‘We have to understand what a great weapon it is for us’ – Charlton boss Ben Garner excited by Valley potential

Ben Garner is looking forward to his first time in charge of Charlton Athletic at The Valley – and has underlined his desire to harness the home crowd’s power.

The Addicks play Championship side Swansea in SE7 next Saturday before they kick off their League One season at Accrington Stanley on July 30.

After that come back to back home matches against Derby County and then QPR in the EFL Cup.

Garner quit Swindon Town this summer and was named as Charlton’s new manager, succeeding Johnnie Jackson.

The Addicks had the 16th best home record in League One last season, taking 34 points from their 23 matches. They won 10, drew four and lost nine in SE7.

“It’s a fantastic stadium,” said Garner. “We know we’ve got great support.

“All the individual chats I’ve had with the players over the last three or four weeks, I get the same message: ‘If we can get the crowd onside at The Valley, what a difference it makes’.

“We need to focus on that and use it as a strength. There aren’t many clubs that can call on that in this division. We have to understand what a great weapon it is for us. We need to do that with how we play on the pitch. We want that energy and passion from the stands.”

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS