In a fresh series by Real EFL, Gary Hutchinson delves into the intriguing and somewhat forgotten tales from football’s history. The focus is on the bizarre, shocking, and exciting stories that time may have obscured. Among the narratives, the series kicks off by revisiting what stands out as the most sensational transfer of the 1980s.
Charlton Athletic faced a challenging period in the 1970s, having been a prominent team in the old First Division during the 1950s. Relegated twice to the third tier in the ’70s and early ’80s, the club sought a route back to the top flight in 1982. Struggling with dwindling crowds, averaging just 6,000 in a stadium capable of holding 75,000, Charlton needed a game-changer – something to rekindle fan enthusiasm. While winning football seemed an obvious solution, Chairman Mark Hulyer had a different, audacious idea.
His vision? To secure the signature of one of the world’s finest players.
In the early seventies, a talented Danish player named Allan Simonsen made a significant move from his home country to the German side Borussia Mönchengladbach. Having achieved success with his childhood club Vejle BK, securing two Danish titles and a Danish cup, Simonsen transitioned to Mönchengladbach.
His breakthrough came in the 1973/74 season when he joined the first team, and he quickly became a standout player. At that time, Mönchengladbach was a football powerhouse, clinching the Bundesliga title three consecutive times at the beginning of the seventies. With Simonsen’s contributions, they repeated this feat, winning the title in 1975, 1976, and 1977, with Simonsen scoring in double figures each season.
In 1975, Simonsen played a pivotal role as Mönchengladbach lifted the UEFA Cup, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess. The following year, in the 1977 European Cup final, he scored a goal, though unfortunately, Mönchengladbach faced defeat against Liverpool. Simonsen’s outstanding performances did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or in the same year, surpassing competition from players like Kevin Keegan and Michel Platini.
Simonsen’s career continued to soar as he made a notable move to Barcelona in 1979, with the transfer costing the Catalans £150,000 (equivalent to £700,000 when adjusted for inflation). During his time with Barcelona, he achieved success by winning the Copa Del Rey and the European Cup Winner’s Cup, even scoring in the final. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the only player to have scored in the final of all three of the old European competitions.
However, Simonsen’s stint with Barcelona faced a setback due to a rule restricting the number of foreign players a team could field. With the addition of Diego Maradona to Barcelona’s roster in 1982, alongside Simonsen and German Bernd Schuster, the team had an excess of foreign players. This led to Simonsen needing to find a new club.
Various top clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, expressed interest in acquiring Simonsen’s services. Nevertheless, Charlton Chairman Mark Hulyer successfully persuaded him to join Charlton Athletic, diverting the Danish star from the major European forces and across the Spanish football divide.
The transfer deal to bring Allan Simonsen to Charlton Athletic was a substantial investment, amounting to £324,000 (£1 million when adjusted for inflation), along with an £80,000 annual salary. These figures were considered eye-watering at the time, and Charlton faced a potential setback as they struggled to afford the entire payment upfront. To put this into perspective, Charlton’s yearly income in 1983 amounted to £270,000. Despite the financial challenges, Barcelona eventually agreed to release Simonsen, who was eager for the move. Expressing his impatience, Simonsen said, “For God’s sake, stop messing about and give me the clearance to play for Charlton – that’s what I want to do.”
Initially, the move seemed promising. Charlton Chairman Mark Hulyer aimed for a significant increase in attendance, and 4,000 spectators turned up to watch Simonsen play in the reserves. The attendance surged to 10,000 for the first Football League game against Middlesbrough, marking an increase of 5,800 from the previous fixture. Simonsen scored in that match, suggesting that Hulyer’s gamble might pay off. However, despite Simonsen’s contributions, Charlton found themselves in the middle of the table, and in the next fixture against Rotherham, with Simonsen unavailable, the crowd size halved.
The initial excitement surrounding Allan Simonsen’s presence at Charlton Athletic quickly faded, and upon his return from an absence, crowds dwindled back to around the 5,000 mark, despite the charismatic Dane being part of the team. However, on the field, Simonsen lived up to expectations, scoring an additional eight goals in 15 appearances.
One standout game from his brief stint at the Valley is often cited – the match against Chelsea, which happened to be his penultimate appearance for the club. With the score tied at 2-2 after 57 minutes, Simonsen delivered a masterclass, netting two goals and propelling his team to a 5-2 victory. The charismatic striker left the pitch amid rapturous applause, having scored his eighth and ninth goals in just 15 outings. Regrettably, it turned out to be his final appearance at the Valley.
Two weeks later, Simonsen was listed in the press as part of the lineup against Leeds but didn’t make an appearance. It was later revealed that he hadn’t received his £1,300 per week wages. In the midst of financial turmoil, with former chairman Michael Gliksten pushing for bankruptcy, Simonsen became part of a firesale. However, Charlton Athletic failed to recoup any funds from the sale, as a clause in Simonsen’s contract allowed him to leave for nothing if he wasn’t paid. Consequently, Charlton found themselves burdened with a substantial financial outlay and no returns.
After his turbulent stint at Charlton Athletic, Allan Simonsen returned to his first club, Vejle BK. However, English football fans were not done hearing about him. In September 1983, Simonsen made a significant impact by scoring the only goal in a Euro 84 qualifying clash between Denmark and England, eliminating the English team from the competition. By the time the tournament arrived, Simonsen had added another Danish title to his name. Unfortunately, his Euro 84 campaign was cut short as he broke his leg in the opening game against France. Despite the setback, he went on to earn eight more caps, bringing his total to 50, with a total of 20 goals. He made a lone appearance at the 1986 World Cup, but by then, he was past his prime.
As for Charlton Athletic, the gamble to sign Simonsen proved costly. By the end of 1984, the club found themselves burdened with debts totaling around £400,000. Consequently, they had no choice but to enter administration and undergo a reformation as Charlton Athletic (1984) Ltd. The financial challenges persisted, and at the start of the 1985/86 season, following the Bradford Fire incident, Charlton was compelled to leave the Valley and share the ground with Crystal Palace. The ambitious move to sign one of the world’s greatest players turned out to be a gamble that backfired for Charlton. Nevertheless, they can always cherish the memorable victory over Chelsea.
After his turbulent stint at Charlton Athletic, Allan Simonsen returned to his first club, Vejle BK. However, English football fans were not done hearing about him. In September 1983, Simonsen made a significant impact by scoring the only goal in a Euro 84 qualifying clash between Denmark and England, eliminating the English team from the competition. By the time the tournament arrived, Simonsen had added another Danish title to his name. Unfortunately, his Euro 84 campaign was cut short as he broke his leg in the opening game against France. Despite the setback, he went on to earn eight more caps, bringing his total to 50, with a total of 20 goals. He made a lone appearance at the 1986 World Cup, but by then, he was past his prime.
As for Charlton Athletic, the gamble to sign Simonsen proved costly. By the end of 1984, the club found themselves burdened with debts totaling around £400,000. Consequently, they had no choice but to enter administration and undergo a reformation as Charlton Athletic (1984) Ltd. The financial challenges persisted, and at the start of the 1985/86 season, following the Bradford Fire incident, Charlton was compelled to leave the Valley and share the ground with Crystal Palace. The ambitious move to sign one of the world’s greatest players turned out to be a gamble that backfired for Charlton. Nevertheless, they can always cherish the memorable victory over Chelsea.
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