Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Derby County

kevinnolan

Kevin Nolan's Valley View

Charlton’s first home match of the season ended with a welcome win for the Addicks. KEVIN NOLAN returned to the press box at a blazing hot Valley.

Having spent almost all of a torrid first half with their backs against the wall, Charlton re-emerged after the interval to carry the fight to ragged-trousered aristocrats Derby, scored midway through the second session and had enough about them to make their single strike count.

County were left to rue missed chances and a fatal lack of killer instinct. They paid a bitter price for failing to crown their effortless superiority with at least one goal because if football teaches us anything, it’s that there’s almost inevitably a price to pay for profligacy. Charlton missed a couple of sitters themselves but when the chips were down, they were sufficiently clinical on one critical occasion. And once was enough.

The momentum was with the Addicks as they broke swiftly after clearing the latest of Conor Hourihane’s numerous, dangerous corners. Picking up possession in his own half, Scott Fraser swept into the Rams’ half before finding Charlie Kirk close to the left touchline. Kirk’s deft flick sent Albie Morgan through to move into shooting range and force a desperate diving save from Joe Wildsmith. Following up alertly, Corey Blackett-Taylor made easy work of planting the rebound into an inviting net and Charlton had a vital lead they proceeded to defend stubbornly.

The early running was made exclusively by Liam Rosenior’s talented side, who had little difficulty in creating opportunities, but they had considerably more difficulty in converting them. To be fair to them, they faced, in new Charlton signing Joe Wollacott, a goalkeeper in outstanding form.

A string of splendid saves began with the instinctive reaction which kept out James Collins’ point-blank effort and was continued by Wollacott’s unorthodox response to a clever backheel from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, a victim again when the resourceful keeper dived to reach his low drive as it headed towards the bottom right corner. And when Collins finally beat Wollacott a minute before the break, his crisp daisycutter rebounded back off the foot of a post.

Very little had been seen from Ben Garner’s men up front but Kirk was an intermittent threat, alertly but inaccurately trying his luck from distance after a slip from Curtis Davies, then producing the juiciest of crosses from the left which Jayden Stockley, despite making meaty contact, headed straight at Wildsmith.

Outplayed and outclassed, Charlton sheepishly retired for what was surely the rough side of new boss Ben Garner’s tongue. His message, however couched, was probably short but certainly less than sweet. According to Garner, nothing discussed and rehearsed in training had been implemented by his wayward charges – his only consolation being that they could hardly get worse.

But on the half hour, whether or not he realised it, he received a break which had much to do with Charlton’s dramatic second-half recovery. Preferred to George Dobson, last season’s player of the year, Conor McGrandles has shown promise but struggled to get into a game all but totally controlled by the visitors. Coming off worse in a shuddering collision with Korey Smith, the willowy midfielder suffered a head injury which forced his withdrawal and replacement by Dobson.

No criticism of McGrandles is implied in commenting that Dobson’s arrival immediately challenged County’s midfield domination. There was a subtle but noticeable shift in physical superiority that was to turn around the one-way traffic which threatened to engulf the Londoners. And Dobson was at the root of it.

On the right side, meanwhile, Blackett-Taylor began to use his blistering pace and leave hapless defenders in his slipstream. Shortly after the re-start, he ghosted past his marker and supplied Stockley with a precise cross, which the misfiring centre forward again headed straight at Wildsmith.

Rosenior’s East Midlanders had been duly warned that Blackett-Taylor was briefly on fire. Shortly after the hour mark, his speed and anticipation carried him into the perfect position to convert Morgan’s partially saved shot; significantly he was unaccompanied as he did so.

Soaking up pressure but no longer buckling under it, the Addicks were well served by full backs Steven Sessegnon and Sean Clare, a Mutt and Jeff pairing which resisted stubbornly while finding time to turn defence into attack. In front of them, Morgan continued his encouraging improvement, adding another on-target shot before the end, which Wildsmith saved with difficulty.

Late substitute Jack Payne was an energetic influence but it was the romantic introduction of Miles Leaburn which especially delighted the home crowd, Leaburn the Younger provided a keep-ball cameo which saw the Addicks over the line for a belt-and-braces victory. Their cause was boosted by the incredible mess Jason Knight made of Max Bird’s tape-measured cross. With Wollacott’s goal at his mercy, Knight almost deliberately headed yards wide.

Charlton: Wollacott, Clare, Inniss, O’Connell, Sessegnon (Lavelle 90), Morgan, McGrandles (Dobson 31), Kirk (Jaiyesimi 81), Fraser (Payne 81), Blackett-Taylor (Leaburn 80), Stockley (Clayden 90). Not used: MacGillivray. Booked: Sessegnon, Morgan.

Derby: Wildsmith, Cashin, Barkhuizen (Dobbin 70), Bird, Smith (Sibley 55), Roberts (Forsyth 84), Davies, Knight, Mendez-Laing, Hourihane, Collins. Not used: Loach, Thompson, Stearman, Oduroh. Booked: Mendez-Laing.

Referee: Chris Pollard Attendance: 17,046

LIKE KEVIN’S REPORTS? SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

– We publish Charlton Athletic match reports from home games. You can help us by becoming a supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion
– You can also support us via Patreon
– Can your company sponsor these match reports? Get in touch

One eagle stays, the other hidden in Victoria pub’s pizza revamp

Darryl Chamberlain
The Victoria in 2018. It has suffered further damage since

Updated story: Developers who are turning the derelict Victoria pub on Woolwich Road into a pizza takeaway have said they will keep its famous spread eagle in place at the front of the building – but hide another eagle motif at the site of the pub.

Zaan Group, a Domino’s Pizza franchise based in Gillingham, Kent, won planning permission in 2019 to refurbish the long-closed pub as a takeaway and build a single flat at the rear of the building.

Earlier this year, a replacement proposal to build two flats at the back of the pub rather than one was approved by Greenwich Council planners.

The pub, on Woolwich Road, is thought to have closed in the 1990s and is now a burnt-out shell. But its exterior has survived, including a spread eagle motif for east London’s Truman brewery over the entrance, helping make the building a local landmark.

Developers have told Greenwich Council that this eagle will stay…

Neither proposal went to a planning meeting so developers were not questioned in public about their proposals. Under Greenwich’s rules, eight people need to get in contact with concerns, or local councillors can call a scheme in for scrutiny, but neither happened for The Victoria.

Last month, construction details were submitted to planners for their approval – featuring architectural drawings that included illuminated Domino’s signage but omitted the spread eagle.

A report elsewhere, published the same day that the details appeared on the council website, and accompanying social media posts implied that this meant the developer was removing the much-loved feature.

Plans submitted to Greenwich omit the spread eagle

But Greenwich Council has told The Charlton Champion that the developer intends to keep the eagle over the door – and has been asked to update its drawings to reassure residents.

However, a second eagle insignia, at the side of the pub, is due to be hidden beneath Domino’s signage under the developers’ plans. The building is on the council’s local heritage list, which mentions both eagle motifs.

…however, the eagle at the side is due to be hidden

A Greenwich spokesperson said: “The council is currently considering a submission of details application for the former Victoria pub in Charlton.

“The applicant has confirmed that its planning proposal seeks to retain the eagle motif at the front of the building, along with the existing fascia sign, but it does not include plans to retain the eagle motif at the side of the building.

“We have asked the applicant to provide new architect’s drawings that include these important details and to avoid any further confusion.”

Sam Bowman, of Sittingbourne-based Beau Architecture, which submitted the application to the council, told The Charlton Champion: “The existing signage and Eagle Motif is to be retained. Any existing signage is to remain in situ and preserved beneath any new signage proposed as per the attached.”

Plans indicate that construction would take 74 weeks, suggesting that work is unlikely to be finished until well into 2024 at the earliest.

Revised drawings show the spread eagle in place

While the submission of detailed plans indicate progress with the plan, they still do not guarantee the development will happen: the owner of the White Swan submitted similar details for the house it wants to build on part of its beer garden last year, but construction has not yet begun.

Close to the Victoria, a planning inspector recently approved 255 homes on land between Eastmoor Street and Westmoor Street after throwing out a rejection by Greenwich’s planning board.

Residents can see the full details of the Victoria plans and respond to the application on the Greenwich Council planning website.

Alternatively, comments can be sent to planningapps[at]royalgreenwich.gov.uk citing reference 22/2493/SD.

Residents in the new Charlton Village and Riverside ward who contact the planning department may also want to contact their local councillors if they have concerns about the development.

Story updated to include comment from Beau Architecture and new drawing.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

Greenwich Council alerted after White Swan ceiling collapse

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment
The White Swan
The White Swan has been unused since March 2020. Six Nations rugby flags are still on display

Greenwich Council is investigating after part of the ceiling appeared to have collapsed at the White Swan pub, which is owned by property developers and has been closed for more than two years.

The council says it is looking into the issue after reports that people were seen moving into the upper floor of the pub amid fears that it could be being deliberately damaged.

While the town hall says it accepts that someone may live on site for security purposes, its inspectors were due to visit on Monday to look at the situation.

A quantity of plaster has fallen from the ceiling into the bar, which has not been used since March 2020. The pub closed just before the first lockdown, after a lengthy battle to pay the rent demanded by the Isle of Man-based property developer Mendoza, which bought the freehold from Punch Taverns for £900,000 in 2015.

White Swan interior
Plaster has fallen into the area by the women’s toilet

The ground floor and basement of the pub have been on the market since August 2020 – albeit at £40,000/year rent. No application has been made to change the use of the upstairs floors, which were used as function rooms.

The following November planning permission was given for a house on land behind the pub, which would occupy some of the beer garden. Mendoza later told Greenwich Council that the house would be built between June and October last year, but no work has begun.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson told The Charlton Champion on Monday evening: “We received a complaint in February 2021 about the space above the pub being used for residential purposes. Following investigation at the time we established that there was a pre-existing occupied flat there but that this was lawful and helpful in deterring any unauthorised entry and occupation.

“The ground floor at that time was not occupied for residential use. The officer concluded that there was no breach of planning control and records show no enforcement cases have been opened since then.

“Planning enforcement officers were due to seek to gain access today to inspect the premises following this report.”

It is not known whether a visit took place or if council officers could gain access.

Glasshouse Asset Management, Mendoza’s property agent, and ECF, which was looking after the company’s communications, have not responded to a request for comment.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

The Valley could host large concerts next summer, Charlton Athletic owner says

Darryl Chamberlain
Rainbow at The Valley
Thomas Sandgaard hopes concerts will bring crowds to The Valley

Charlton Athletic’s owner Thomas Sandgaard has revealed that The Valley could stage large concerts next summer – the first since 2006.

The Danish-American businessman revealed his plans to put the stadium back on the musical map in an interview with Masthead, a magazine published by the South East London Chamber of Commerce.

The Valley’s last big gig was a performance by Elton John 16 years ago, but back in the 1970s, the stadium – which then boasted the vast East Terrace – hosted two huge shows by The Who, drawing tens of thousands of fans. The second concert, in May 1976 with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Little Feat among the support acts, was recorded as the world’s loudest, with the sound reaching 120 decibels.

Any new show will not be as big and is very unlikely to be as loud – but Sandgaard, a rock musician who has written his own song for Charlton, Addicks to Victory, told the magazine he was looking forward to hosting the shows.

“This fits in with my background and I am really excited that we will stage some great events at The Valley,” told the magazine.

Last year the club revealed plans to host a Queen tribute show for 1,700 people, but nothing came of the proposal.

Sandgaard bought Charlton nearly two years ago after a turbulent spell under the eccentric Belgian businessman Roland Duchâtelet, whose botched sale to the East Street Investments consortium nearly put the club out of business. Duchâtelet still owns The Valley as well as the club’s training ground in New Eltham.

With the club still languishing in League One, Sandgaard’s ownership has come under scrutiny after his decision to fire team manager Johnnie Jackson in May.

Jackson was replaced five weeks later by Ben Garner from Swindon Town, who has brought over key staff and players from the League Two club, with Sandgaard demanding a more attack-minded style of football.

Sandgaard – who owns the hospital equipment company Zynex Medical – told Masthead that he saw Charlton as a “turnaround challenge”.

“In many ways a football club is like any other business,” he said. “I have been involved with many turnarounds before. It is about getting the right people on board and the right culture in place.”

Fans will get a chance to see Garner’s team at The Valley on Saturday when they play Swansea City in a friendly, with tickets on sale now.

This season The Charlton Champion will carry reporter Kevin Nolan‘s dispatches from selected home games, beginning with the match against Derby County on August 6.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

Don’t panic! The Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival reveals its 2022 line-up

The Charlton Champion
Dad's Army title screen
The 1971 film of the hit TV show is one of the festival’s highlights

The Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival is back again in September – but what’s in? PAUL CHAPMAN, one of the organisers, is here to put you in the picture.

Hard to believe that the Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival is already in its seventh year, but this September we are ready to once more go forth with our trusty (borrowed) projectors and screen free films to the citizens of SE7 and SE18.

The dates of this year’s festival are Friday September 9th to 17th, and we’ll be showing our customary mix of films and documentaries – some old, some new – in our customary mix of venues – some old, some new.

On the 11th, we’re showing the Billy Wilder directed classic THE APARTMENT, which reunited Wilder and Lemmon after the success of Some Like It Hot. The Apartment will be screened at the Assembly Rooms in Charlton Village. Two days later on the 13th we’re back in SE7 at the Old Library in Charlton House, where we’ve got the 1971 war comedy DAD’S ARMY, a film adapted from the classic TV series. The event will feature popular Festival recurring character historian Clive Harris, who will give an informal talk beforehand.

Timbuktu promo shot
The powerful drama Timbuktu will be shown at St Luke’s Church

And on Friday 16th we’ve got a Bond classic at an SE18 classic, Shrewsbury House. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN sees Roger Moore accompanied, as you’d expect, by a fully licensed bar.

That’s three films we’ve already announced, but we can also reveal, exclusive in The Charlton Champion, three more films! On Monday 12th, we are back – after a long interval – at The Star pub in Plumstead. We’ll be screening 2014 comedy-drama PRIDE; the “you’ll laugh, you’ll cry” true story of LGBT activists and their efforts to raise money to support the 1984 miners strike.

A lesser-known 2014 offering comes to St Luke’s Church on Wednesday 14th, with TIMBUKTU, a powerful drama about a family and a city grappling with fundamentalism in Mali. In 2017, The New York Times ranked it the twelfth best film of the 21st century so far!

And for our third Champion exclusive, I can reveal that our Festival closer this year is the epic space opera, DUNE, at Garrison Church on Saturday 17th. Not the 1980s version where Sting dances around in his pants, but the 2021 version starring – like all new films in the last 18 months – Timothee Chalamet. Dune will also feature our old friends from the Flamsteed Astronomy Society, weather permitting, showing us the wonders of the night sky via their mighty telescopes.

There are more films to be announced, once we’ve dotted i’s, crossed the t’s and secured the licenses.

A lot of organisation goes into putting on the festival each year, and we can only show the free films thanks to the generosity of our venues and the generosity of our visitors, who add to our collection buckets at the end of the evenings. In previous years we’ve also been helped through sponsorship, most recently by Greenwich Council.

Sadly this year we’ve been unable to secure council backing (the fund had already closed when we came a-knocking). This will make this years festival more of a challenge, and if there are any potential sponsors out there who are interested in supporting the festival, with all the accompanying promotion and warmth-in-the-tummy-feeling that entails, then feel free to contact our chair for a no-strings chat via gavin[at]freefilmfestivals.org.

And so, all’s that is left is to say we really hope to see lots of you at a film or three this year. Please tell your friends about us, and point them towards our various accounts underneath this article. And keep an eye out for the final published events, we’ve got some real surprises lined up.

That’s all folks.

For more on the Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival, see its website at freefilmfestivals.org. Or follow it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

Charlton Toy Library to hold its 40th birthday party – and you’re invited

Darryl Chamberlain

Charlton Toy Library open sign

It’s 40 years since Charlton Toy Library was founded by a group of mums who met on a regular basis with their children. Since then, it’s moved into Charlton House, added an outreach service to support vulnerable families and overall has helped thousands of children and families across the borough of Greenwich. It provides a place to stay and play for children, but also offers toys, books and baby and safety equipment for loan.

Now Charlton Toy Library is inviting the community to celebrate its 40th birthday this Sunday, 17 July in Charlton Assembly Hall. There will be entertainment, children’s crafts, music and much more. To mark the occasion Charlton Toy Library is raising £4,000 to offer free membership, services and food vouchers to 120 families.

Guests include Leo Fletcher, the mayor of Greenwich, and Chris Mason, local resident and BBC political editor – no doubt taking a break after a busy few days.

The party is open to all, and will run from 10.30am to 1pm – with the all-important cake-cutting at 11am. And to support the fundraiser, visit: cafdonate.cafonline.org/20933.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

Join a gardening party at Charlton station this Sunday

The Charlton Champion

Charlton Station community garden

Got green finders? Charlton Community Gardens would like you to join them for their gardening party this Sunday morning.

They say…

This coming Sunday, July 3rd, we have our Gardening Party from 10 am until 12 noon at Charlton Station. Gardening experience isn’t necessary, but please bring some gloves, if you have them. We have tools for you to use.

Please join us as close to 10 am as you can because if the weather changes, or the tasks listed below are completed, we go home.

The tasks for Sunday:
– general weed and litter pick
– water
– tie up any climbers
– remove acanthus from the pollinator-friendly area
– continue the audit of flowering plants in the pollinator-friendly area
– prune the Cornus in the station bed
– tie in/cut back climbers on the back wall, including the vine
– move bark chippings away from base of raised beds
– other tasks as identified on the day

You can find out more about Charlton Community Gardens at charltoncommunitygardens.org.uk.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.