Its first game in the league was a one-nil victory against Exeter City. During the early 1920s, big sides such as Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End all suffered defeats by the newly promoted club in knockout competitions.

Charlton Athletic FC: years of success

At the start of the 1933-34 season, Charlton appointed Jimmy Seed, a former First World War veteran, as its new manager. He would go on to achieve remarkable success for the club. Renowned for his tactical nous, Seed had the habit of asking centre-halves to head upfield to support attacks. Several promotions followed in quick succession, and Seed's team ended up gaining promotion ahead of West Ham, their East London rivals from north of the Thames. In 1936-37, Charlton came second in the league, followed by a fourth spot the following season, and in the top three the year after. During the Second World War, Charlton continued to field depleted sides, like many professional clubs at the time, but they still had notable successes.

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