How former Premier League ground was left abandoned for seven years and fans even had a bonfire on the pitch
CHARLTON’S ground The Valley was left abandoned for SEVEN YEARS before the inception of the Premier League.
The Addicks moved into the stadium in the 1920s – a venue which once held 75,000 people for an FA Cup game in 1938.
But a lack of investment and safety fears saw the South-East London side vacate the ground in 1985.
They ended up sharing Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace.
And they were also forced to spend a season splitting Upton Park with West Ham.
New investment in 1992 eventually saw Charlton return to The Valley – where they have been ever since.
But during that seven-year spell away from their home, the ground became a cesspit.
Pictures from back then show the turf overgrown, rubbish scattered outside the entrance, and even a trolley on the pitch.
There are also images of locals playing football on the abandoned pitch – and starting a bonfire on the field of play.
It is a remarkably different scene to how The Valley looks in 2023.
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Since returning to the ground, Charlton have redeveloped three of the four stands inside the 27,111-capacity venue.
They also have plans to develop the ground into a 40,000-seater.
Charlton returned to the top flight in 1998 for a first season in the Premier League.
But they were immediately relegated back to the second tier, before a seven-year run in the Premier League between 2000 and 2007.
Relegation down to the Championship 16 years ago was followed by a drop down to League One in 2009 – where they still are now despite two promotions back up to the second division between 2012 and 2019.