Charlton Athletic Women's Team History

Charlton Athletic's first team plays in the National Division of the FA Nationwide Premier League - the top flight of women's football in England.

The club was formed in 2000 when Croydon, who had won the league title and lifted the FA Cup the previous season, came under the umbrella of the Addicks.

A series of administrative matters initially delayed the start of their 2000/01 campaign, although the club picked up its first piece of silverware following a Charity Shield draw against Arsenal, and Charlton would finish that first season in third place in the table.

By that stage Keith Boanas, previously manager of the Ryman League Tooting and Mitcham men's team, was at the helm, having replaced ex-boss Gill Wylie midway though the campaign.

And he led the Addicks to another third-place finish in the league and an FA Cup semi-final appearance the following season despite a large turnover in playing staff.

It was a case of one step forward in the cup but one step back in the league in 2002/03 as Charlton finished fourth despite 17 league goals in 17 games for striker Amanda Barr, who won the divison's Golden Boot.

But there was the excitement of a first ever FA Cup final appearance against Fulham in May 2003. Unfortunately, the Addicks under-performed and two own goals, including one by centre-half Karen Hills on her birthday, led to a 3-0 defeat.

Barr grabbed another 18 goals the following year as Charlton, bolstered by the recruitment of the likes of Casey Stoney, Eniola Aluko, Fara Williams and Danielle Murphy in previous years gelled into a potentially title-winning side and the 2003/04 title went right down to the wire.

With one league game remaining, between Arsenal and Fulham, three sides could all lift the championship with the Addicks praying for a draw - alas, the Gunners won and pipped Charlton by one point.

It was so near yet so far in the FA Cup the same season as well as Charlton lost their second successive final, again by a 3-0 scoreline, to double winners Arsenal at Loftus Road in May 2004.

But by that stage the Addicks had already lifted their first major trophy two months earlier when they beat Fulham 1-0 in the Premier League Cup final at Barnet's FC's Underhill stadium.

Although captain Stoney lifted the cup, she enjoyed a mixed match having been forced from the field midway through the first half. But her replacement, Emma Coss, turned out to be the hero as she scored with a header with her second touch.

Despite their defeat in the FA Cup, Charlton's second-placed finish led to them taking on Arsenal again in the 2004 Community Shield and an Ann-Marie Heatherson goal was enough to give the club sole possession of that trophy for the first time.

But although the Addicks made a bright start to the 2004/05 league campaign, having recruited England international and former Fulham professional Katie Chapman during the summer, they would eventually finish runners-up once more, again to Arsenal.

The Gunners also emerged triumphant when the two sides met in the 2005 Premier League Cup, with Charlton unable to defend their trophy.

But the season ended in jubilation as Boanas and co finally put their FA Cup final heartache behind them and beat Everton at West Ham United's Upton Park to lift the 2005 FA Cup.

Although the Addicks dominated the clash, which was shown live on the BBC to more than 2m viewers, a solitary goal from Aluko was enough to see the women's team echo the men's team's success in 1947 and enter the record books.

Season 2005/06 started with a 4-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, but having made no fewer than eight new signings during the summer, Charlton knew they were well equipped to again challenge the Gunners for the right to be called the best side in the women's game.

And in March 2006, the Addicks regained the Premier League Cup trophy from their rivals with a 2-1 victory at the Causeway Stadium, but two weeks later Arsenal got their revenge by knocking the FA Cup holders out of the competition at the semi-final stage.

Charlton finished the league campaign in third place after losing 1-0 on the final day of the season to runners up Everton.

Charlton play their home matches at Gravesend & Northfleet's Stonebridge Road ground, but have also been known to play at The Valley.