Charlton Athletic finished their season in style by being promoted as Champions with over a hundred points to their name.

It was just like the old days at The Valley, big crowd, queues for everything and bags of pre-match entertainment.

The Hartlepool fans – including 170 or so dressed as Smurfs – played their part and it was another day for bonhomie. The Charlton fans gave their visiting counterparts a great reception.

The afternoon started with a performance by tenor, Martin Toal, who was later joined by Rose Jang for a version of ‘You Raise Me Up’. Toal finished the set with ‘Nessun Dorma’.

The Red Devils parachute team brought the pre-match entertainment to an end with a spectacular performance. The parachutists dropping into the stadium wearing next season’s new home shirt.

Hartlepool were given a warm reception as they took to the field to form a guard of honour for the champions, who were applauded by the visiting fans as well as their own.

With all the razzamatazz going on, it was no real surprise that the game was a low key affair.

Johnnie Jackson picked up a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Danny Haynes after 30 minutes. Haynes came on as the Addicks were about to defend a corner. Whether the enforced change affected the Addicks concentration is conjecture but Peter Hartley threatened to spoil the celebrations when he gave Pools the lead.

The half-time interval saw Alan Curbishley interviewed on the pitch. Curbs was part of the presentation party who gave special commemorative medals to members of Charlton’s staff, while Victoria Stanyon gave an emotional rendition of ‘Jerusalem’.

As has happened so often this season, it was a rejuvenated Charlton side who came out for the second period. The Addicks struck three times in ten minutes to move into the driving seat.

Firstly, Danny Hollands’ spectacular volley from Rhoys Wiggins’ left-wing corner restored parity after 71 minutes. Six minutes later Danny Haynes nodded the hosts into the lead and after 81 minutes, a goal of the season contender from Yann Kermorgant doubled the advantage. Bradley Pritchard’s deep cross was somehow volleyed in by the battling Frenchman.

The scoring was completed three minutes from time when Gary Liddle’s well struck effort was deflected past Ben Hamer.

As the pitch was readied for the medal and trophy presentations, Victoria Stanyon returned to lead the crowd in singing ‘Valley Floyd Road’ and was later joined by fellow artistes, Toal and Jang, for a renditions of ‘We Are The Champions’.

The Hartlepool Smurfs stayed for the pesentations after their team was given a rousing send off by the Addicks fans.

The win meant Charlton joined Fulham in the record books by recording 101 points in an incredible season.

So the curtain came down ten months after Charlton’s class of 2011/12 first took to the field at Welling. A season of almost constant highs finally reversed the decline of the past few years.

The Valley will now be in hibernation for a few weeks but the there will still be plenty of activity behind the scenes as Chris Powell plots the Championship campaign of 2012/13.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Wagstaff (Pritchard 65), Stephens, Hillands, Jackson (Haynes 30); Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Euell 83).

Subs (not used): Sullivan, Cort.

Goals: Hollands 71, Haynes 77, Kermorgant 81.

Hartlepool: Flinders; Austin, Baldwin, Hartley, Holden; Humphreys (James 73), Murray (Poole 82), Liddle, Sweeney, Monkhouse; Noble.

Subs (not used): Rafferty, Collins, Boyd.

Goals: Hartley 31, Liddle 87.

Referee: Ian Williamson (Berkshire).

Attn: 26,749 (562 Hartlepool).