Charlton Athletic FC Reviews Summary

Stadium Experience

Pros:

• "Good view, good game. Easy to get served in Bartram's from a good selection of drinks."
• "It's an old stadium. But the fans are friendly and the confines inviting."
• "The stadium offers good views and is a credit to the club."
• "Great football ground with good viewing from all around the ground."
• "The ground is clean and easily navigated."
• "Inside, sight lines are excellent, and the locals love this iconic home."
• "Stands give a great view of the pitch and seating is right up and close to the pitch so you won’t miss any of the action."

Cons:

• "The views of the goal area at the away end are a little bit limited depending on where you end up sitting / standing."
• "The whole experience of the CAFC stadium, staff, traffic management etc etc was a shambolic mess."
• "When sat on the top tier i think it is poor that the flight of stairs leads you straight to the food stand thus causing horrible cues everywhere just to get up the stairs."
• "Terrible staff all round. Horrendous queuing system for the food and beverages which is very dangerous."
• "Absolutely awful seats in the away end. No leg room at all and seats not big enough."
• "Getting out of the ground was extremely unpleasant as felt like there was going to be a crowd surge for everyone trying to get to the train station."
• "Some areas can be obscured by the pillars holding up the roof."

Food and Beverages

Pros:

• "Good quality food served well. Bar prices was also good and service was fine."
• "Great pies & drinks."
• "Nice sausage rolls though, step up from the usual fare."
• "The pies and sausage rolls were amazing!"
• "Nice stadium. Has probably the best food out of all the football stadiums I've been to."
• "The away end is a bit of a weird set up but the beer and food isn't too badly priced for a football ground."
• "And if you’re coming along with kids there’s a decent Family Activity Zone near the club shop."

Cons:

• "Be aware charlton is card only (even if it doesn't say it anywhere) also food from the crossbars was cold had to be taken back twice."
• "No vegetarian food at the catering outlet which was disappointing after a four hour coach journey to the stadium."
• "Drink and food prices ridiculous. Seats very crammed together."
• "The catering has gone majorly downhill, with over-priced and horrible pies."
• "The Grolsch beer was awful. The steak pies were full of mushrooms not steak."
• "They were really slow serving drinks and food at half time."
• "Food from the crossbars was cold had to be taken back twice."

Staff and Security

Pros:

• "The stewards were very helpful, and engaged in friendly banter / conversation."
• "The staff were friendly."
• "The staff were absolutely fantastic, and the view, ..WOW... We were up high, covered from the elements."
• "Security friendly and generally happy quick enough to allow us in there search was not very thorough but it made me feel slightly safer."
• "The stewards are so friendly."
• "Staff were pleasant and efficient."
• "Huge thanks and appreciation to the lovely gentleman at reception just now for accompanying me to CAFC memorial garden to spread Eddie's ashes."

Cons:

• "The personnel is too busy looking at their phone."
• "Police organisation of the crowd was appalling."
• "All i can say is 'WOW' what a kip... never seen so much morons in my life, stewards were like prison guards."
• "Terrible staff all round. Horrendous queuing system for the food and beverages which is very dangerous."
• "A couple of the stewards weren't helpful with seating."
• "The fans threw plastic cups full of beer and coffee across the stands, and the Stewards didn't seem to care."
• "Stewards are a bit officious and could do more to treat fans as welcome customers."

Accessibility and Convenience

Pros:

• "Great family club not too expensive for tickets especially when they do football for a fiver."
• "Excellent well appointed good viewing stadium if perhaps a shade expensive for league one. but only a five minute stroll from charlton train station which has a good service from london train stations and kent stations."
• "Located close to Charlton train station - as is the situation across central London, public transport is superb."
• "Not too difficult to get to on public transit if you're in the area."
• "It's very convenient that Charlton Station is located very close to the ground."
• "Good transport links, lovely ground. Decent food & drink kiosks inside the ground."
• "Transport to it q easy, decent away stand at the Jimmy Seed stand."

Cons:

• "Very difficult access for disabled people."
• "Getting out of the ground was extremely unpleasant as felt like there was going to be a crowd surge for everyone trying to get to the train station."
• "Car parking is a bit difficult on Boxing Day, when there are no trains running, so it's a good idea to get here early."
• "Long story short end, really disappointed by your ticket counter service Charlton to charge one of your student supporters more than double price."
• "The wheelchair access also has to use the same path."
• "The only downside is probably its location, as it forces fans to go out onto a quite narrow road after the game."
• "A long way out of London and very few pubs in the area."

Atmosphere and Culture

Pros:

• "The sound of a drum beating out a battle rhythm in the Upper North Stand gave momentum to enthusiastic singing and chanting in support of the players on the pitch."
• "Lovely ground. Always a good atmosphere."
• "Good community minded club that is attended by a number of families."
• "The atmosphere from the Charlton fans was constant which made a good game."
• "It's a place where tradition, passion, and community come together, creating a unique football experience."
• "The staff at The Valley were welcoming and eager to share stories about the club's history and its significance to the community."
• "The atmosphere electric, was nice to see families having fun and getting involved in the game.....top notch."

Cons:

• "Very good modern stadium but lacks any atmosphere whatsoever."
• "All i can say is 'WOW' what a kip... never seen so much morons in my life, stewards were like prison guards."
• "The worst defensive collapse during the second half I've ever seen at the Valley in 60 years."
• "Fans are awful however, booed the taking the knee which no one can give me a good enough reason for why people do that."
• "During and especially after the game, we lost count of the pitch invaders, many that were kids that prevented the trophy ceremony at the end."
• "I love this place but it's heartbreaking to see the soul of the club disintegrating buy the lack of care from the owners, can only hope that will return."
• "The Stewards didn't seem to care."