Charlton fans will have nightmares about the last time they played Ipswich as the two clubs meet again in pre-season

Add as preferred source on Google

Pre-season friendlies often serve as mere warm-ups, but the upcoming clash between Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town carries a significant undertone. 

The two sides are facing their own set of challenges ahead of the upcoming season. Ipswich Town owners are exploring a £350m takeover, potentially adding a feeling of uncertainty around the club.

They’ve also faced setbacks when it comes to transfers, with their attempt to sign one 2025 Gold Cup winner falling through. 

Whereas Charlton Athletic’s Nathan Jones is busy creating Luton 2.0 with summer signings, as their busy transfer business continues. 

Given their opposing circumstances, the friendly, scheduled for Tuesday, July 29th at Colchester United’s ground, becomes even more interesting, especially as their last League One meeting two years ago ended so dramatically – and Charlton fans certainly won’t want a repeat of that nightmare.

Charlton’s quest for vengeance after their 6-0 Ipswich thrashing 

Back in April 2023, Ipswich Town utterly dominated Charlton Athletic 6-0 to climb to second in the League One table. 

Conor Chaplin bagged a hat-trick, while substitute Freddie Ladapo netted a quick-fire brace. Charlton’s misery continued, with a denied penalty appeal and a late red card for defender Ryan Inniss before Leif Davis scored the stoppage-time winner.

Ipswich finished second that season under Kieran McKenna, who is still the manager at Portman Road. That season, they secured automatic promotion to the Championship.

McKenna has since achieved consecutive promotions, taking them all the way to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic were mid-table under Dean Holden, finishing 10th.

Holden was later dismissed, and Nathan Jones arrived at The Valley in February 2024, guiding Charlton to Championship promotion via the play-offs.

Their very different performances continued in the 2024/25 season, also adding further fuel to Charlton’s quest for vengeance. 

While Ipswich struggled in the Premier League, managing only 4 wins and scoring just 36 goals on their way to relegation, Charlton secured 25 league wins and scored 67 goals in League One on their route to promotion. 

This significant difference, with Charlton building winning momentum while Ipswich faced top-flight struggles, heightens Charlton’s desire to prove they can now stand toe-to-toe with a side that once humiliated them.

It begs the question: how will their upcoming pre-season friendly go down? One of the Championship’s newly promoted sides versus one of the Premier League’s recently relegated sides.

Charlton & Ipswich’s different journeys but same ambition 

Beyond the historical grudge, this match is a fascinating look at two clubs approaching the Championship from considerably different recent experiences.

Ipswich arrive having just endured the rigours of the Premier League, facing top-tier opposition weekly, before their relegation.

They’ll be looking to quickly adapt back to the Championship’s unique demands, with Kieran McKenna aiming to rebuild momentum and return to the Premier League quickly. 

Charlton, on the other hand, are riding the wave of promotion from League One, fueled by the spirit of a successful campaign.

This friendly offers a crucial early test of their Championship readiness for the upcoming season against a side that, despite relegation, still carries a strong reputation.

For the Addicks, it’s a profound chance to show how far they’ve come and banish the demons of that 6-0 nightmare, undoubtedly hoping for a far more dream-like performance this time around.