Peter Hunt played four seasons at Southend before moving to Charlton where he played 158 games between 1972-1977. The battling mid-fielder endured a difficult start at Charlton but eventually won fans over and became a firm favourite. An integral part of the promotion-winning team of 1974/75, Hunt scored eight goals, including an opening-minute stunner against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a League Cup tie in October 1974.
After Charlton he played a few games for Gillingham, Gravesend and Barking before his retirement in 1981.
COLIN POWELL Born 7 July 1948 at Hendon, Middlesex (69)
Colin Powell - known as Paddy - joined Charlton from Barnet in 1973 and went on to play over 300 games and score 35 goals for the Addicks. The tricky winger then spent a season in the US before returning to play a couple of seasons with Gillingham and then Dartford.
He managed Margate briefly in 1990 having previously been Assistant Manager. Then he became head groundsman at Charlton, a post he held until June 2014. He was tasked with the job of tending the playing surface when Charlton made their triumphant return to the Valley in December 1992 after seven years in exile.
On retirement Chairman Richard Murray said: "Colin is regarded as an absolute legend at this football club and quite rightly so. Firstly for his playing days which I remember fondly, but in general for his outstanding commitment and contribution to the club over all these years",
Ray Crawford played 21 games for Charlton in 1969. The striker scored seven goals. He played a couple of games for England in 1961-62 scoring a goal against Austria. He was never as prolific for Charlton as he had been at Wolves where he scored 41 goals in 61 matches - and Ipswich where he had scored 259 goals.
He was dismissed from Charlton after a row with Manager Eddie Firmani, after refusing to attend a a special training session. He may best be remembered by Charlton fans for a classic overhead kick goal at The Den.
COLIN WALSH Born 22 July 1962 at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland (55)
No history of Charlton is complete without making reference to Colin Walsh, a 125,000 quid capture from Notts Forest in September 1986. He was the scorer of THAT goal. It was his sweetly-struck left-foot shot after seven minutes which won the game against Portsmouth, crowning a perfect day for Charlton - the day we returned to the Valley.
This historic goal is memorialised in a banner in the Valley's north stand carrying Walsh's name and the time of the goal.
He played for Forest (his first Manager was Brian Clough) between 1979-1986. He then joined Charlton where he played 242 games over 10 seasons scoring 21 goals.
The man who gave me a forum name! (the MM stands for Milsop Melrose).
I remember Jim for his Everton hattrick more than the fastest goal (although I played the VHS tape to death re-watching that goal). I don't think we got another hattrick until Nelson netted three against Peterborough eight years or so later, so it was very memorable.
KIMBLE TWINS Alan and Gary born 6 August 1966 (51) at Dagenham
When identical twins Alan and Gary appeared for the Addicks on 6th April 1985 against Sheffield United at the Valley they became only the third identical twins to play in the Football League since the Second World War.
ALAN was left back and played for youth sides at Charlton before playing six games for the senior side between 1984/86. He played most of his career at Cambridge United (on a free transfer from Charlton) and Wimbledon. Alan played a pivotal role in United's success in climbing the lower leagues in the early 1990s. He moved to Premier side Wimbledon for 175,000 and played 215 games for them between 1993/2002.
Alan scored 24 goals (mostly from the penalty spot) - for Cambridge - but interestingly never scored for any of the other seven clubs he played for. After he retired from his playing career he took on coaching roles at four non-league clubs, the most recent being Maldon and Tiptree which he left in 2015. Twin brother Gary was his assistant manager at Isthmian Leabgue club Aveley in 2010.
GARY played nine games for the Addicks between 1984/86 before scoring once from the left wing - before joining Cambridge United on a free transfer with his brother. He played 41 games for Cambridge before going on to play for Doncaster Rovers, Fulham, Gillingham, Peterborough and Dagenham. His big moment came in December 1991 when he hit the national sports headlines scoring the winning goal for Peterborough in a League Cup win over Liverpool.
Like his brother he went on to manage non-league clubs, the last being Witham Town which he left in February last year.
I think you meant Jimmy Trotter was the England trainer that day, Stig?
As every Charlton fan already knows, Jimmy Trotter was trainer under the legendary Jimmy Seed throughout the Charlton 'glory years', before succeding the great man himself as manager for a further 5 years.
Ha ha, only just seen this. Yes, Jimmy Trotter. Though I do like the idea of Derek Trotter training Charlton and England.
EDDIE FIRMANI Born 7 August 1933 (84) at Cape Town, South Africa
South African born Eddie Firmani is considered by many to be one of the finest players ever to pull on a Charlton shirt. On 5 February 1955 Firmani scored five goals in Charlton's 6-1 win over Aston Villa. In front of 24,000 spectators at the Valley Firmani was on fire, and already had two goals to his name with four minutes on the clock. When he got his fifth - a penalty after 83 minutes - it was his 20th goal in 13 league matches.
On 18 July 1955 Firmani signed for Sampdoria. Following what one paper described as "high pressure Italian persuasion" Firmani agreed a deal which saw his wages rocket from 15 to 150 pounds a week. The Genoan club paid 35,000 for Firmani's services - a record fee for a Football League player - as well as 5,000 signing on fee, plus a car and a flat.
On 11 September 1967 he was appointed Charlton's new Manager in the wake of Bob Stokoe's sacking. "I believe the club can become great again. .. I have always been devoted to Charlton because they are the club I owe almost everything to" said Eddie. His first match in charge was a 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Eddie Firmani was sacked by Michael Gliksten in 1970 after a disastrous 5-0 home defeat against Leicester City ending his long association with the club. The final straw for the directors was Firmani's peculiar decision to play right-winger Mike Kenning at left-back against the Foxes - a gamble which badly misfired - all this from "Charlton Athletic on this Day" by Matthew Eastley.
For the record Firmani played 112 games - 51 goals - between 1950-1955. He returned to Charlton from Italy in 1963 and played another 55 games for the Addicks (32 goals) over two seasons. He returned to Charlton from Southend in 1967/68 for another spell of 10 games scoring six goals. He had played three games for Italy between 1956-1958 scoring two goals. He managed Charlton between 1967-1970 before moving to the US and Canada when he managed an assortment of teams up until 1996.
He was the first Italian international (his grandfather was Italian) to manage an English club. He is the only player ever to have scored 100 league goals in both England and Italy.
In 2005 he was named as Charlton's greatest overseas player.
Mark Kinsella spent three weeks of the 1996/97 pre-season training with Charlton, playing in two pre-season games and scoring in both. Curbs was delighted and was able to sign him from Colchester even though Kinsella had been offered more money elsewhere.
The midfielder played 208 games for Charlton between 1996 and 2002 scoring 20 goals. After moving to Aston Villa for a couple of seasons he played for West Brom, Walsall and briefly Lewes. He was an Irish international with 48 caps - playing in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea - with three international goals to his name.
He was Charlton's Player of the Year in 1998 and skipper of the side which won promotion in the dramatic Division One play-off final against Sunderland.
He is remembered as being one of the greats of the late 1990s at Charlton along with Rufus, Mendonca, Hunt and Robinson. He was injured in 2002, and could not regain his place from Scott Parker - and was sold to Villa for 1m.
In 2006 he returned to Charlton as coach for the Charlton Reserves for a couple of seasons before moving up to coach the senior team with Parkinson as Manager in December 2008. They were both sacked in January 2011.
Mark Kinsella is now assistant coach at Drogheda United.
JOHN ROBINSON Born Bulawayo, Rhodesia on 29 August 1971 (46)
John Robinson came to Charlton in 1992 and played 332 games for the Addicks over 10 seasons. He was a midfielder and scored 35 goals.
He transferred from Brighton in 1992 for 75,000 and helped Charlton to two promotions, enjoying three seasons of Premiership football. He played in the dramatic 1998 play-off final against Sunderland, scoring one of the penalties.
After his release from Charlton in 2003, he played for Cardiff, then Gillingham. He later had short spells with non-league sides Crawley and Lewes before his retirement in 2005.
He played 16 games for the Wales U21 side before being selected for the national team and scoring three goals in 30 appearances between 1995-2002.
John Robinson was elected to the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year.
CHRIS POWELL Born 8 September 1969 (48) at Lambeth
As Charlton prepared for life in the Premiership, Alan Curbishley signed a left back who would come to symbolise everything that is good about the club. Powell cost a club record of 825,000 from Derby County in June 1998 but repaid that fee several times over, not just with outstanding performances on the pitch but with his all-round character, professionalism and fair mindedness.
He was so consistently good than Swen-Goran Erikssen picked him for England at the unusually late age of 31, making him the oldest England debutant for 47 years.
Universally liked, Powell would eventually return as Manager - to wild acclaim - in January 2011.
Chris Powell first left Charlton in 2004 for a stint at West Ham before returning to Charlton in the summer of 2005. A year later, he signed a on-year contract with Watford before returning to the Valley.
He also served as chairman of the PFA and ended his playing career at Leicester before returning to the Valley following PHIL Parkinson's sacking.
Mostly from: Charlton Athletic on this Day by Matthew Eastley
CLIVE MENDONCA Born 9 September 1968. (49) at Sunderland
Clive Mendonca had two spells at Sheffield United, as well as stints with Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United. He moved to Grimsby Town from where Charlton bought him for 700,000 in the summer of 1997. In his first season with the Addicks, Mendonca scored 28 goals in all competitions and became the first Charlton player to score 20 league goals in a season since Mike Flanagan in 1976/77.
Altogether he scored 45 goals for Charlton in 96 appearances between 1997-2000.
Monday, 25 May 1998 - a day no Charlton fan will ever forget. The Addicks won promotion to the Premiership in dramatic, extraordinary and heart-stopping circumstances. Charlton striker - and Sunderland fan - Clive Mendonca completed what must be one of the highest quality hat-tricks ever scored at Wembley to make it 4-4. Each of Mendonca's efforts was a gem.
Saturday, 22 August 1998 - Charlton sat proudly at the top of the Premiership table after thrashing Southampton 5-0 at the Valley. It was the first time the Addicks had been in first place in the top tier since 1937/38. Striker Clive Mendonca grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick. After the game he commented "Can we stop the league now, please""
All from Charlton Athletic on this Day by Matthew Eastley
After his football career ended Mendonca received funding from the Professional Footballers' Association to train as an oil-rig worker.
BILLY BONDS Born 17 September 1946 (71) at Woolwich
Billy Bonds grew up in Eltham and joined the groundstaff at Charlton after leaving school at the age of 15. He played in the youth team and A team and occasionally in the reserves before joining the playing staff shortly before his 18th birthday in September 1964.
He made his league debut for Charlton against Northampton in February 1965 and became a regular in the first team going on to make 95 league appearances.
There was outcry from Charlton fans in May 1967 when the 20 year-old defender was sold to Second Division (Championship) West Ham for £47,500. Bonds had made exactly 100 appearances for the Addicks before Hammers boss Ross Greenwood snuffled him as part of a major rebuilding programme in E13.
He was with West Ham for over 20 years making a club record 663 league appearances and became a local hero, earning himself West Ham's first ever lifetime achievement award. He returned to Upton Park to manage the Hammers from 1990-1994. He was appointed an MBE in 1988.
I remember vividly that teenage right back rampaging up the wing just feet away from where I was standing at the front of the old East Terrace and as if by magic he's an old man of 71.
The newly-formed Charlton Athletic club played its first-ever competitive match on this day, travelling a few miles west to take on Nunhead Swifts Reserves in the Lewisham League. This historic match ended in a 6-1 victory for Charlton. It was the start of a highly successful season for Charlton who won 17 and drew one of their 18 matches and topped the league with 35 points.
Neville Chamberlain declares "peace for our time" at Heston Aerodrome after appeasing Hitler in Munich.
The following day, October 1st, the British Prime Minister watches Charlton draw 4-4 with Birmingham City at the Valley, where the local rector offers a thanksgiving prayer and a crowd of 20,000 sing along to "Land of Hope and Glory".
DEAN KIELY Born 10 October 1970 at Salford, Greater Manchester (47)
Of all the players Alan Curbishley bought wile Charlton Manager - £1m on 26 May 1999 - few can have repaid the fee as well as the excellent Dean Kiely. The brilliant keeper was snapped up from Bury and was consistently outstanding during Charlton's Premiership years. In the 1-0 win over Spurs at the Valley on 16 September 2000 Kiely pulled off three world-class saves - including one from a Les Ferdinand rocket which had to be seen to be believed.
"..at Charlton they care about their players and as a player it is rare that you get that feeling at a club. - Dean Kiely in 'A Nostalgic Look at a Century of the Club'.
He played 222 games for Charlton between 1999-2006
In March 2015 he was appointed Norwich City goalkeeping coach.
Jim Melrose scored the fastest goal in Charlton's history against West Ham at Upton Park in October 1986. The Hammers kicked off and the ball was played to Tony Gale, who gave it straight to Robert Lee. Lee played in Melrose, who tucked the ball past West Ham keeper Phil Parkes. Just nine seconds had elapsed. The eventual 3-1 win meant it was five wins on the trot for the Addicks. From Charlton Athletic on this Day by Matthew Eastley
Jim Melrose made 8 appearances for Scotland U-21 between 1977-1980 scoring two goals. He made nearly 400 appearances during his 15-year playing career beginning with Partick Thistle, Leicester, Coventry, Celtic, Wolves (on loan) before coming to Charltonwhere he played 48 games between 1985-1987 scoring 19 goals. He is currently Chief Scout at Bolton (according to wikepedia).
STEVE GRITT Born 31 October 1957 (59) at Bournemouth
When 19-year-old Steve Grritt arrived from AFC Bournemouth on Friday, 1 July 1977, few could have predicted what lay ahead. "Gritty" became a crowd favourite, making more than 400 appearances for the club. He was admired for his 100 per cent commitment to the cause and his willingness to play in whatever position was asked of him, including goalkeeper. A fine servant of Charlton, fans even created an affectionate song about him which essentially said that, even though Gritty lacked something in the tondo rial department, the fans still loved him. In 1991, he became joint manager with Alan Curbishley in the wake of Lennie Lawrence's departure.
From: Charlton Athletic On This Day. By Matthew Eastley
On a more personal note, Steve Gritt suffered a tragedy in December 2002 when his 18 year old daughter died as a result of cancer. Hayley, who had battled a brain tumour for 10 years, was a lifelong Charlton supporter, a season ticket holder at the Valley, even after her Dad's departure from the club in 1995. Steve has been involved in numerous fundraising activities ever since.
October 24th 1917 .. the conception if not the birth of the late U S S R .. late but not lamented .. a good article in 'The Economist' .. New Tsar Rising .. an insight into the regime of Vladimir Putin .. the more things change, the more they remain the same
ALAN CURBISHLEY Born at Forest Gate, East London on 8 November 1957 (59)
Llewellyn Charles 'Alan" Curbishley was one of five children to a London docker and his wife. He attended Gainsborough Road Primary School, Trinity College School and West Ham Technical School. At 16, Curbishley joined West Ham as an apprentice, making 87 full appearances for the Hammers before moving on to Birmingham City, Villa, Charlton, Brighton and back to Charlton where he was made joint Manager with Steve Gritt in July 1991.
From: Charlton Athletic On This Day by Matthew Eastley
ALAN CURBISHLEY Born at Forest Gate, East London on 8 November 1957 (59)
Llewellyn Charles 'Alan" Curbishley was one of five children to a London docker and his wife. He attended Gainsborough Road Primary School, Trinity College School and West Ham Technical School. At 16, Curbishley joined West Ham as an apprentice, making 87 full appearances for the Hammers before moving on to Birmingham City, Villa, Charlton, Brighton and back to Charlton where he was made joint Manager with Steve Gritt in July 1991.
From: Charlton Athletic On This Day by Matthew Eastley
Curbs' birthday today
It’s got to be someone’s birthday today, why not his?
ALAN CURBISHLEY Born at Forest Gate, East London on 8 November 1957 (59)
Llewellyn Charles 'Alan" Curbishley was one of five children to a London docker and his wife. He attended Gainsborough Road Primary School, Trinity College School and West Ham Technical School. At 16, Curbishley joined West Ham as an apprentice, making 87 full appearances for the Hammers before moving on to Birmingham City, Villa, Charlton, Brighton and back to Charlton where he was made joint Manager with Steve Gritt in July 1991.
From: Charlton Athletic On This Day by Matthew Eastley
Curbs' birthday today
It’s got to be someone’s birthday today, why not his?
What’s happened to you this morning - Shit the bed?
Comments
Born at Stepney on 2 July 1952 (65)
Peter Hunt played four seasons at Southend before moving to Charlton where he played 158 games between 1972-1977. The battling mid-fielder endured a difficult start at Charlton but eventually won fans over and became a firm favourite. An integral part of the promotion-winning team of 1974/75, Hunt scored eight goals, including an opening-minute stunner against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a League Cup tie in October 1974.
After Charlton he played a few games for Gillingham, Gravesend and Barking before his retirement in 1981.
Born 7 July 1948 at Hendon, Middlesex (69)
Colin Powell - known as Paddy - joined Charlton from Barnet in 1973 and went on to play over 300 games and score 35 goals for the Addicks. The tricky winger then spent a season in the US before returning to play a couple of seasons with Gillingham and then Dartford.
He managed Margate briefly in 1990 having previously been Assistant Manager. Then he became head groundsman at Charlton, a post he held until June 2014. He was tasked with the job of tending the playing surface when Charlton made their triumphant return to the Valley in December 1992 after seven years in exile.
On retirement Chairman Richard Murray said: "Colin is regarded as an absolute legend at this football club and quite rightly so. Firstly for his playing days which I remember fondly, but in general for his outstanding commitment and contribution to the club over all these years",
Born 13 July 1936 at Portsmouth (81)
Ray Crawford played 21 games for Charlton in 1969. The striker scored seven goals. He played a couple of games for England in 1961-62 scoring a goal against Austria. He was never as prolific for Charlton as he had been at Wolves where he scored 41 goals in 61 matches - and Ipswich where he had scored 259 goals.
He was dismissed from Charlton after a row with Manager Eddie Firmani, after refusing to attend a a special training session. He may best be remembered by Charlton fans for a classic overhead kick goal at The Den.
Born 22 July 1962 at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland (55)
No history of Charlton is complete without making reference to Colin Walsh, a 125,000 quid capture from Notts Forest in September 1986. He was the scorer of THAT goal. It was his sweetly-struck left-foot shot after seven minutes which won the game against Portsmouth, crowning a perfect day for Charlton - the day we returned to the Valley.
This historic goal is memorialised in a banner in the Valley's north stand carrying Walsh's name and the time of the goal.
He played for Forest (his first Manager was Brian Clough) between 1979-1986. He then joined Charlton where he played 242 games over 10 seasons scoring 21 goals.
Alan and Gary born 6 August 1966 (51) at Dagenham
When identical twins Alan and Gary appeared for the Addicks on 6th April 1985 against Sheffield United at the Valley they became only the third identical twins to play in the Football League since the Second World War.
ALAN was left back and played for youth sides at Charlton before playing six games for the senior side between 1984/86. He played most of his career at Cambridge United (on a free transfer from Charlton) and Wimbledon. Alan played a pivotal role in United's success in climbing the lower leagues in the early 1990s. He moved to Premier side Wimbledon for 175,000 and played 215 games for them between 1993/2002.
Alan scored 24 goals (mostly from the penalty spot) - for Cambridge - but interestingly never scored for any of the other seven clubs he played for. After he retired from his playing career he took on coaching roles at four non-league clubs, the most recent being Maldon and Tiptree which he left in 2015. Twin brother Gary was his assistant manager at Isthmian Leabgue club Aveley in 2010.
GARY played nine games for the Addicks between 1984/86 before scoring once from the left wing - before joining Cambridge United on a free transfer with his brother. He played 41 games for Cambridge before going on to play for Doncaster Rovers, Fulham, Gillingham, Peterborough and Dagenham. His big moment came in December 1991 when he hit the national sports headlines scoring the winning goal for Peterborough in a League Cup win over Liverpool.
Like his brother he went on to manage non-league clubs, the last being Witham Town which he left in February last year.
Born 7 August 1933 (84) at Cape Town, South Africa
South African born Eddie Firmani is considered by many to be one of the finest players ever to pull on a Charlton shirt. On 5 February 1955 Firmani scored five goals in Charlton's 6-1 win over Aston Villa. In front of 24,000 spectators at the Valley Firmani was on fire, and already had two goals to his name with four minutes on the clock. When he got his fifth - a penalty after 83 minutes - it was his 20th goal in 13 league matches.
On 18 July 1955 Firmani signed for Sampdoria. Following what one paper described as "high pressure Italian persuasion" Firmani agreed a deal which saw his wages rocket from 15 to 150 pounds a week. The Genoan club paid 35,000 for Firmani's services - a record fee for a Football League player - as well as 5,000 signing on fee, plus a car and a flat.
On 11 September 1967 he was appointed Charlton's new Manager in the wake of Bob Stokoe's sacking. "I believe the club can become great again. .. I have always been devoted to Charlton because they are the club I owe almost everything to" said Eddie. His first match in charge was a 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Eddie Firmani was sacked by Michael Gliksten in 1970 after a disastrous 5-0 home defeat against Leicester City ending his long association with the club. The final straw for the directors was Firmani's peculiar decision to play right-winger Mike Kenning at left-back against the Foxes - a gamble which badly misfired - all this from "Charlton Athletic on this Day" by Matthew Eastley.
For the record Firmani played 112 games - 51 goals - between 1950-1955.
He returned to Charlton from Italy in 1963 and played another 55 games for the Addicks (32 goals) over two seasons.
He returned to Charlton from Southend in 1967/68 for another spell of 10 games scoring six goals.
He had played three games for Italy between 1956-1958 scoring two goals.
He managed Charlton between 1967-1970 before moving to the US and Canada when he managed an assortment of teams up until 1996.
He was the first Italian international (his grandfather was Italian) to manage an English club.
He is the only player ever to have scored 100 league goals in both England and Italy.
In 2005 he was named as Charlton's greatest overseas player.
Born 15 August 1982 (35) at Camden
An Addick into his seventh year with the club
Born 12 August 1972 (45) at Dublin
Mark Kinsella spent three weeks of the 1996/97 pre-season training with Charlton, playing in two pre-season games and scoring in both. Curbs was delighted and was able to sign him from Colchester even though Kinsella had been offered more money elsewhere.
The midfielder played 208 games for Charlton between 1996 and 2002 scoring 20 goals. After moving to Aston Villa for a couple of seasons he played for West Brom, Walsall and briefly Lewes. He was an Irish international with 48 caps - playing in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea - with three international goals to his name.
He was Charlton's Player of the Year in 1998 and skipper of the side which won promotion in the dramatic Division One play-off final against Sunderland.
He is remembered as being one of the greats of the late 1990s at Charlton along with Rufus, Mendonca, Hunt and Robinson. He was injured in 2002, and could not regain his place from Scott Parker - and was sold to Villa for 1m.
In 2006 he returned to Charlton as coach for the Charlton Reserves for a couple of seasons before moving up to coach the senior team with Parkinson as Manager in December 2008. They were both sacked in January 2011.
Mark Kinsella is now assistant coach at Drogheda United.
Born Bulawayo, Rhodesia on 29 August 1971 (46)
John Robinson came to Charlton in 1992 and played 332 games for the Addicks over 10 seasons. He was a midfielder and scored 35 goals.
He transferred from Brighton in 1992 for 75,000 and helped Charlton to two promotions, enjoying three seasons of Premiership football. He played in the dramatic 1998 play-off final against Sunderland, scoring one of the penalties.
After his release from Charlton in 2003, he played for Cardiff, then Gillingham. He later had short spells with non-league sides Crawley and Lewes before his retirement in 2005.
He played 16 games for the Wales U21 side before being selected for the national team and scoring three goals in 30 appearances between 1995-2002.
John Robinson was elected to the Charlton Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Born 8 September 1969 (48) at Lambeth
As Charlton prepared for life in the Premiership, Alan Curbishley signed a left back who would come to symbolise everything that is good about the club. Powell cost a club record of 825,000 from Derby County in June 1998 but repaid that fee several times over, not just with outstanding performances on the pitch but with his all-round character, professionalism and fair mindedness.
He was so consistently good than Swen-Goran Erikssen picked him for England at the unusually late age of 31, making him the oldest England debutant for 47 years.
Universally liked, Powell would eventually return as Manager - to wild acclaim - in January 2011.
Chris Powell first left Charlton in 2004 for a stint at West Ham before returning to Charlton in the summer of 2005. A year later, he signed a on-year contract with Watford before returning to the Valley.
He also served as chairman of the PFA and ended his playing career at Leicester before returning to the Valley following PHIL Parkinson's sacking.
Mostly from: Charlton Athletic on this Day by Matthew Eastley
Born 9 September 1968. (49) at Sunderland
Clive Mendonca had two spells at Sheffield United, as well as stints with Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United. He moved to Grimsby Town from where Charlton bought him for 700,000 in the summer of 1997. In his first season with the Addicks, Mendonca scored 28 goals in all competitions and became the first Charlton player to score 20 league goals in a season since Mike Flanagan in 1976/77.
Altogether he scored 45 goals for Charlton in 96 appearances between 1997-2000.
Monday, 25 May 1998 - a day no Charlton fan will ever forget. The Addicks won promotion to the Premiership in dramatic, extraordinary and heart-stopping circumstances. Charlton striker - and Sunderland fan - Clive Mendonca completed what must be one of the highest quality hat-tricks ever scored at Wembley to make it 4-4. Each of Mendonca's efforts was a gem.
Saturday, 22 August 1998 - Charlton sat proudly at the top of the Premiership table after thrashing Southampton 5-0 at the Valley. It was the first time the Addicks had been in first place in the top tier since 1937/38. Striker Clive Mendonca grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick. After the game he commented "Can we stop the league now, please""
All from Charlton Athletic on this Day by Matthew Eastley
After his football career ended Mendonca received funding from the Professional Footballers' Association to train as an oil-rig worker.
Born 17 September 1946 (71) at Woolwich
Billy Bonds grew up in Eltham and joined the groundstaff at Charlton after leaving school at the age of 15. He played in the youth team and A team and occasionally in the reserves before joining the playing staff shortly before his 18th birthday in September 1964.
He made his league debut for Charlton against Northampton in February 1965 and became a regular in the first team going on to make 95 league appearances.
There was outcry from Charlton fans in May 1967 when the 20 year-old defender was sold to Second Division (Championship) West Ham for £47,500. Bonds had made exactly 100 appearances for the Addicks before Hammers boss Ross Greenwood snuffled him as part of a major rebuilding programme in E13.
He was with West Ham for over 20 years making a club record 663 league appearances and became a local hero, earning himself West Ham's first ever lifetime achievement award. He returned to Upton Park to manage the Hammers from 1990-1994. He was appointed an MBE in 1988.
I remember vividly that teenage right back rampaging up the wing just feet away from where I was standing at the front of the old East Terrace and as if by magic he's an old man of 71.
The newly-formed Charlton Athletic club played its first-ever competitive match on this day, travelling a few miles west to take on Nunhead Swifts Reserves in the Lewisham League. This historic match ended in a 6-1 victory for Charlton. It was the start of a highly successful season for Charlton who won 17 and drew one of their 18 matches and topped the league with 35 points.
Neville Chamberlain declares "peace for our time" at Heston Aerodrome after appeasing Hitler in Munich.
The following day, October 1st, the British Prime Minister watches Charlton draw 4-4 with Birmingham City at the Valley, where the local rector offers a thanksgiving prayer and a crowd of 20,000 sing along to "Land of Hope and Glory".
Born 10 October 1970 at Salford, Greater Manchester (47)
Of all the players Alan Curbishley bought wile Charlton Manager - £1m on 26 May 1999 - few can have repaid the fee as well as the excellent Dean Kiely. The brilliant keeper was snapped up from Bury and was consistently outstanding during Charlton's Premiership years. In the 1-0 win over Spurs at the Valley on 16 September 2000 Kiely pulled off three world-class saves - including one from a Les Ferdinand rocket which had to be seen to be believed.
"..at Charlton they care about their players and as a player it is rare that you get that feeling at a club. - Dean Kiely in 'A Nostalgic Look at a Century of the Club'.
He played 222 games for Charlton between 1999-2006
In March 2015 he was appointed Norwich City goalkeeping coach.
On a more personal note, Steve Gritt suffered a tragedy in December 2002 when his 18 year old daughter died as a result of cancer. Hayley, who had battled a brain tumour for 10 years, was a lifelong Charlton supporter, a season ticket holder at the Valley, even after her Dad's departure from the club in 1995. Steve has been involved in numerous fundraising activities ever since.
a good article in 'The Economist' .. New Tsar Rising .. an insight into the regime of Vladimir Putin .. the more things change, the more they remain the same