The 1936–37 season was the 18th season in the history of Charlton Athletic Football Club, an association football club based in Charlton, London, England. Following a second-place finish in the 1935–36 Second Division, Charlton were promoted to play in the First Division, the top tier of English football, for the first time in the club's history. Charlton finished second in the First Division, three points behind title winners Manchester City. This second-place finish remains Charlton's best ever season in the top tier of English football.

Season summary Charlton secured consecutive promotions to reach the First Division for the first time in the club's history, winning the Third Division South in 1934–35 and finishing as runners-up in the Second Division in 1935–36, and were the first side to achieve successive promotions from the Third Division to the First Division in Football League history. Ahead of the season, the club signed forward George Tadman from Gillingham for a fee of £1,000, and also signed Leonard Williams and Ronnie Green for smaller fees, whilst forward Ralph Allen was sold to Reading for £828. Charlton had success adopting a defensive style of play and were top of the league at the start of March, having picked up numerous 1–0 wins. However, following a 5–0 defeat to Derby County on 20 March and a 3–0 defeat to Chelsea on 26 March, Charlton lost top spot to Manchester City, and would not regain it despite only losing once in their final seven matches. Charlton finished 2nd on 54 points, and George Tadman finished the season as their top scorer with 11 goals.

The attendance recorded for the club's home league match against Arsenal on 17 October was 68,160, the highest attendance ever recorded at The Valley. It has been suggested that the actual attendance for this match was closer to 80,000.

On 11 April 1937, Charlton played a friendly match against the French national team at the Parc des Princes; after France's match against Italy was cancelled at 48 hours notice, they arranged a match against Charlton in its place. Charlton won 5–2.

Competitions First Division

League table

Matches +First Division match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceGrimsby TownAW1–0Prior12,696Stoke CityAD1–1Prior23,642LiverpoolHD1–1Boulter31,301Stoke CityHW2–0Prior, Boulter20,540Leeds UnitedAL0–213,789BrentfordAL2–4Prior, Boulter21,373BirminghamHD2–2Jobling, Prior35,421MiddlesbroughAD1–1Prior22,795West Bromwich AlbionHW4–2Hobbis (2), Tadman, Boulter37,435Manchester CityAD1–1Tadman33,664ArsenalHL0–268,160Preston North EndAD0–022,730Sheffield WednesdayHW1–0Tadman12,930Manchester UnitedAD0–026,084Derby CountyHW2–0Tadman, Robinson34,300Wolverhampton WanderersAL1–6Hobbis16,031SunderlandHW3–1Hobbis (2), Stephenson38,519Huddersfield TownAW2–1Wilkinson (2)11,609EvertonHW2–0Boulter, Hobbis25,991Bolton WanderersAL1–2Tadman25,202PortsmouthHD0–031,204Grimsby TownHW1–0Pearce30,733PortsmouthAW1–0Pearce16,998LiverpoolAW2–1Wilkinson, Pearce29,850Leeds UnitedHW1–0Boulter26,760BirminghamAW2–1Wilkinson, John Oakes (pen)16,976MiddlesbroughHD2–2Tadman, Hobbis16,559West Bromwich AlbionAW2–1Welsh, Tadman26,459Manchester CityHD1–1Tadman35,509ArsenalAD1–1Robinson60,568Preston North EndHW3–1Tadman, Hobbis, Jobling (pen)25,702Sheffield WednesdayAL1–3R. Green15,966Manchester UnitedHW3–0Wilkinson (2), R. Green25,943Derby CountyAL0–521,110ChelseaAL0–363,463Wolverhampton WanderersHW4–0Welsh 2, Stephenson, Hobbis35,055ChelseaHW1–0Wilkinson45,860SunderlandAL0–126,203Huddersfield TownHW1–0Welsh24,995EvertonAD2–2Tadman (2)11,105Bolton WanderersHW1–0Welsh23,684BrentfordHW2–1Robinson (2)26,195

FA Cup

+ FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceThird roundCoventry CityAL0–229,072

References