Graham stuart: "addicks set for a tough game in sheffield"

By Rob Virtue on February 27, 2008 1:02 PM |

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CHARLTON travel to Sheffield United on Saturday (March 1) and former player Graham Stuart believes the Addicks will have to be on top form to get a result.

A star for both sides during his playing career, Stuart says Charlton will not only have to beat the United team but also its vocal support, buoyed by the return of former assistant manager Kevin Blackwell.

“They’ve appointed Kevin who’s a good manager,” said Stuart. “The fans like him and he’ll have the players up for it."

“There will be at least 20,000 United fans at the match. I’ve got a lot of time for them, they are a good and honest bunch, but they can always turn on their own players and Charlton have to use that to their advantage. If Charlton perform well and get a good start they’ll have a strong chance.”

Stuart, a Londoner by birth, now lives in Southport near his former club Everton. He is still a hero in those parts for scoring the goal which saved the Toffees from relegation in 1994.

He is also fondly remembered at both Sheffield United, where he played for three years, and Charlton, who he joined in 1999 and stayed until 2005.

“Charlton are right up there with the best, I have a lot of good memories,” he said. “At Sheffield United we were having a difficult spell, and when I got to Charlton I was back in the Premier League.

“Unfortunately in the first season we didn’t survive but we bounced straight back up and had a good few years in the top flight. I played at Charlton at a really good time with a very decent side.”

Living up north, Stuart doesn’t get to many Charlton matches but says he was still upset to see the club get relegated last year.

“The last thing you want to see is a club you have great affection for go down,” he said. “Charlton obviously made a few mistakes last year and now Alan Pardew and the board need to get back as soon
as possible.

“Obviously it’s now hard for them to get automatic promotion but they can get into the play-offs and it’s just like cup football – you hit form at the right time and anything can happen.”

After Stuart retired from the game he began working in the media and is now most often seen on Sky Sports.

Although the 37-year-old would rather watch from the sidelines these days he is delighted to see former teammates Mark Kinsella and Chris Powell in the coaching team at Charlton.

“Chris made it obvious he wanted to get into coaching; same with Mark. It’s good because they’ve been the heartbeat of the club for years,” he said.

“But it’s something I’ve never wanted to do. You’ve got to be dedicated to it, even more than when you are a player.

“I’d much rather do the media work and tell people what they should be doing rather than do it myself.”

rob.virtue@wharf.co.uk