Charlton capture Ricardo Fuller
Posted: Tue 21 Aug 2012
Author: Jimmy Stone
Charlton have signed former Stoke City and Southampton striker Ricardo Fuller on a free transfer, the club announced on Tuesday.
Fuller becomes Chris Powell’s fifth signing of the summer, agreeing a one-year deal with the Addicks with the option of a further year.
Known for his upper body strength, quick feet and powerful shooting, the six-foot-three centre forward was released by Stoke after six seasons at the club in July.
The powerful hitman was unveiled to the Valley faithful at half-time of Charlton’s Championship match against Leicester City on Tuesday evening.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Fuller started his career at Tivoli Gardens, before his big break came in the form of a move to Crystal Palace in February 2001.
However, before eventually signing for Palace, the forward played three times for Charlton’s reserve side in 1999/00, scoring an impressive five goals, including a hat-trick against Watford at Welling United’s Park View Road ground.
Fuller played alongside the likes of Scott Parker, Sasa Ilic and Paul Konchesky in a strong Addicks second XI that came second in the 1999/2000 FA Premier Reserve League (South).
After a potential deal for the striker fell through, the Jamaican moved to Selhurst Park in 2001, but after making just eight appearances for the Eagles, he returned to Kingston and Tivoli in June 2001.
Fuller had a much better time while on a season-long-loan at Heart of Midlothian during 2001/02 – scoring eight goals in 27 league games for the club.
The Jamaica international’s impressive form in Scotland alerted then Preston North End manager Craig Brown, who parted with £500,000 to bring Fuller to Deepdale in June, 2002.
And he didn’t disappoint at the Lilywhites, scoring 31 goals in 65 appearances, before making the move south to Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth in August, 2004
Short spells at Southampton and Ipswich followed, before the striker joined Stoke City for £500,000 in August, 2006.
Fuller quickly become a cult hero at The Britannia Stadium, scoring the club’s first ever Premier League goal in a 3-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
The Jamaican international scored 50 goals in 208 appearances for the Potters, including an equaliser against Charlton in Stoke’s 2-1 win over the Addicks in August 2007.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20120821-fuller-326385.aspx
