Ten Years Ago: Charlton win away

Alan Curbishley has complained with some justification about the crowded schedule of fixtures over the holiday period, but on Bank Holiday Monday 1995 the Addicks had to face Luton away one day after playing Millwall. It was my first visit to Kenilworth Road so I was not prepared for the experience of going through a passageway in a terraced house and then up a flight of steps in the garden to reach a very cramped stand. Prefabricated executive 'boxes' lined one side of the pitch. There has been much talk over the years of Luton moving over the years either to a site near the M1 or to Milton Keynes (no longer an option with Franchise FC in place), but nothing has ever come of it, while Charlton has continued to develop its ground.

My notes recall 'Charlton played well. David Whyte scored in the first half and they held on to their lead. Steve Brown played well. One of the subs [but not used] was Jamie Stuart from the youth team.' (I think that he now plays for Grays, although I did see him play for Bury against Rushden last year).

The programme was very thin, but only cost a pound. The manager's notes seemed preoccupied with the question of the standard of refereeing in the Avon Insurance Combination.

It was a good start to 1995 for Charlton, but at the end of the season they were just one place ahead of the Hatters.