Crystal Palace’s meeting with Charlton Athletic on 7 September 1985 carried an extraordinary added significance, with news emerging just hours before kick-off that the visitors would soon be sharing Selhurst Park.
Charlton had been struggling financially for several years. A winding-up order had been issued and withdrawn shortly before a Football League deadline, while the club was also finding its long-term home increasingly difficult to afford. Problems at The Valley were compounded by the closure of the East Terrace on health and safety grounds and legal disputes involving the West Stand.
With the ground no longer able to host Charlton, the club looked elsewhere for a temporary solution. West Ham United were approached about a ground share but declined, leaving Selhurst Park as the eventual destination. The announcement was especially jarring for supporters given the existing rivalry between Palace and Charlton, meaning the Addicks’ fans would now be travelling to south London every other week as tenants at their rivals’ stadium.
Charlton won the match at The Valley 3-1 and played their final home fixture there a couple of weeks later. After that, the unusual Selhurst arrangement became the new reality, with Palace sharing their ground with one of their most familiar opponents.
The ground share lasted until 1991. Despite the circumstances, Charlton enjoyed considerable success during the period, earning promotion to the First Division in 1986 and remaining in the top flight for four seasons. Palace, meanwhile, were reaching the FA Cup final and later recorded a third-place finish.
Charlton eventually moved to Upton Park in 1991 before returning to The Valley in December 1992. Selhurst Park was then Palace’s home alone once more, until Wimbledon became the stadium’s next ground-share tenant between 1991 and 2003.
