Wow!
Wow!!
Wow!!!
Wow!!!!
That was how several Boro fans reacted to the result at Hull. And it was already 0-4 before half time, when Kim Hellberg reverted his team back to a more defending mode.
Well, the up-coming match at Charlton cannot start that well, can it? Maybe not, but the expectations must be for three points and OFB will expect a Boro3, too.
When I started to prepare for this match preview at Charlton, I started to think what the word Charlton brings up to my mind.
Naturally the first time I heard ‘Charlton’ was the Word Cup of 1966. I was just a bit over five years old, but ever since the two Charlton brothers were famous the World around. A few years later, I was called “Giraffe” by my two brothers when we played football in the back garden. I was nearly 20 cm (8 inches in old money) taller than my brothers – hence they called me “Giraffe” Charlton. They wanted to be Bobby Charltons or Jairzinhos. Mind, nobody wanted to be called Pelé – he was so good that nobody wouldn’t have wanted to be compared to him. A man cannot be called the God – so no one was pretending to be Pelé.
In 1970 I started to follow Boro as the English league matches were on the Pools coupon in here – my farther was keen on them. Also, the matches were on TV. A certain Big Jack was our manager at the time. So finally, I was proud that I was called Giraffe!
I made my first trip to see Boro play at Ayresome Park in 1980. I was gutted that Big Jack had moved on to Sheffield Wednesday already. But as I stayed over in Great Ayton, I was shown the nice bungalow near the railway station there. He used to live there while managing the Boro.
Charlton Athletic
I think Charlton Athletic was a lower league club in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I remember when reading the Shoot! magazine, they had the League Ladders published once a season. This is where I remember the red “step” with white letters saying “Charlton”. I cannot remember what division they played in – but the League Ladders were on my bedroom wall every season.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is in south-east London. Originally Charlton was a village outside of London but are now in London Borough of Greenwich and naturally Greater London. The most famous building is Charlton House. Between 1607 and 1612, Sir Adam Newton, tutor to Prince Henry, eldest son of James I, had a new manor house, Charlton House, built in the village. The Jacobean mansion by architect John Thorpe was never used by the prince, who died in 1612, though.
The football club was founded in 1905 – 120 years ago. They were formed on 9 June 1905 by a group of 14 to 15-year-old's in East Street.
For the 1907–08 season the team contested the Lewisham League, Woolwich League and entered the Woolwich Cup. It was also around this time the Addicks nickname was first used in the local press although it may have been in use before then.
Charlton became a senior side in 1913, the same year that nearby Woolwich Arsenal relocated to North London.
Charlton turned professional in 1920. They spent one season in the Kent League and one season in the Southern League, before being invited to join the newly formed Football League Third Division South in 1921.
The bulk of the club's support base comes from Southeast London and Kent, particularly the London boroughs of Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley. Supporters played a key role in the return of the club to The Valley in 1992 and were rewarded by being granted a voice on the board in the form of an elected supporter director.
Charlton's main rivals are their South London neighbours, Crystal Palace and Millwall. In 1985, Charlton were forced to ground-share with Crystal Palace after safety concerns at The Valley. They played their home fixtures at the Glaziers' Selhurst Park stadium until 1991.
Home Ground
After the end of the First World War, a chalk quarry known as the Swamps was identified as Charlton's new ground and, in the summer of 1919, work began to create a level playing area and remove debris from the site.
In September 1919, the first match was played at that site, now the club's current ground, known as The Valley. It is called that because it's built in a natural, low-lying hollow or "valley," originally an abandoned chalk pit, where supporters dug out the pitch and built makeshift terraces from the excavated earth in 1919. The name reflects its original geography as a valley-like depression in the land, making it a unique home for the club.
The Valley was still without even a stand by the time the Addicks were elected into the Football League in 1921. During the 1930s and 1940s, significant improvements were made to the ground, making it one of the largest in the country at that time.
Nickname
The nickname of Charlton Athletic Football Club is "The Addicks". However, the club has also been known by other nicknames, including "The Valiants" and "The Robins". Now, on a matchday at The Valley, the players still walk out to the song 'When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)', which is the most notable connection to Charlton's old nickname, apart from the red shirts.
Charlton have had a few nicknames over the years, although 'the Addicks' is the one that has stuck and is used most in the modern era.
There are a few different stories about how Charlton's current nickname, the Addicks, was given to them, but there is one that is recognized to be correct on the official club website.
It is widely believed that Charlton's unique nickname came about because a local fishmongers, owned by Arthur Bryan, would serve haddock and chips to players from both teams after games during the club's early years.
The South London accent would make the word 'haddock' sound like 'addick', and from there, Charlton Athletic's nickname was born.
It is interesting to consider that the nickname fell out of favour for a number of years, hence 'the Robins' and 'the Valiants' were both used, but it became popular again in the 1980s and has been in use ever since.
The Addicks have won three trophies
FA Cup winner in 1946/47
English Second Tier Champion 1999/2000
English 3rd Tier Champion 2011/12
Recent form
As exmil posted after the Hull match, Charlton only played 12 minutes against Porstmouth on Saturday. The match was abandoned due to the death of a Charlton supporter in the home crowd. Both Charlton and Portsmouth said they were "devastated".
So, Charlton perhaps had an extra rest day before the Boro match on Tuesday, but I think it was better for Boro to play on Saturday and learn more about the way Hellberg wants his team to play. Also psychologically, the abandonment was not the best way to prepare a match against Boro.
Charlton are 17th in League currently. They have lost their last four matches – before that they won at home to WBA (1-0) and drew(1-1) at home with Swansea. The four defeats were away to Wrexham (1-0), home to Southampton (1-5), away to Stoke (3-0) and away to Coventry (3-1).
2025–26 season
Top goal scorer: League: Sonny Carey (5), Central Midfield
Highest home attendance: 23,293 (vs. Millwall, 13 September 2025)
Lowest home attendance: 4,092 (vs. Stevenage, 12 August 2025)
Average home league attendance: 21,191
Other notable players I could find:
- Thomas Kaminski (GK): Often highest-rated in EA FC 25 (around 75).
- Conor Coventry (Defensive Midfield): Valued highly on Transfermarkt.
- Harvey Knibbs (Attacking Midfield): Long-term contract, key player.
- Tyreece Campbell (Left Winger): Valuable asset.
- Greg Docherty (Central Midfield): Experienced midfielder.
Interestingly they have a goalkeeper called Will Mannion – not the be confused with a certain Wilf Mannion of Boro! They also have a former Boro loanee from Norwich, Onel Hernández. He plays left winger and is aged 32 years.
Let’s hope the magic of Hellberg is still affecting our strikers at the Valley. I will go for a narrow win of 1-2 to the Boro with a surprise goal by Tommy Conway. The other will be scored by Morgan Whittaker, again. So up the Boro!
The match is to be played at the Valley, Greenwich, London on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 19:45 GMT
Thanks jarkko for a very interesting and informative opener, I think Tuesday night will be a very emotional charged evening for Charlton.
Come on BORO.
A brilliant starter, @jarkko - lots of useful info, particularly about the derivation of Charlton’s nickname. Let’s hope they get battered on Tuesday.
I did forget the obvious connection between Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough FC - Lennie Lawrence. The deal sparking a compensation row between Boro and the Addicks in July 1991.
Up the Boro!
Another well written and well informed Headliner Jarkko, again reaching the high standard you set yourself to deliver.
It was also interesting to be reminded of your early days and the initial visit to see your adopted “Team”. I really admire your loyalty and your continued support of MFC.
I do hope that this season may be the season you wish for.
Excellent opener, thank you Jarkko. I was so pleased that you researched the background to Charlton’s nickname as I knew the nickname but not how it came about.
As Exmil has said, the atmosphere on Tuesday will be very emotional and Boro will need to be at their best; I am hoping for another three points and an enjoyable game which we dominate to send a further message to the rest of the division. CoB. 😎
Thanks Jarkko. I really enjoyed that. When I used to have to work away down south a lot, I used to fill in time away from the family by visiting the local football grounds, usually not on match days, unless my itinerary happened to coincide with the Boro's. What stood out for me at Charlton was that it truly was in a valley. From certain vantage points in the surrounding areas you could see right down onto the pitch.
After Friday, we have to be optimistic about our chances in this next away match. The later parts on the RE era were dogged by lots of 'mis' event's amongst the forwards - mistimed runs, misunderstandings, misplaced passes, misjudgements. The cumulative effect was a misfiring forward line and the conclusion that perhaps some of our expensively acquired new players were misfits.
What pleased me most about the Hull game that every time an attack was mounted, each player involved looked to understand exactly what was going on and what actions were needed of them. KH has talked about solving problems on the pitch and about figuring out where the spaces are and playing there. That approach seems to credit the players with more footballing intelligence than is often the case and is better than playing to a set of pre-defined templates that good teams can decode and neutralise. Certainly the Hull coach and players weren't able to solve the puzzles we laid out before them.
So far, so good. So good. So good.
@peter-surtees Hi Peter, I have seen the football stadium in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The stadium is also recessed into the ground, but I haven't been to the Valley, Charlton. So I cannot compare the stadia.
Sotje Sontje made the move to Eredivisie side NEC in May 2023, and then to Boro this summer. So he has played at the Nijmegen stadium.
And thank you to all for the feedback. I run out of time a bit as I had a flu yesterday. So I noticed some typos like mispelled word father, lower and at least once Charlton without the 'l'. So bear with me.
Up the Boro!
Wow!!!!!
A brilliant opener Jarkko, very well written in excellent English and meticulously researched. You have done a great deal of work, and we are privileged to have so so much relevant information at our disposal so soon after our last match. So very many thanks.
Your stimulating material has provoked a few thoughts.
"A man cannot be called God". Having had neuro-surgery recently I'm not so sure.
Here is a conundrum: "What is the difference between a neuro-surgeon and God?"
Answer: Well God doesn't think he's a neuro-surgeon
On your resemblance to Jackie Charlton’s giraffe-like qualities, I was standing in the Liverpool Kop when Boro played there in our first season in the First Division, under Jackie’s leadership When the teams came out and Jackie walked to take his place in the dugout, the whole Kop burst into song to the tune of Al Jolson’s “Mammy”:
Charlton, Charlton
We’d walk a million miles
To the end of your NECK.
Char-ar-ar-arl ton.
Charlton responded with an affectionate wave.
There was, and still is, a Kop tradition of warmly applauding all visiting goalkeepers when they take up their position in front of them. It’s generally after the interval since Liverpool always choose to kick towards the Kop in the second half whenever they win the toss The vast majority of keepers respond with a wave in acknowledgment and are rewarded with appreciation whenever they make a good save or play well.
It’s big mistake for keepers not to acknowledge the Kop, as some do, presumably out of ignorance, because their cold shoulder is reciprocated with a cacophony of boos and profanities which will last for the remainder of the match. Hence, Jackie’s wave.
The Valley used to be one of the most astonishing and historic grounds in the whole of football. I went there once to see the Boro in the late 1950s We lost 1-0 when Peter Taylor dropped a simple cross giving the home side a tap-in goal. If the game was unmemorable the ground was not. I stood in the East Terrace, a vast uncovered area running the length of the pitch but stretching back 60 or 70 metres. It could hold 40,000 spectators and did so when the crowd was at its full capacity of 70,000.
The atmosphere must have been sensational, because, as you say, the ground was set in a natural bowl, so the acoustics accentuated every roar.
The problem was that when the ground was only a quarter full, as it was when I was there, the crowd was dwarfed by the size of the terrace and there were vast spaces between and around knots of supporters ,a situation that made it difficult to generate much in the way of noise or atmosphere.
Nevertheless, experiencing the Valley was one of the most memorable moments I have had in attending any Boro game
Jarkko
A great preview well researched as usual .
Many thanks it’s always appreciated!
Boro3
Here we come !
OFB
@lenmasterman Thanks a lot, Len. That was a really brilliant responce. Especially the reference to 'Giraffe ' Charlton at Liverpool. How I miss Big Jack - he was a legend as a player. Even me and my younger brother knew him in Finland in late 1960's!
And a legend for all Boro fans of certain age.
A good and entertaining post, Len. Thank you very much. Up the Boro!
@lenmasterman I’m pretty sure the ground has been used as a music venue in the past. If my memory isn’t playing tricks on me, I think my best friend at school went to see Bowie there. I’ve always kicked myself for not going with him. Cf. Grape picking in France, but that’s another story.
I’ve just checked and it looks like it was Lou Reed not Bowie. He played with The Who, who were headlining I think, and Humble Pie. The concert was on May 18th, 1974. We’d both have been around 18 at the time.
Great intro Jarkko. First visit to Charlton was in 1982. They had just signed Allan Simonsen , a Dane , from Barcelona on a free as they had just signed Maradona. I think it was his first home game. We won 3-2 with two goals from David Shearer and one from Mick Kennedy. Simonsen, only played 16 games before leaving as they couldn't afford his 1300 pounds a week wages. We have a pretty good record against Charlton only 1 defeat in the past 14 games played anywhere, a 2-0 defeat in 2016. This was the game when Karanka had walked out and Steve Agnew took charge, with us second in the league. Tonight's referee is Oliver Langford. He refereed our 4-1 win at QPR last season and a 3-2 win at Watford the season before. Hopefully a repeat tomorrow night.
@mw-in-darwin A good shout that about Allan Simonsen. I do remember the great Dane and that he played for Charlton. I did not remember he played just 16 matches for the Addicks, though. But it was a scoop for them when he was signed. I cannot believe it was already in 1982 - it is so long time ago!
Up the Boro!
@mw-in-darwin a very long shot, but I went to that Charlton match in 1982 also. It was my first London match and I went by myself from university and as I was queuing for a ticket at Charing Cross station, a man aged maybe 25/6 in front of me asked for his ticket in a Boro accent.
I then said to him 'you're a Boro fan' which I think initially he took as an accusation or challenge but then realised I was genuine and we took the train together and found a pub near the ground for several pints pre match (he kept - understandably - telling me to speak quietly).
We then stood on the massive Valley side (an astonishing ground) for some reason rather than going in with the Boro lot, who I can't recall at all.
Boro were 3-0 up early on and I think I caused him a near heart attack with my reaction each time we scored. It was the Allan Simonsen game too.
He pointed me the way to Victoria coach station via the tube on the way back from the match and I never saw him again. I have in my mind that he was an electrical engineer or similar but may well be wrong.
Long shot but as there were not many Boro fans there, the man wasn't you was he?
It's one of my great Boro memories.
I was overjoyed when Big Jack came to manage the Boro as I was a regular in the chicken run ( the south terrace) I couldn’t afford a season ticket but didn’t miss a game.
i was working as a quantity surveyor hired out to a fabrication company who were building steel structures for the developing North Sea.
I was called into the operations Directors office one Monday morning and there sat Big Jack Charlton. Both smoking cigars and Mack the Ops Director said “this is Mt Charlton” he’s just dropped some grouse off for me!” Sure enough, there on the desk inbetween them were two dead birds. Mack went on, “ Jack has said that the Boro need a new TV stand building any ideas?”
I nodded” the best stand to put it would be the south stand as it’s one of the newest and easiest to alter.” “How do you know that?” Asked Jack. Because I stand there and look up at the roof every home game” I grinned ! I went on, we’ve also some spare steel and tubulars left off the last two offshore projects and no one came to collect the surplus so we have plenty.
Mack winked at me and said “ it looks like we have a plan then.” I left the office on cloud nine and immediately went to see the chief designer.
Six weeks later the Boro has a new tv stand and all the television companies were complimentary about the quality and how easy it was to access. It was the start of regular TV at Ayresome Park.
OH one more thing. A small piece of tubing was used to extend the barrier directly underneath the tv stand. Why ? It was the perfect size for my two lads and my mates two lads to sit on whilst we stood and watched the game !
HAPPY DAYS!
up the boro
OFB
@original-fat-bob An ingredible story there, Bob. Thanks for charing. I never met Big Jack, was he tall like a giraffe? Or his neck ... up the Boro!
Having suffered a 3-1 defeat against league leaders Coventry City on November 29, Charlton have now conceded 11 goals in three games.
Head coach Nathan Jones should not be judged on results against the best club in the league, and while his team are just six points above the bottom three, his side are newly promoted and have performed well in the division so far.
It will nonetheless concern supporters that Charlton have only found the back of the net five times in their last seven matches, failing to score more than once in any of those outings.
A defeat for the Addicks would extend their losing streak to five games, and it would also be the seventh time in eight fixtures that they have failed to win.
Jones oversaw a 5-1 loss against Southampton on November 22 in his side's most recent home outing, but he should be credited for the fact his team had won three and drawn two of their prior five at The Valley.
Nathan Jones, Charlton Manager
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F14%2F27%2Fwales-flag.png "Wales flag"){kind=small}
Welsh/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fdf11%2F2019021.png "Nathan Jones")
| Career History | ||
|---|---|---|
| Senior | 2000-2005 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 2005-2012 | Yeovil Town | |
| Managerial | 2019 | Luton Town |
| 2019 | Stoke City | |
| 2020-2022 | Luton Town | |
| 2022-2023 | Southampton | |
| 2024- | Charlton | |
Up the Boro!
The fan who died after the Portsmouth match was Norman Barker, 68, who had been attending games since 1968. It looks like everybody knew him at the ground.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrn6j7e8j8o
RIP, Headphones Norm.
Up the Boro!
Another superb headline piece Jarkko. Brilliantly informative as well as brilliantly written. Thank you. Lots of great and nostalgic posts too. Great memories.
I have not had the pleasure of visiting Charlton. Selhurst Park twice, versus Palace, but not The Valley. I wonder how the modern stadium compares with the old. I remember the images of the old abandoned ground, with the pitch overgrown and the terraces literally crumbling. Great for Charlton and their supporters that they did manage to get back to their spiritual home and what looks to be a decent modern stadium now.
Like you mentioned Jarkko, and echoed by others, it will be a highly emotional occasion following the very sad happening on Saturday. We have to hope KH has the team ready for that and to start well to contain that atmosphere.
Each game now is interesting for us to see how well our new leader has us organised. No prediction from me, just all my fingers crossed the Boro we witnessed at Hull was the new real deal.
@powmillnaemore Wow!!!! Thanks, mate. UTB!
FA Cup 3rd round Fulham v Boro.
Come on BORO.
No that wasn't me. Lived in Ipswich at the time so would have driven down. I also sat in the main stand with Charlton supporters. Your recollection of the scoring is better than mine. Wasn't sure how it went.
DAVID STRELEC might have played in a number of different positions during the early stages of his Middlesbrough career, but Kim Hellberg has already seen enough of the summer signing to be convinced that his best role is definitely as a ‘number nine. as per N Echo
Many thanks Jarkko for that cracking opener that was full of interesting info about Charlton - much that I didn't know. My main memory of Charlton when I was younger was it was Alan Curbishley's Charlton as he seemed to be their manager for years and did an amazing job.
Looking forward to tomorrow's game (especially given my busy schedule) and hoping to see what Kim Hellberg throws at us next - though if I was to stick my neck out (to carry on your theme) then I suspect there won't be too many changes given how well it went at Hull - plus against another team who have been conceding goals lately!
Watched Wolves v Manchester United tonight. United won easily 4-1 and were half decent but Wolves were poor. The difference in performance was akin to Hull v Boro last Friday. Wolves only have 2 points and must be doomed for relegation.
Throughout the game the Wolves supporters expressed their feelings towards the owner with some entering the ground late as a protest.
Didn’t see any smiles throughout the game on Edwards’ face. I’m wondering what he will say in his post match interview.
We are lucky with our owner.
philip of Huddersfield 👍
@original-fat-bob Lovely story Bob, really nice and it's so very Jack as well.
RE still looking for his first win at Wolves. A couple of fans' comments included in the Beeb's live match commentary:
- Why would Wolves think that Edwards would be the man to save them? A nostalgic appointment at best, totally inept but boy can he talk the talk. Unfortunately, that won’t save Wolves.
- Knowing what Wolves hierarchy are like, if Edwards somehow pulls off the impossible they will then sell all his best players at the start of next season. And then he will be sacked for not turning water into wine.