CHARLTON have been handed a home draw with League One outfit Yeovil Town in the first round of the Carling Cup on August 12.

The Valley clash will be the second meeting between the two sides in recent years following Charlton's 3-2 FA Cup success against the Glovers in 2005.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace will host Hereford United and Millwall entertain Northampton Town in the first round fixtures.

THE hallowed turf of The Valley will again be pristine at the start of the season according to groundsman Colin Powell.

The former Addicks winger, who made 358 appearances for the club, is presiding over the essential summer work ahead of what will be another multi-match season.

Powell said: "Ideally we like to turn the pitch over as soon as the season finishes, but we had 40-odd corporate games on it in May so we didn't really have time to do that this year.

"Instead we've just taken the top off, scratched it about, scarified it, top-dressed it and seeded it and now we're just waiting for the grass to come up."

CHARLTON will serve more fans from outside the capital next season with the Valley Express coach service extended and enhanced.

There will be four new pick up points en route to SE7 as well as an improved service from the east Kent town of Sandwich.

New stops have been introduced on the A257 at Ash, Wingham and Littlebourne and the club is also adding a Hailsham pick-up on the A22 service from Eastbourne.

The board has agreed match-by-match fares will rise from £5 to £6, but fans will be able to avoid the increase by purchasing a season pass for £115.

Get more information on Valley Express at valleyexpress.co.uk THERE is not long until Charlton supporters can plot their return to the Premier League when the new Championship fixture list is unveiled.

Fans can exclusively see how the season will unfold on the official website cafc.co.uk on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the Addicks will discover their opponents in the first round of the Carling Cup this Friday.

And as part of a new initiative in the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as the Premier League but not the Championship, teams will be able to name seven substitutes from 2008/09.

ADDICKS fans have the opportunity to gain a free season of Premier League football if they purchase a season ticket to watch Charlton next season.

Supporters who sign up before August 1 will receive the same seat free of charge the following year should the club gain promotion to the top flight.

Places at The Valley next season are available from £290 for adults, £125 for under-21s and £99 for under-18s.

For more information, visit cafc.co.uk or call 0871 226 1905.

CHARLTON coaches will be bringing fun to Bexley, Greenwich and Kent this summer when the Addicks football courses kick off on July 21.

Five weeks of training under qualified coaches and matches is available at a host of locations.

For more information, call 020 8850 2866.