[cite]Posted By: Goonerhater[/cite]Huge family(numbers not weight) 50 cousins. From Bermondsey to Erith now all over World. Nans brother managed the Spurs. Grand dad remembers the Woolwich rejects in Plumpstead. All my Unclea nd Aunts went to the Valley at some stage. Have pic of two of my aunts in Wembley Way 1947.
Dad took me the valley when i was 9. I was hooked at once. Went to most home games with him and a few away. I remember my first season ticket, piss poor looking thing but i was so proud of it. Then as i got older i went with mates and stood on the Coeverd End. Loved it to bits.All yoof think they are indistructable but it was like being in a clan. "Bollox we r charlton" was our mantra. Of course the blood, the hospital, the cell told you that u werent indistructable. I remember i was 100 % going to Aus but being anaughty boy at CAFC meant i couldnt go(my life couldnt have been any better though as it panned out).
Was in Valley Away be4 the club banned em. My member number on Valley Gold was in single figures. Brought shares both times they were issued. Was at Sell Out and Upton park. At the clear up day and Woolwich Town hall. Yet i know i am one of the "types" the club no longer wants. I think back and miss the peeps from the Covered End and the B-Mob. Im proud to have been part of it and not ashamed. I think often of Steve Bains, Jimmy garret,Micky Mac,Ian P, and Big Ds. All dead all "herberts" and all were there in the dark days. happy to say i knew them and stood on the terraces with them.Sometimes i smile when i look at an old hoolie with kids kids / gran kids and think if they only knew what you did at Walsall away in 1973 !!!
I guess i may not go to every game these days and very few away. I hate todays pro footballers and the PC rubbish at the grounds, but CAFC are part of who i am . No one can take that away by a written law. Its in me. I will always go to the Valley , there has only ever been one club for me. never understood how people moved from clubs.
Funny but at the age of 50 it still surprises me how much it hurts when we are beaten or play awful.
I've got to say it's nice to hear from someone of your "type" who sounds like they actually care about the football side of things too.
I'm not judging but I generally get the impression that it's all about the tear up and the football is irrelevant.
My Dad was not into football, although he was taken to The Valley by his Dad and older brothers. He was ther for that game against Villa. I think he got a bit dissillusioned with football in general.
My Mum's family were from Poplar and so were all Hammers. As I kid I was then by default I West Ham fan. I had the shirt - from a market stall- a mug, and did know all the West Ham team because of my cousins being real fans. I never went.
Went to first Charlton match when I was about 15/16, cup replay V Spurs.
Went very spasmodically over the next 20 years.
Becuase I love football I wanted my boys to have what I didn't. So as soon as they were old enough, 5, got season tickets.
They both absolutley love it. Very passionate and because they know no different they will always be CAFC. I am proud of that.
I cannot ever pretend to be a real, 100%, die in the wall Charlton fan but I give them my fullest support when I am there, or away. It is good sometimes to be a little detached I think. Helps you see the bigger picture.
I still have a small soft spot for West Ham, although I love beating them. Bit like a pro when he plays against his boyhood team.
My dad used to take me to the Valley back in the late 70' when I was a young boy. I lived football. However I have to admit at the time I supported Ipswich Town who had the likes of Thyssen and Muhren. Dad who followed charlton all his life said that one day i would soon support Charlton. Although i had never been to Portman road Dad and I were regular visitors of the Valley watching Killer Paul walsh Paul elliott.
It wasn't until charlton moved to selhurst that I became hooked. Suddenly I wasn't travelling to the Valley. It felt wrong. Somewhere I had been going to had been taken away from me. At the same time Lennie was building a promotion winning team. the following season Dad and I became ST holders in the Arthur Wait. Oddly enough that season Charlton played Ipswich in the play offs, but by that time I was fully converted. I think it was watching a club survive against all odds. there on it wasn't just about chalton winning it was about getting back to the Valley.
Sadly like many of the generation Dad isn't around but the tradition carries on. When I look at the Valley today I am proud of what this club has achieved and whilst the trophy cabinet is not full I think like many of the hardcore support of the selhurst years i am just pleased to be back at the valley. I think it is important that the club continues to look at ways of developing support across the region such as schemes of busing school children to matches so that one day they too will become hooked on the club i am proud to support.
grandad lived in charlton lane with his 5 brothers..... all used to go charlton week in week out....1950s my dad arrived....he followed on....then 1980s i popped along....and been a season ticket holder since 1995! Wouldnt change it for anything else in the world....Brought out of school at lunchtime to travel up to liverpool to watch us lose to them in the fa cup, will never forget the "you'll never walk alone" they did for bob paisley!!Man Utd in the fa cup, 10 000 addicks up there, great day out, Beating sheffield wednesday at the valley in the fa cup!Gettin up at four in the morning to travel up to huddersfield to watch us win 2-1 in a top of the table clash!Travelling up to stockport, where we filled the away end to beat them 4-1(Andy Hunt hat-trick).The play off final(of course)Villa away 4-3, close up of me and my dad on match of the day,The drumming of west ham last season...proud to be an addick!
My dad grew up in Eltham and followed Charlton home and away in the 60's/70's and early 80's, needless to say I didnt have a choice in what football team I supported, made my debut on the old Valley terrace at the tender age of 4! Then started going regularly at Selhurst / West Ham and carried on from there.
Loved football from an early age, "supported" Everton when they were doing well in the early eighties. First memory of seeing anything of Charlton was a FA cup game v West Ham on the TV in around 1984. I would have been 7 at the time, first time I think I realised my Dad supported this second division team that I'd never really heard of!
Then in 1985 my Uncle was around for a cuppa with the old dear, remember her telling him I had been up late watching Match of the Day. Cue him asking who I supported..... then "no nephew of mine's going to be a glory boy, you're coming to the Valley with me".
First game was our first season at Selhurst v Sheffield Wednesday (think we lost 1 nil). Just remember the pitch seeming so green and the half time Yorkie and hot chocolate in the Arthur Waite. And loved it!
Was then ball boy for most of the Selhurst years, at West Ham and first game back at the Valley. First real p*ss ups were with Charlton boys in the Anti, Liberal and H&G. Had an away season ticket for a couple of years. All of my group of friends I know through going Charlton. Would be a sad loner with no sport and no friends if I hadn't been watching match of the day that night!
First game was our first season at Selhurst v Sheffield Wednesday (think we lost 1 nil). Just remember the pitch seeming so green and the half time Yorkie and hot chocolate in the Arthur Waite. And loved it!
I think that match finished 1-1 - Robert Lee scoring for us.
My dad's a Spurs fan and had taken me to see a few games, but I'd always been interested in the stories my grandad used to tell me about The Valley and how he used to go to watch Charlton - which I've now worked out would have been in the '30/40s. Maybe even the '20s, as he was born in something like 1906.
Anyway, my dad eventually said I was old enough to go football on my own. I think he expected me to go WHL. I didn't. I went to Sellout Park with some mates from school were Charlton fans. The season was 86/87 and the game was QPR, which we won to get into the play-offs.
The reason is simple...I did it for that old chestnut....... "lurve"!!!! The other old chestnut, Mr Golightly, is a lifelong Charlton fan. When we first met back in the Jurassic era, we started that sort of "who do you support" type conversation and I confess I had no answer ready. My Dad had supported United (Manchester) being born and bred in that neck of the woods, but I had lived in the South since I was young and didn't have a clue. I'm pleased to say Mr Golightly painted such a rosy picture of Charlton Athletic and its loyal fans that I was hooked from Day 1. That was 16 years ago and now I'm as keen as he is!! I'd like to say the rosy picture is still intact but reality has taken a hold now. It's not put me off though.....I'm no quitter.
My parents got divorced when I was 5 but I used to have great outings with my dad every other wekend. Back in the late fities, as a nipper I was hooked on Man Utd, probably after the Munich plane crash disaster. My Dad, a Charlton fan, would take me to Chelsea, West ham and the Arse to watch Bobby Charlton and co play. United always lost! One day he said where do you want to go today? Millwall or Charlton? He explained that Millwall were in Division 4 and Charlton were Div. 2. I chose the Valley and was spellbound by the place and soon became an avid fan of Sam Lawrie, John Hewie and co. But the arrival of Eddie Firmani did it for me. He was just fantastic and nearly got us promoted into the old first division. My mates at School mainly supported Millwall or Palace so I often went with them when Charlton were not at home. It wasn't expensive for kids in those days and we would usually fiddle free travel. I remember standing on the slippery slope at Palace before they built the Arthur Waite Stand. Johhny Byrne was a fabulous player. Millwall were pretty hopeless but the crowd were funny. Charlton and the Valley had a special kind of magic for me, especially on the big match days when 30k would turn up for the London derby games. The stand out game for me in the 60's was Charlton winning against Palace at Selhurst Park when Ray Tracey scored a fantastic goal. In recent years Millwall in the snow was equally good but nothing wll ever beat the play off final win against Sunderland.
Lived/born in Samuel St, 10 minutes from the Valley. My DAD, RIP, took me from a very young age, then went with my mates from about 12 onwards. Dad actually had trials with WHU and came from that side of the Thames originally, but moved to SE18 and followed Charlton from the War years.
I took my Son from aged 5 and he is hooked too. My Daughter came a few times -hates football though!
My Grandad played for the reserves and youth team but his career was put on hold at the crucial stage due to Hitler! He still went on to play for Dartford. By the time my mum was born the family had moved to Floyd Road so the links were even more strong now especially as my great grandad had been a fan as well. Mum soon became a fan/supporter, and would oftern use The Valley as her playground. Sadly Nan and Grandad had a further child, this time a son was in the family who was very sporting orientated and decided to support Millwall! I think this made my Mum even more determined for when she had kids they would not do the same.
I was born in 76 and have no idea when my first game was because we simply went to all the home games. Mum always tells me she was pregnant with me at the Wolves cup game in 76 so I always say my first game was before I was born!
My first memories of going to games were going to Nan and Grandads flat in Springfield Grove (had now left Floyd Road) and at 2.30 going down Church Lane with Grandad, Mum, older Brother and me. Was totally hooked. The move to Selhurst at the age of 8 was weird but we all carried on, at first using the free coaches the club put on from the Valley, they soon stopped them being free!
Now still go with older brother (sit in the East Stand), younger brother has season ticket in the coverend end. My Dad although coming from Camberwell started coming with us to Selhurst and got his first season ticket when we made the Prem. He sits with his mate in the East Stand. Mum never goes as much these days, was someone who always enjoyed the terraces and the move to all seater has not been good for her!
Grandad sadly got alzheimer's in the late 80's so going to football became more hard for him. With his mind on the decline football was a great realse for him, but by the time the 90's had arrived even going to games was too difficult. Once we got back to The Valley Mum was determined he went to a game, so he went to his last ever game against Oxford (the second game back). Grandad sadly passed away December 94 but he will always be the reason why I am Charlton and will always be Charlton, as the same hopefully goes for my 3 year old son in the future.
As a kid was a big football fan but came from a non football family. my sister was into he Beatles so liked Liverpool for a while, but then started to support Chelsea, but never went to any games, apart from a couple of scary friendlies down the Den. This was the Osgood, Bonetti era. My sister started to go out with a guy (later became my brother in law and then my ex brother in law)who hated football, but his elder and younger brother were Charlton fans and they started to take me to the Valley (this is about 1969/70), after a while of enjoying watching football, I realised i knew everybody on the Charlton squad and no one on the Chelsea squad. From there it all went down hill, I started to care about Charlton s results, so to this day I resent my ex BIL's brothers for cursing me with a love for the Addicks.
[cite]Posted By: JohnnyH2[/cite]My Grandad played for the reserves and youth team but his career was put on hold at the crucial stage due to Hitler! He still went on to play for Dartford. By the time my mum was born the family had moved to Floyd Road so the links were even more strong now especially as my great grandad had been a fan as well. Mum soon became a fan/supporter, and would oftern use The Valley as her playground. Sadly Nan and Grandad had a further child, this time a son was in the family who was very sporting orientated and decided to support Millwall! I think this made my Mum even more determined for when she had kids they would not do the same.
I was born in 76 and have no idea when my first game was because we simply went to all the home games. Mum always tells me she was pregnant with me at the Wolves cup game in 76 so I always say my first game was before I was born!
My first memories of going to games were going to Nan and Grandads flat in Springfield Grove (had now left Floyd Road) and at 2.30 going down Church Lane with Grandad, Mum, older Brother and me. Was totally hooked. The move to Selhurst at the age of 8 was weird but we all carried on, at first using the free coaches the club put on from the Valley, they soon stopped them being free!
Now still go with older brother (sit in the East Stand), younger brother has season ticket in the coverend end. My Dad although coming from Camberwell started coming with us to Selhurst and got his first season ticket when we made the Prem. He sits with his mate in the East Stand. Mum never goes as much these days, was someone who always enjoyed the terraces and the move to all seater has not been good for her!
Grandad sadly got alzheimer's in the late 80's so going to football became more hard for him. With his mind on the decline football was a great realse for him, but by the time the 90's had arrived even going to games was too difficult. Once we got back to The Valley Mum was determined he went to a game, so he went to his last ever game against Oxford (the second game back). Grandad sadly passed away December 94 but he will always be the reason why I am Charlton and will always be Charlton, as the same hopefully goes for my 3 year old son in the future.
Great tale JohnnyH2 and a touching one regarding your granddad.
My family moved from mass occupation of a battersea terraced house to the delights of northumberland heath, my dad switched from chelsea to charlton took me to my first game when i was four (1967) to wind me up, him and my brother stopped at a game happening in charlton park and told me this was it.... I would of just stayed there,, but fortunatly i was then piggy backed to the valley and piggy backed through the turnstiles, cheaper that way, and beheld the magnificent sight of the valley, and that was that , forever a charlton supporter. roast peanuts, swigs of my dads whiskey / coffee , always walked back up to the top of the east stand before the final whistle where the players would lok like subbuteo players and usually the other team would score.
It's all my Dad's fault. Dad took me to my first match when I was 8.
It was away to Ipswich 4-4. He asked me what I thought when we were driving home and I said 'Dad that was better than the world cup' then promptly fell asleep from all the excitement.
Dad hadn't wanted to take me to Sainsbury's so he started taking me regularly when we played at Upton Park along with my Grand Dad and later on my Mum as well. We all got season tickets back when I was about 17 and able to buy my own! He still does still treat me to cup tickets and away tickets when we decide to go so musn't grumble.
I was a bit of late comer, ish, lived in SE London all my life, all my family are Gooners, started going to the Valley in late 70's, moved to Charlton about 300 yards from the ground in late 81, that cemented it and started going regular(bunking in over the North Stand toilets) and abandoned the Gooners for my team of choice.
My dad is a gooner but still goes to Charlton regular.
I remember he stood with us in the away end when we drew 2-2 at Highbury about 86-87, Mackenzie & Mortimer I think, his face was a picture as me and my mates bounced around him when we equalised, but he does love Charlton also.
Glass Half emptys old man took me to my first charlton game at selhurst. it was against liverpool and we got stuffed, think i was bout 9 or 10. We lived right next to the valley althogh was too little to go before they left, i was 3. remeber the market tho in the west stand stand car park and going to do's in the portakabin club house. during the summer hols me and my mates would often jump the wall and have a kick about on the pitch thru the weeds and dust. I had flirted with a few teams before my dads cousin decided to set me straight as he and the rest of our family were cafc thru and thru, we went over to there house in kidbrooke i had a glass or ribena in a charlton pint glass and a biscuit my dad and ed were talking in the kitchen then said lets go for a drive, 45 mins after ducking down side streets and little roads we stopped. I got out and could smell hotdogs and burgers and a distant sound of loads of people. we got to the ground even tho it was selhurst i was nearly wetting myself with exitment. We sat in the aurther wait stand with the wodden seats and wooden floor, my dad and ed had got me a programme, ed got me some photos one of the first team squad and few of my favioute players, bob bolder, rob lee and garth crooks.at half time we walked behind the goal, think it was the sainsburys end into the standing paddock, we were attacking that end even tho all the action happens up the other end, we got stuffed, ronnnie rhosenthal scored a hatrick, i shouted somthing at bruce grobelar "let one in at least for us Brucie" he turned and winked at me, will never forget that, plus i wonder now if he thought someone was onto him he he. All in all it was a great night and i will never forget the atmosphere and finally becoming a true addick. some 20 odd years later its still burning bright.
Family thing mainly. Dad dragged me along when I had no idea what was going on and I am still going
More passionate about Charlton than anyone I work with about their teams and that is one of the key reasons I love my club. I could never be accused of being a glory hunter
Managed a couple of games in the youth team many moons ago and played for the Junior Reds team a few times too
Claim to fame time now....my step-grandad is the chap supporting the right knee of the FA Cup holder in this pic!
Comments
I've got to say it's nice to hear from someone of your "type" who sounds like they actually care about the football side of things too.
I'm not judging but I generally get the impression that it's all about the tear up and the football is irrelevant.
Interesting to read your take on things.
My Mum's family were from Poplar and so were all Hammers. As I kid I was then by default I West Ham fan. I had the shirt - from a market stall- a mug, and did know all the West Ham team because of my cousins being real fans. I never went.
Went to first Charlton match when I was about 15/16, cup replay V Spurs.
Went very spasmodically over the next 20 years.
Becuase I love football I wanted my boys to have what I didn't. So as soon as they were old enough, 5, got season tickets.
They both absolutley love it. Very passionate and because they know no different they will always be CAFC. I am proud of that.
I cannot ever pretend to be a real, 100%, die in the wall Charlton fan but I give them my fullest support when I am there, or away. It is good sometimes to be a little detached I think. Helps you see the bigger picture.
I still have a small soft spot for West Ham, although I love beating them. Bit like a pro when he plays against his boyhood team.
It wasn't until charlton moved to selhurst that I became hooked. Suddenly I wasn't travelling to the Valley. It felt wrong. Somewhere I had been going to had been taken away from me. At the same time Lennie was building a promotion winning team. the following season Dad and I became ST holders in the Arthur Wait. Oddly enough that season Charlton played Ipswich in the play offs, but by that time I was fully converted. I think it was watching a club survive against all odds. there on it wasn't just about chalton winning it was about getting back to the Valley.
Sadly like many of the generation Dad isn't around but the tradition carries on. When I look at the Valley today I am proud of what this club has achieved and whilst the trophy cabinet is not full I think like many of the hardcore support of the selhurst years i am just pleased to be back at the valley. I think it is important that the club continues to look at ways of developing support across the region such as schemes of busing school children to matches so that one day they too will become hooked on the club i am proud to support.
Up the addicks
Wouldnt change it for anything else in the world....Brought out of school at lunchtime to travel up to liverpool to watch us lose to them in the fa cup, will never forget the "you'll never walk alone" they did for bob paisley!!Man Utd in the fa cup, 10 000 addicks up there, great day out, Beating sheffield wednesday at the valley in the fa cup!Gettin up at four in the morning to travel up to huddersfield to watch us win 2-1 in a top of the table clash!Travelling up to stockport, where we filled the away end to beat them 4-1(Andy Hunt hat-trick).The play off final(of course)Villa away 4-3, close up of me and my dad on match of the day,The drumming of west ham last season...proud to be an addick!
Ditto
Then in 1985 my Uncle was around for a cuppa with the old dear, remember her telling him I had been up late watching Match of the Day. Cue him asking who I supported..... then "no nephew of mine's going to be a glory boy, you're coming to the Valley with me".
First game was our first season at Selhurst v Sheffield Wednesday (think we lost 1 nil). Just remember the pitch seeming so green and the half time Yorkie and hot chocolate in the Arthur Waite. And loved it!
Was then ball boy for most of the Selhurst years, at West Ham and first game back at the Valley. First real p*ss ups were with Charlton boys in the Anti, Liberal and H&G. Had an away season ticket for a couple of years. All of my group of friends I know through going Charlton. Would be a sad loner with no sport and no friends if I hadn't been watching match of the day that night!
Happy days.
I think that match finished 1-1 - Robert Lee scoring for us.
Welcome cabezamagica
Anyway, my dad eventually said I was old enough to go football on my own. I think he expected me to go WHL. I didn't. I went to Sellout Park with some mates from school were Charlton fans. The season was 86/87 and the game was QPR, which we won to get into the play-offs.
And the rest is history...
One day he said where do you want to go today? Millwall or Charlton? He explained that Millwall were in Division 4 and Charlton were Div. 2. I chose the Valley and was spellbound by the place and soon became an avid fan of Sam Lawrie, John Hewie and co. But the arrival of Eddie Firmani did it for me. He was just fantastic and nearly got us promoted into the old first division.
My mates at School mainly supported Millwall or Palace so I often went with them when Charlton were not at home. It wasn't expensive for kids in those days and we would usually fiddle free travel. I remember standing on the slippery slope at Palace before they built the Arthur Waite Stand. Johhny Byrne was a fabulous player. Millwall were pretty hopeless but the crowd were funny.
Charlton and the Valley had a special kind of magic for me, especially on the big match days when 30k would turn up for the London derby games.
The stand out game for me in the 60's was Charlton winning against Palace at Selhurst Park when Ray Tracey scored a fantastic goal. In recent years Millwall in the snow was equally good but nothing wll ever beat the play off final win against Sunderland.
I took my Son from aged 5 and he is hooked too. My Daughter came a few times -hates football though!
I was born in 76 and have no idea when my first game was because we simply went to all the home games. Mum always tells me she was pregnant with me at the Wolves cup game in 76 so I always say my first game was before I was born!
My first memories of going to games were going to Nan and Grandads flat in Springfield Grove (had now left Floyd Road) and at 2.30 going down Church Lane with Grandad, Mum, older Brother and me. Was totally hooked. The move to Selhurst at the age of 8 was weird but we all carried on, at first using the free coaches the club put on from the Valley, they soon stopped them being free!
Now still go with older brother (sit in the East Stand), younger brother has season ticket in the coverend end. My Dad although coming from Camberwell started coming with us to Selhurst and got his first season ticket when we made the Prem. He sits with his mate in the East Stand. Mum never goes as much these days, was someone who always enjoyed the terraces and the move to all seater has not been good for her!
Grandad sadly got alzheimer's in the late 80's so going to football became more hard for him. With his mind on the decline football was a great realse for him, but by the time the 90's had arrived even going to games was too difficult. Once we got back to The Valley Mum was determined he went to a game, so he went to his last ever game against Oxford (the second game back). Grandad sadly passed away December 94 but he will always be the reason why I am Charlton and will always be Charlton, as the same hopefully goes for my 3 year old son in the future.
Great tale JohnnyH2 and a touching one regarding your granddad.
Started at The Valley and then hardly missed a game at Sellhurst/Upton Park before the move back home.
It was away to Ipswich 4-4. He asked me what I thought when we were driving home and I said 'Dad that was better than the world cup' then promptly fell asleep from all the excitement.
Dad hadn't wanted to take me to Sainsbury's so he started taking me regularly when we played at Upton Park along with my Grand Dad and later on my Mum as well. We all got season tickets back when I was about 17 and able to buy my own! He still does still treat me to cup tickets and away tickets when we decide to go so musn't grumble.
My dad is a gooner but still goes to Charlton regular.
I remember he stood with us in the away end when we drew 2-2 at Highbury about 86-87, Mackenzie & Mortimer I think, his face was a picture as me and my mates bounced around him when we equalised, but he does love Charlton also.
More passionate about Charlton than anyone I work with about their teams and that is one of the key reasons I love my club. I could never be accused of being a glory hunter
Managed a couple of games in the youth team many moons ago and played for the Junior Reds team a few times too
Claim to fame time now....my step-grandad is the chap supporting the right knee of the FA Cup holder in this pic!
Peter Croker is the other bloke supporting the skipper, Don Welsh.