A new season, a new format and a new match build up. Mark Rowlands presents for you NEXT UP........

First stop for the Swans Championship train is Charlton at the Valley this weekend.  I assume that the football league did this for us deliberately thinking valleys, Wales, Swansea and putting two and two together and coming up with the average Cockney IQ.

The League's record of organisation of course was tested by the Swans last season when they won League one on more occasions than anyone thought possible and the league fixtures were put together this season at the home of Guinness where all present remained sober proving that they couldn't even organise a piss up in a brewery.

Charlton though is a good start for the Swans.   No doubt being watched by their favourite sons Jack, Bobby and Eddie together with their sister Suzanne it will be a tough test for the Swans against a side that fell from the Premiership a few years ago but something they managed with more points than Derby.  Come to think of it I have more points on my driving licence than Derby got last season.

Travel wise for the Swans heading up the M4 is that they will no doubt want a service stop on the way and for this trip we suggest the services just past the M25 turn off on the M4.   Yes thats right there is only one place to stop on the way to Charlton - Heston services.  (think about it.....!)

Charlton is also well known for an Childrens TV series of the 70s/80s - Charlton and the Wheelies.  Of course this was known to millions (well most) as Chorlton and the Wheelies but that was more down to dodgy handwriting rather than anything more sinsister.

Clean living TV comedian (sic) Jim Davidson is a well known Charlton fan and penned the Charlton Nil joke that just isn't funny at all (bit like this preview) and he was interviewed by the local Charlton newspaper ahead of the game and was tested on his knowledge about the Swans recent history.   "Who was the manager who nearly led the Swans into the conference" was the question - Nick, Nick was the answer.  (I'm trying honestly I am)

Chip shop owners in Charlton are amongst some of the area's richest citizens thanks to the presence of Andy "The Fat Dart Player" Fordham who was born in the place whilst the Thames Flood Barrier which is also in Charlton was built to keep control of his toiletary problems.    Other celebrity fans include Gary Bushell, Steve Rider and Michael Grade making it the only place in England you Grade the bush he'll ride.  (this just gets worse at least we are almost at the end)

So that is it, the end of the first in a series of previews looking forward to our Championship games, not quite up to the standard of the infamous Tranmere one but I am young and I am learning - imagine how good I'll be at it by the time November 30 comes around

Enjoy.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

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