Ten Years Ago: season ends in anti-climax

12,614 came to The Valley to see Charlton's last home game of the season, thus confirming an average gate of over 10,000 (10,216)for the season, but the match was an anti-climax ending in a 1-1 draw against Port Vale. However, Richard Murray got a good response when he addressed the crowd at half time.

My notes record that it was a dull and cold day. I wrote, 'Charlton had a lot of possession and some good scoring opportunities but failed to convert them. Rather typical of our season, failing to beat teams we should have defeated. With a little more consistency, effort and luck we could be up there next season.'

A run of 161 consecutive appearances for Port Fail keeper Paul Musselwhite was ended by the professional debut of Arjan van Heusden. The Burslem club went ahead on 33 minutes, but Steve Brown equalised for the Addicks just before the break. Charlton ended the season just two places ahead of Vale, but the histories of the two clubs have subsequently diverged.

The programme recorded that Richard Rufus had won Supporters Club player of the year and had also been awarded Young Player of the Year by the managers. Rufus had also been called up into the England Under 21 squad. David Whyte came second in the Player of the Year voting with Sweaty Balmer third.