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2023/24 Opponents In Focus: Charlton Athletic – Blog
The 24 teams that will take part in Sky Bet League One in the 2023/24 season were confirmed at the end of May.
Here, dcfc.co.uk will take a look at each one in focus ahead of the new campaign getting underway at the start of August.
In this instalment, a familiar foe is under the microscope in Charlton Athletic.
Fact File
Established: 1905
Nickname: The Addicks
Home: The Valley (27,111 capacity)
Manager: Dean Holden
2022/23 finish: 10th (Sky Bet League One)
Club History
Founded in 1905, Charlton Athletic turned professional in 1920.
Known as the Addicks, Charlton have appeared in the FA Cup Final twice with both appearances coming in consecutive years in the 1945/46 and 1946/47 seasons.
After losing in their first appearance to none other than Derby County, the Rams’ only success to date, they lifted the trophy the following year thanks to a 1-0 victory over Burnley after extra time.
Due to financial issues and safety concerns raised by the local council, the Addicks played their home games at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park and West Ham United’s Boleyn Ground between 1985 and 1992 before making their return home.
They spent nearly decade in the Premier League between 1998 and 2007 but since that relegation, they are yet to appear back in the top flight and have had spells in the Championship and League One.
Played For Both
Marcus Tudgay
Former striker Marcus Tudgay started his career in Derbyshire, coming through the ranks before making his senior debut in 2002.
He spent four years at Pride Park Stadium and just missed out on his 100th appearance mark as he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent deal in 2006.
Whilst he never joined the Addicks permanently, he did spend a very brief time there when contracted to Nottingham Forest. He initially joined on loan for the 2014/15 season but that loan was cut short and he made just three appearances in south-east London.
Darren Bent
Darren Bent was a consistently successful striker at nearly every club he was at and that was no different at Charlton and Derby.
The now former England forward spent two years at the Addicks early in his career, between 2005 and 2007, and scored an impressive 37 goals in 79 in all competitions during their time in the Premier League.
It was later in his career that he joined the Rams, making the move in 2015 following a successful loan spell from Aston Villa.
He went on to make 84 appearances and scored 28 times before moving on in 2018 and eventually retiring.
Rob Lee
Midfielder Robert Lee started his professional career with the Addicks in 1983 and went on to spend nearly a decade with Charlton.
He made over 300 appearances before moving on to Newcastle United where again he spent a decade.
After nearly 20 years at two clubs, Lee moved to Derby in 2002 whilst still in the top flight and remained with the club for just one and a half seasons, making 50 appearances, before moving to West Ham United in the summer of 2004.
2022/23 Season
Last season was one that people fell a little below par for the Addicks who finished in 10th place in Sky Bet League One, however they did have a much stronger second half to the campaign.
Prior to the season getting underway, Ben Garner took charge following the departure of Johnnie Jackson.
But the change didn’t do the trick and with the club sat in 17th spot in December, there was another change at the helm – this time with former Bristol City manager Dean Holden coming in to replace Garner.
Things did take an upward turn following the arrival of Holden with the team finishing strongly to cement a top ten finish.
Record Against The Rams
The Rams have had more clashes with the Addicks then many of their competitors in this season’s Sky Bet League One with the majority of those coming in the top two divisions over the years.
It’s Derby that have a slightly better record than their opponents having won 38 times to Charlton’s 31 whilst the other 20 have ended in draws.
Only once in the last 11 matches has there not been a winner and that came in a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium back in August 2015.
Both teams were able to take three points off the other last season with the Addicks sealing a 1-0 victory at the Valley last August, before the Rams got their own back with a 2-0 win at Pride Park Stadium in the reverse fixture in February thanks to goals from David McGoldrick and Eiran Cashin.
