Charlton Athletic stand and deliver on promise to honour former manager Alan Curbishley

Charlton Athletic owner Thomas Sandgaard has backed up his promise to rename The Valley’s East Stand after former manager Alan Curbishley.

The Addicks confirmed in April that in tribute to their ex-boss, who twice led them to promotion to the top flight, they would make the move once the League One season was over.

And the Alan Curbishley Stand lettering was up by the time the club’s U18 side played their Professional Development League 2 play-off final in SE7 against Wigan on Friday evening.

Curbishley, 63, managed Charlton from 1991 to 2006 – taking charge for 729 games. He also played 98 matches for the Addicks over two separate spells.

Voice of the Valley fanzine had campaigned for him to have a stand named after him.

“I was stunned when I heard that the club were doing this.,” said Curbishley when the plans were announced in April. “Charlton has been a major part of my life and my story really runs alongside Charlton’s story. It is such a great honour.

“When I was told, I started thinking about other people that have had stands named after them – both players and managers. I know that Billy Bonds and Trevor Booking have at West Ham – they were delighted when the stands were named after them. Then you’ve got Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish – there are not a lot of people who have had stands named after them, for me to be one of them is a great honour.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD