Charlton Athletic's Chris Solly on ten years at The Valley

Ten years later the left-back has made 265 league appearances for the club and at the beginning of this season was named Club Captain at The Valley.

We caught up with the SE7 legend to discuss the highs and lows of the 28-year-old's career that kicked off with a 4-2 win over Norwich on March 3rd 2009.

So, ten years at the club, how does it feel?

It feels like a lifetime.

It’s been an enjoyable ride.

A lot of ups, few downs, its gone so quick.

Looking back there’s a few good memories that stand out since my debut.

Like what?

The biggest high, everyone looks at promotion year, which was an unbelievable season.

But a massive high on a personal level was the first year in the Championship.

Proving to myself and showing to everyone else what I can do at that level.

Obviously testing yourself against top wingers, Zaha, Bolasie, Bellamy was there too.

So many good memories from that first year.

And the lowest?

Relegation from Championship without doubt.

I had a few niggles, we had a lot of injuries, and on the pitch we didn’t perform.

Most unenjoyable season as a footballer by far.

And where would promotion this season rank in your achievements?

Be right up there.

It’d be on par or ahead of promotion year because of the adversity we’ve gone through with injuries.

When we look back on that year we won promotion we didn’t have injuries we had a settled eleven. It’s not the same this year.

If we went through the route of the play offs, it may even be more special.

What do you remember from your debut?

(Chris Solly in the dugout with Tamer Tuna before he made his debut)

I remember it clearly.

It was the last game of the season, we were already relegated and beating Norwich took them down with us.

I came on at left-back for Darren Ward, and we won 4-2. Deon Burton got a hat-trick.

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Do off-field issues, the takeover etc, affect players?

We only know as much as the fans.

We never get told much.

For me being at the club so long I’ve heard ‘it’s happening now, now,’ over the years, so it doesn’t affect me anymore.

When it does happen I’m sure we’ll be told but until then we crack on as normal.

A one-club man is very rare these days, have you ever had your head turned? I heard there was interest from West Ham in your early career.

Yeah there’s been a couple rumours now and again, but I’ve never had the intention to leave.

I’ve been settled, happy, enjoying my football and always been playing which is the main thing.

As long as the club is heading in the right direction, which right now is trying to get back in the Championship, I’m happy.

Who’s the best player you’ve played against and why?

Zaha would be right up there, such quick feet

At the end of his career, when he was at Fulham I was up against Damien Duff.

He was so sharp, he was two steps ahead of everyone else.

I was thinking imagine how good he was four or five years back in his prime at Chelsea.

He was someone I’ve thought was a top-top player.

Charlton manager who’s helped your career the most?

There’s things I’ve taken from everyone.

Chris Powell being a full back and the age I was at, he was huge for me.

He was the one that really gave me the confidence to believe in myself that I could establish myself in the team.

But there’s things I would take from Bows.

Guy Luzon, tactically I thought he was brilliant. He was crazy as well, off the pitch.

Karl Robinson’s training methods I really liked.

I’m lucky to work with so many because if I were to go in to that side of the game I can take so much from all of them and put them all together.

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Solly On Charlton’s conveyor belt of talent and who stood out?

The club have been renowned at bringing players through, and that goes down to the hard work of Steve Avory and Jason Euell

Ademola Lookman, Joe Gomes and Jonjo Shelvey, they’re the three that stand out that had so much talent and I had no doubt they were going to go to the very top.

There’s always going to be chances at this club and the manager has shown they’ll give chances.

The likes of Albie Morgan have been given chances and done really well, he’s been really unfortunate with his injury at the time he did.

Now Dillon Phillips has come through and he’s establishing himself as a number one now.

He’s still very young for a keeper but he’s got so much potential to do good things in the game.

And on the club obviously holding this dinner for you, what do you think of that?

Blown away from it all.

Really looking forward to the dinner, there’ll be a lot of the coaches and managers who’ve had an impact on my career there, some ex-players, a few from the year when we got promoted and a few of the current lads will be there.

I’m sure the fans will enjoy mingling the all.

Celebrate a Charlton legend. Chris Solly’s testimonial dinner takes place on Sunday March 17th. Click here to get your ticket: https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/events