THE VALLEY

Charlton, London, England

Charlton Athletic F.C. (1919-1985, 1992-present), London Broncos (1996-1997, 1999-2000)

The Valley is a 27,111-capacity sports stadium in Charlton, London, England and is the home of Charlton Athletic Football Club.

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. 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, successfully pressuring the council to approve the plans for the new stadium.

Unused 4" x 6" continental size chrome postcard.

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