Cherry pickers For the 4th season running Charlton kick off a new season with one of the promoted sides at home. AFC Bournemouth come to The Valley exactly 51 weeks after we went to them in a pre-season match. I was impressed with the Cherries then, and 32-year old Eddie Howe continued the fantastic job he started the season before after he saved them from relegation despite a 17-point deficit. Bournemouth finished runners up to Notts County, who we play at The Valley six games in.

After Shrewsbury away in the Carling Cup we then go to Leyton Orient, where 3,119 Addicks made the journey east last season. My son and I will hope to make it this time around.

Oldham Athletic with the loveable Paul Dickov at the helm are the next visitors to The Valley, then I guess we can forget about the 2nd Round of the Carling Cup (smiley thing) and we then spend two Saturday's on the road. Firstly Exeter and then up to fellow play-off failure's Huddersfield.

Some other games of interest, in a third division kind of way, are Brighton at home on October 16th, Sheffield Wednesday at home on October 30th, Southampton at The Valley on Boxing Day with a last visit to The Withdean two days later and then a trip to Colchester on New Year's Day.

Wednesday away is in January, Dagenham and Bournemouth away run concurrent in March, then we finish with a much 'easier' looking set of fixtures, although to be fair we made pretty light work of last season's tough finish. The Monkey Hangers come to The Valley on May 7th for the final game.

Charlton's full Div 3 fixtures, now sponsored by nPower are here.  ¶ 09:39