Curbishley's heart is with family club Charlton

If there is an institution in the Premiership that should earn the title of a 'family club' then that is Charlton Athletic. On the field of play and in the boardroom this bond is well demonstrated.

While team spirit and the players' will to fight for each other are witnessed in every game Charlton play, chairman Richard Murray and the club directors have always backed manager Alan Curbishley through thick and thin.

There are no real pretensions at The Valley though Curbishley and his coaching staff have done more than expected to keep the Londoners in the top echelon of the English game.

Charlton have also upset many an applecart since they gained promotion in 1998-99.

Curbishley received various offers from bigger clubs but he never abandoned Charlton and stayed loyal to his squad and fans. No wonder the supporters have never shown any disrespect to the man who has the potential to find himself in the England set-up in future.

Curbishley's diplomacy is second to none. This is mostly highlighted when speaking about his team. Some managers in the Premiership ought to follow in his footsteps.

Last season, Charlton finished seventh, the highest placing since they became Premier League members. Curbishley's aim now is to lead his side into Europe for the first time in their history.

A top eight finish has become familiar with Charlton and they are keen to improve on that position and play in the UEFA Cup.

Danny Murphy (ex-Liverpool), Jerome Thomas (Arsenal), Talel El Karkouri (Paris SG) and Brian Hughes (Birmingham) have been among the players who inspired the side's fortunes this season.

December has been Charlton's best period in this campaign after winning four times and drew one of their five matches.

Charlton are seeking to improve on their past performances in the domestic knockout contests.

Following the home 4-1 trimming of Rochdale in the FA Cup, they will have home advantage once more against League Two side Yeovil Town. Charlton have gone beyond the fourth round on only two occasions in the past decade.

The manager

Curbishley was born in Forest Gate on November 8, 1957. As a player he started his career as an apprentice with West Ham in 1973 where he made the grade as a professional.

After spending almost six years with the Hammers as a midfielder, in 1979 he was transferred to Birmingham City for £225,000 by manager John Lyall.

He remained in the 'second city' as he moved from St Andrews to Aston Villa. In 1984 Lennie Lawrence brought the midfielder back into the capital to sign for Charlton.

After a three-year spell he moved to Brighton, only to return to the Valiants in a dual-role of player and coach in 1991, becoming joint manager alongside Steve Gritt.

The tandem of Curbishley and Gritt, although forced to play their 'home' matches at Upton Park since the future of The Valley was not yet decided, steered the team close to the promotion play-offs.

The start of season 1992-93 was encouraging but the duo had their hands tied in the transfer market.

They had to transfer one of their best players in Robert Lee, who moved to Newcastle to finance the ailing club. Charlton finished in a mid-table placing. Yet, in the middle of the campaign, in December 1992, they returned to their traditional home at The Valley.

While they enjoyed a mixed bag of results in June 1995 the newly-appointed managing director Richard Murray decided to hand Curbishley sole management and part with Gritt.

In his first season as outright manager, in 1995-96, he tasted disappointment as his side lost in the semi-finals of the play-offs to London neighbours Crystal Palace. Two years later, in the do-or-die deciders, Curbishley took Charlton all the way, defeating Sunderland 7-6 on penalties after a 4-4 draw.

Their stay in the Premiership was indeed a brief one as like many other clubs before them they lasted for only one season even though Curbishley won the Managerial of the Month award on two occasions.

Curbishley was determined to earn his side promotion at the first attempt, and it was achieved in style as they broke a club record by winning 12 consecutive games on their way to winning the First Division championship.

Since their return to the Premiership, Curbishley succeeded in keeping the club in a healthy placing and have now become an established side.

Last season was their best but their push for a place in Europe received a great setback when star player Scott Parker left for Chelsea for £10 million in the January 2004 transfer window.

The squad

Goalkeepers: 1. Dean Kiely, 16. Stephan Andersen.

Defenders: 2. Luke Young, 5. Chris Perry, 6. Mark Fish, 12. Herman Hreidarsson, 15. Talal El Karkouri, 18. Paul Konchesky, 24. Jonathan Fortune, 28. Osei Sankofa.

Midfielders: 4. Graham Stuart, 7. Radostin Kishishev, 8. Matthew Holland, 13. Danny Murphy, 17. Shaun Bartlett, 20. Bryan Hughes, 21. Jonatan Johansson, 29. Neil McCafferty, 31. Lloyd Sam.

Attackers: 9. Jason Euell, 10. Kevin Lisbie, 11. Francis Jeffers, 14. Jerome Thomas, 19. Dennis Rommedahl.

Premiership marksmen

5 - El Karkouri.

3 - Johansson, Bartlett.

2 - Euell, Jeffers, Young, Thomas, Holland.

1 - Lisbie, Murphy, Hreidarsson, Konchesky, Rommedahl.

Own goals: Unsworth vs Ports-mouth, O'Brien vs Newcastle.