The Charlton Athletic women’s team will play their home matches at The Valley next season after the club won a grant to install a hybrid pitch.
The side, managed by Karen Hills, are set to miss out on promotion to the Women’s Super League. A victory against Southampton this afternoon – in a match that will be played at The Valley – will effectively mean a second-placed finish in the Championship.
Charlton would have to win by a 23-goal margin and leaders Crystal Palace would have to lose for the Addicks to go up.
The club went professional in 2021, but most matches have been played at The Oakwood, the home of eighth-tier men’s side VCD Athletic in Crayford.
The new, hard-wearing Valley pitch will use artificial fibres mixed with real grass, and is of a type that has long been used at Wembley Stadium and at clubs across the Premier League.
The investment – including a £750,000 grant from the Premier League stadium-fund and a six-figure sum from the club’s owners – means the Sunday women’s fixtures can easily be accommodated.
Louise McGing, the general manager, told the club’s website: “This is a game-changing moment in the history of Charlton Athletic Women. The Valley is a fantastic stadium and for us to be playing every league fixture here from next season gives us the perfect platform to continue to grow.
“We’re looking forward to building on what have been some memorable days at The Valley this season in front of record crowds, and continuing to build our growing connection with the local community.”
Crowds for matches at The Valley have topped 1,000 this season – about double those at VCD – with the recent match against London City Lionesses attracting 1,315 people.
The club will hope moving to SE7 will bring even more fans, with crowds at all levels of women’s football increasing in the wake of England’s Euro 2022 victory. Dulwich Hamlet recently recorded a 1,142 attendance for a match three divisions below the Addicks.
Season tickets have now gone on sale, starting at £70 for adults, with family deals on offer. Today’s match against Southampton kicks off at 2pm, with tickets still on sale.
The success of the women’s team has come in contrast to the abject performance of the men’s side, who confirmed their worst league finish since 1926 yesterday with a 1-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.