Another player to make the step up from non-league to the pro ranks. More will be expected of him in his second season at The Valley
Varney started his career with Midland Football Alliance side Quorn FC and it was his prolific strike-rate and clever football brain which prompted Crewe’s assistant boss Neil Baker to take him to Gresty Road in 2003.
He proved to be the perfect foil for Dean Ashton, buzzing off the big target man and ghosting into positions which made him extremely difficult for defenders to pick up.
But it was during the 2006-07 season that Varney really came to the fore, netting 25 goals in all competitions and forming a potent partnership with Nicky Maynard.
His form prompted Charlton to splash out £2m for his services in May 2007 but he missed the early weeks of the campaign with an ankle injury and failed to gain a regular place thereafter, netting just eight goals.