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Charlton sand Pits - Charlton, South East London
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Charlton sand Pits - Charlton, South East London
Charlton sand Pits - Charlton, South East London. The home football ground of Charlton Athletic FC, The Valley dates from 1919, at a time when the club were looking for a new home. The club found an abandoned sand and chalk pit (possibly this one?!) in Charlton, but did not have sufficient funds to fully develop the site. A large group of volunteer Charlton supporters excavated and cleared a flat area for the pitch at the bottom of the pit and build up makeshift stands from the excavated material. The first game was played before any terraces or seating were formerly installed, simply the roped-off pitch with the crowd standing or sitting on the surrounding earthworks. It is said the unique circumstances of the grounds construction cultivated an unusually intense bond between the Charlton supporters and the site, which exists to this day. Date: circa 1902
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Media ID 18075505
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Aug18 Banks Chalk Charlton Excavation Football Pits Sand Soccer Terracing
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. "A Blast from the Past: Charlton Athletic FC's Unique Beginnings at The Valley, South East London This evocative photograph transports us back in time to the early days of Charlton Athletic Football Club and their iconic home ground, The Valley, in Charlton, South East London. Circa 1902, long before the stadium's formal development, the site was an abandoned sand and chalk pit. With the club in need of a new home, Charlton supporters rallied together, forming a large group of volunteers. The volunteers excavated and cleared the land, creating a flat area for the pitch at the bottom of the pit. Ingeniously, they built makeshift stands from the excavated material, roping off the pitch for the first game before any formal terraces or seating were installed. The unique circumstances of the ground's construction fostered an unusually intense bond between the Charlton supporters and the site, a bond that endures to this day. As you gaze upon this image, imagine the scene: the raw, natural terracing, the earthy banks, and the passionate crowd standing or sitting on the surrounding earthworks. The energy and determination of the volunteers are palpable, as they transformed an abandoned sand pit into the hallowed grounds of Charlton Athletic FC. This photograph is a testament to the power of community spirit and the enduring love for football that has defined Charlton Athletic for over a century.
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