Emotional Day at the Valley

The Charlton crowd which had assembled at The Valley for the home game against Blackburn Rovers was stunned even before a ball had been kicked when Chairman Richard Murray announced that Alan Curbishley had resigned, bringing to an end a 15 year association with the club, the last twelve of which had seen him in sole charge.

Alan Curbishley’s record of loyalty and achievement bears comparison with any manager in the country. Both on and off the field, he has established Charlton’s status as a genuine Premiership club, working with budgets that would have deterred many of his contemporaries, and the warmth of the ovation he received before kick-off was eloquent testimony to the respect and appreciation in which he is held, not only by the Charlton faithful but throughout the English game.

Sadly his side were unable to provide the dream send-off that Alan’s long and distinguished service warranted, and Charlton went down 2-0 to a Steven Reid header and an own goal from veteran full back Chris Powell.