Editing Charlton Athletic F.C. (section)

===Premier League years (1998–2007)===
In 1995, new chairman [[Richard Murray (businessman)|Richard Murray]] appointed [[Alan Curbishley]] as sole manager of Charlton.<ref name="Alan Curbishley profile">{{cite web
| title =Alan Curbishley&nbsp;– Background
| url = http://www.cafc.co.uk/AlanCurbishley.ink
| publisher=Charlton Athletic FC
| access-date =26 August 2013
| archive-date=22 November 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071122135854/http://www.cafc.co.uk/AlanCurbishley.ink}}</ref> Under his sole leadership Charlton made an appearance in the play-off in 1996 but were eliminated by Crystal Palace in the semi-finals and the following season brought a disappointing 15th-place finish. [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]] was Charlton's best season for years. They reached the Division One play-off final and battled against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in a thrilling game which ended with a 4–4 draw after extra time. Charlton won 7–6 on penalties,<ref name="1998 play-off final">{{cite news
 |title        = Charlton clinch nail-biter
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/100195.stm
 |publisher    = BBC
 |website      = BBC News
 |date         = 25 May 1998
|access-date   = 26 August 2013
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208180824/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/100195.stm
 |archive-date = 8 December 2008
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> with the match described as "arguably the most dramatic game of football in Wembley's history",<ref>[http://greatestevent.wembleystadium.com/ Wembley's Greatest Events (1923–2010)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508184434/http://greatestevent.wembleystadium.com/ |date=8 May 2013 }} Wembley Stadium</ref> and were promoted to the [[Premier League]].

Charlton's first Premier League campaign began promisingly (they went top after two games) but they were unable to keep up their good form and were soon battling relegation. The battle was lost on the final day of the season but the club's board kept faith in Curbishley, confident that they could bounce back. Curbishley rewarded the chairman's loyalty with the Division One title in 2000 which signalled a return to the Premier League.<ref name="Charlton bounce back in style">{{cite news
 |title        = Charlton bounce back in style
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/808548.stm
 |work    = BBC Sport
 |date         = 29 June 2000
|access-date   = 5 July 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113005022/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/808548.stm
 |archive-date = 13 January 2016
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>

After the club's return, Curbishley proved an astute spender and by 2003 he had succeeded in establishing Charlton in the top flight. Charlton spent much of the [[2003–04 Premier League]] season challenging for a [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] place, but a late-season slump in form and the sale of star player [[Scott Parker (footballer)|Scott Parker]] to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], left Charlton in seventh place,<ref name="Curbishley basks in glory">{{cite news| title = Curbishley basks in glory| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3714559.stm| publisher = BBC| website = BBC Sport| date = 15 May 2004| access-date = 26 August 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113005022/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3714559.stm| archive-date = 13 January 2016| url-status = live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> which was still the club's highest finish since the 1950s. Charlton were unable to build on this level of achievement and Curbishley departed in 2006, with the club still established as a solid mid-table side.<ref name="Curbishley to leave Charlton">{{cite news | title = Curbishley to leave Charlton | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/4958402.stm | publisher = BBC | website = BBC Sport | date = 29 April 2006 | access-date = 10 July 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060614215122/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/4958402.stm | archive-date = 14 June 2006 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

In May 2006, [[Iain Dowie]] was named as Curbishley's successor,<ref name="Charlton unveil Dowie as new boss">{{cite news
 |title        = Charlton unveil Dowie as new boss
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/5027750.stm
 |work    = BBC Sport
 |date         = 30 May 2006
|access-date   = 5 July 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070522075636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/5027750.stm
 |archive-date = 22 May 2007
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> but was sacked after 12 league matches in November 2006, with only two wins.<ref name="Dowie exits Addicks">{{cite news
 |title        = Dowie exits Addicks
 |url          = http://www.football.co.uk/charlton_athletic/dowie_exits_addicks_237138.shtml
 |publisher    = football.co.uk
 |date         = 13 November 2006
|access-date   = 13 November 2006
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193441/http://www.football.co.uk/charlton_athletic/dowie_exits_addicks_237138.shtml
 |archive-date = 27 September 2007
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> [[Les Reed (football coach)|Les Reed]] replaced Dowie as manager,<ref name="Charlton appoint Reed as new boss">{{cite news
 |title        = Charlton appoint Reed as new boss
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6146620.stm
 |work    = BBC Sport
 |date         = 14 November 2006
|access-date   = 10 July 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160113005023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6146620.stm
 |archive-date = 13 January 2016
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> however he too failed to improve Charlton's position in the league table and on Christmas Eve 2006, Reed was replaced by former player [[Alan Pardew]].<ref name="Pardew replaces Reed at Charlton">{{cite news
 |title        = Pardew replaces Reed at Charlton
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6208387.stm
 |work    = BBC Sport
 |date         = 24 December 2006
|access-date   = 5 July 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070112040217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6208387.stm
 |archive-date = 12 January 2007
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref> Although results did improve, Pardew was unable to keep Charlton up and relegation was confirmed in the penultimate match of the season.<ref name="Charlton relegated">{{cite news
 |title        = Charlton 0–2 Tottenham
 |url          = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6602895.stm
 |work    = BBC Sport
 |date         = 7 May 2007
|access-date   = 10 July 2007
|first        = John
 |last         = Sinnott
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070817210726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6602895.stm
 |archive-date = 17 August 2007
|url-status     = live
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>