The possibility of Campo being swapped with Ambrose set me thinking of successful older players that we have signed.
I guess the definition of "old" in football terms is 30 plus.
The late Cliff Holton made a great impression on me in the sixties. We were in our customary position of second or third from bottom of the old second division and looking certs for relegation when we signed 38 year old Holton from Crystal Palace. He only played about 15 matches for us but scored 7 or 8 goals and we edged our way to safety. Arguably the highlight of his short era was a 5-2 home win against Preston North End.
I can pay Toddy no higher compliment than to say that I thought of Cliff Holton last week after his influence during the second half of the Burnley game.
Who is / was your favourite Charlton old codger?
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Crawford
Cripps did ok but for me Maurice Setters was disappointing. He always seemed to be chasing in his bow legged way but never quite getting there!
There is of course the legend Eddie Firmani, who, when he could not get a game at Southend, returned for 3rd spell I recall a late winner from a corner. Not at his best he still had enough class to help us win yet another relegation battle.
In those days a lot of signings were at the end of their careers. Cripps, Setters (who we treated badly, effectively gave him his cards in hospital after career ending injury), Colin Appleton, Theo Foley, Dietmar Bruck, Ron Saunders. Few had the impact of Holton or Firmani but always thought Saunders was a good centre forward.
Other vets who gave us a season or two include Eamon Dunphy, Brian Whitehouse, Peter Burridge. More recently Garth Crooks and Mark Bowen gave us good service.
Talking of veterans we could use know - Chris Perry (35) would be on my list. Never understood why we let him go. Apart from Costa he was only guy to get Fortune to play to his potential.
Grapevine 49
Ronnie Moore - a good old warhorse
Gavin Peacock - can't remember if he didnt anything useful