CHARLTON Athletic’s Supporters Trust has made an application to obtain asset of value community status for The Valley.

The move means Addicks fans will have the right to be consulted should the club ever have to leave its spiritual home like it did in 1985, giving supporters the opportunity to bid for the stadium within six months of any proposed move.

Fans have been able to apply for value of community asset status for football grounds for two years and applications have recently been submitted to obtain it for Old Trafford and Anfield, with Oxford United and Nuneaton having already been successful.

Barnie Razzell, interim chair of the CAS Trust, said: “Just a few months short of 28 years ago, Charlton fans were handed a piece of paper telling them their football team would no longer be playing at its historic home The Valley, Floyd Road.

“That act that saw the club separated from its traditional ground, saw a whole community stand together for what they believed in - that SE7 was the rightful home of Charlton Athletic.

“After many years of struggle and the so-called Battle for the Valley, campaigning including the formation of a political party which stood in a local election polling enough votes to seriously put the wind up the establishment, they eventually won through.

“Today’s magnificent stadium The Valley is the culmination of that fight which saw fans and directors working in harmony during Charlton’s most successful era in modern times.”

Mr Razzell added: “Legislation now exists which allows CAS Trust to apply for asset of community value status via the Localism Act 2011.

“Forms are due to be submitted shortly.

“If after eight weeks or so the application is approved, it is understood this will ensure Charlton fans are consulted if the club were ever to be relocated and or the Valley sold, with a six month period allowing a right to bid for the ground.

“This is part of CAS Trust’s aims to preserve Charlton Athletic for this and future generations, and give fans a voice.

“It is seen as an important first step to giving fans influence over the affairs of their clubs and will likely be followed by numerous other clubs' fans following suit.”

For more information, visit castrust.org/valleyacv

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