The Valley remains to be the biggest soccer stadium in south London, however plans had been in place for it to change into a complete lot greater.
Charlton’s stadium within the capital holds 27,111, outstripping native rivals Crystal Palace and Millwall, who’re within the Premier League and Championship respectively.
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Selhurst Park holds 25,486 whereas The Den has a capability of 20,146.
Not so way back, the Addicks had been a mannequin membership in soccer. On the flip of the millennium, they loved seven consecutive seasons within the Premier League.
Redevelopment works passed off to The Valley throughout this era to take the capability over 27,000.
Nevertheless, with the most important names and largest golf equipment repeatedly coming to the bottom, it was a promote out game-after-game.
As a longtime Premier League outfit, plans had been explored into growing the capability of the bottom even additional.
In 2005, permission was granted to develop the bottom additional to 31,000, by increasing the East Stand. A 12 months later, the membership introduced hopes to extend that capability to round 40,000 by revamping the Jimmy Seed Stand.
Nevertheless, the membership had been relegated from the Premier League in 2007 and people plans, understandably, by no means got here to fruition.
Charlton are at present of their ninth season out of ten in League One, with their common attendance final season round 13,000.
The Valley has come a great distance from the way it used to look within the late Nineteen Eighties.
Monetary points pressured them to go away the bottom in 1985 and it lay deserted for a few years.
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Charlton needed to floor share with Palace and West Ham till returning to The Valley in 1992 after a fierce, fan-led battle.
Issues have been raised over the way forward for the membership’s stadium, with former proprietor Roland Duchatelet nonetheless proudly owning the bottom and coaching floor.
The Addicks hire these belongings from Duchatelet and signed a 15-year lease in 2021.
The membership are a great distance from these days of doubtless having a 40,000 seater stadium.
Charlton co-owner Charlie Methven just lately informed the Enterprise of Sport podcast: “I believe having a long-term decision over the tenure of the stadium is absolutely necessary.
“That’s a matter of economic negotiation with the present landlord. Every little thing is feasible, however it’s a industrial negotiation that’s confidential.
“If you’re speaking about issues that retains me up at night time it’s long-term safety of tenure at The Valley. One of many nice historic stadiums, one of many final remaining that really feel like themselves.”
Charlton’s previous may function a warning to Everton, who’re within the strategy of constructing a brand new stadium.
The Toffees are anticipated to go away Goodison Park and transfer into a brand new 52,000-seater venue at Bramley-Moore Dock earlier than the 2025/26 season begins.
Nevertheless, after simply three video games, Sean Dyche’s facet already look more likely to be preventing relegation this season, having misplaced each match to this point.
With the brand new stadium thought to price round £760million, paid largely in loans from proprietor Farhad Moshiri, the implications of relegation could possibly be large for the ever-present Premier League membership.
