The Valley (stadium)

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = The Valley
nickname = The Valley, Floyd Road


location = Charlton, London, England
broke_ground = 1919
opened = 1919 | renovated = 1991
expanded = 1994 (East Stand re-built)
1998 (West Stand re-built)
2001 (North Stand re-built)
closed = 1985–1992
demolished =
owner = Charlton Athletic
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = 1919–1923 Charlton Athletic
1924–1985 Charlton Athletic
1992–"present" Charlton Athletic
1996–1997 London Broncos
1999–2000 London Broncos
seating_capacity = 27,111
dimensions = 112 x 73 yards (pitch)

The Valley is a 27,111-capacity sports stadium in Charlton, London, England. Its primary use throughout its history has been hosting the home matches for Charlton Athletic Football Club, although it did briefly host London's main rugby league team, London Broncos, for two different periods.

History

In Charlton's early years, the club had a nomadic existence using several different grounds between its formation in 1905 and the beginning of World War I in 1914. The ground dates from 1919, at a time when Charlton was moderately successful and looking for a new home. The club found an abandoned sand and chalk pit in Charlton, but did not have sufficient funds to fully develop the site. An army of volunteer Charlton supporters dug out a massive pit for the pitch, and used the spoil from the excavation to build up the sides. The ground's name most likely comes from its original valley-like appearance. The club played its first game at the ground before any seats, or even terraces, were installed; there was simply a roped-off pitch with the crowd standing or sitting on the adjoining earthworks. The unique circumstances of the ground's initial construction led to an unusually intense bond between the club's supporters and the site that exists to this day. In the 1923–4 season, Charlton played at The Mount stadium in Catford but in a much higher populated area. A proposed merger with Catford South End FC fell through and thus Charlton moved back to The Valley.

For many years, The Valley was the largest league ground in London, with a capacity of up to 75,000. The East Stand (or rather bank) was by far the largest stand in English football.cite news
title = Details about Charlton Athletic
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/18/charlton_athletic_team.shtml
publisher = BBC London
date =
accessdate = 2007-07-17] However, Charlton's long absence from the top level of English football prevented much-needed renovation. Eventually, the club's debts led to bankruptcy administration. A supporters' trust successfully acquired the club in 1984, but The Valley remained under the ownership of the club's former owner. However, the club was unable to finance the improvements needed to make The Valley meet safety requirements. The next year, Charlton left The Valley, entering into what became the first official groundshare in The Football League, with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.In 1988, the ownership of the club and The Valley was again united, and in an event that harkened back to the ground's initial construction, thousands of supporters volunteered to clean the ground, eventually burning the debris in a huge bonfire on the pitch. By this time, however, the large terraces were no longer seen as desirable or safe. Charlton Athletic supporters then proposed a brand-new stadium to surround the original pitch. However, the Greenwich Borough Council overwhelmingly turned down plans to renovate the ground. Club supporters formed their own local political party, the Valley Party, in response to the council's refusal. The party ran candidates for all but two Greenwich Council seats, sparing the two councillors who had approved the new stadium plans. The party won almost 15,000 votes in the 1990 elections,cite news
title = Details about Charlton Athletic
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/18/charlton_athletic_team.shtml
publisher = BBC London
date =
accessdate = 2007-07-17] successfully pressuring the council to approve the plans for the new stadium.

In 1991, construction began on the new Valley, and the club moved from Selhurst Park to West Ham's Upton Park. The modern stadium opened in December 1992. Since Charlton's return to The Valley in 1992, the ground itself has undergone some remarkable changes. The north, east and west sides of the ground have almost been completely rebuilt, giving the ground a capacity of over 27,000. The club have ambitions to extend the ground's capacity to over 40,000 by expanding the east side and completely rebuilding the south side,cite news
title = Expansion plans underway
url = http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=21303&newstype=n
publisher = Charlton Athletic F.C.
date = 2004-11-29
accessdate = 2007-07-17] but it remains uncertain if or when the plans will be implemented after the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2007.

tands

North Stand

The North Stand was built as a replacement for the 'covered end', and is sometimes still called by this name. It was built during the 2001–02 season as part of the developments to bring The Valley's capacity to 26,500 after promotion to the Premier League in 2000. The North Stand houses what is considered the most vocal supporters in the ground, along with restaurants and executive suites. It is also the home of the club's band, which includes drummers and trumpeters.

East Stand

The East Stand was constructed during the 1993–94 season and completed in 1994. As part of the first development to the ground since the return in 1992, it replaced the massive east terrace, which had been prohibited from use since the mid-1980s after the Bradford City disaster. This is a single tier stand and houses the television gantry, and also has numerous executive boxes. Occasionally, in FA and League Cup matches, part of the East Stand is used to house away supporters if demand for tickets is high.

West Stand

The West Stand was built in 1998 after Charlton's first promotion to the Premier League and is also two tiered. This is the main stand at The Valley with the largest capacity, and also houses the club's offices, as well as the director's box, board room dug-outs, changing rooms and the commercial centre (ticket office). There are also many conferencing rooms in this stand which are used for official and community events. There is a large statue of Sam Bartram, (considered to be Charlton's finest player) at the entrance of the West Stand.

Jimmy Seed Stand

The Jimmy Seed (or South) Stand is the oldest part of the ground, and dates from the early 1980s. This stand is named after Charlton's manager, Jimmy Seed – with whom Charlton won the FA Cup in 1947. This stand has a capacity of around 3,000 and hosts the away supporters at games. It is also the only part of The Valley which has a supporting pillar in it.

Details

Records

* Record Attendance: 75,031 v Aston Villa, 12 February 1938 (FA Cup Fifth Round)
* Record League Attendance: 68,160 v fc|Arsenal, 17 October 1936 (Football League First Division)
* Record All-seater Attendance: 27,111 v fc|Chelsea, 17 September 2005; v fc|Tottenham Hotspur, 1 October 2005; v fc|Liverpool, 16 December 2006; v Chelsea, 3 February 2007; v fc|West Ham United, 24 February 2007; v fc|Sheffield United, 21 April 2007 (all Premier League)

Average attendances

Average attendance for every season since 1993–94, the first full season since Charlton returned to The Valley.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Charlton,+Greater+London,+SE7,+UK&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=0&z=17&ll=51.48624,0.036746&spn=0.00479,0.013475&iwloc=A Aerial shot of the Valley]
* [http://www.valleyflags.co.uk/ Valley Flags Campaign] Charlton Athletic F.C. Football League Championship Venues