first game cant rember,first full season home and away 1983,charlton mad as a kid,my greatest memory was my brother winning aba title at wembley and next day in back of transit going barnsley,dont no result,and then on way back eating 4 eccles cakes in service station kindly taken for free.
I am Charlton cos it was my local team, Our dad took us on the rare occasion and we stood or sat behind the advertising hordings watching and listening to the noise on the pitch and the nth stand, The Floodlights were what sticks in my head the most how big and vast they were, that smell of Mud and grass used to hold in my nostrils for hours after the game,
I remember the Panini Football sticker book at Juniors and the only ones i cared about were Charlton and Everton for some odd reason, My brother was always more into it than me though, I loved them but in Juniors BMX's and being out on a Saturday was more important, Once secondary school though the bug was there It was all Millsmall and Charlton in our lot who was the best who was shit who we had lost to,
My memories of us leaving the Valley are there though i remember wondering what it meant, what will happen and where the fuk is Sellout park the one thing i did know was i would soon find out as i was going to be going to every game i could,
I got a Tea Cosy hat half red Charlton the other half blue for Rangers, Footie was cheap back then i seemed to be able to afford it with my Paper Round and Milk Round Money no probs and still have enough to last for food and Fags for the remainder of the week at Eaglesfield,
I rember the Arther Waite or how ever it was spelt i rember the way the fans congregated in certain sections and where i could stand and where i couldnt (cheers Bruv cramping your style was i)
The greasy Spoon cafe was the start point for many a game before we found booze, it has always amazed me that so many on here and at footie can remember the games the goal scorers me couldnt name many at all without deep thought or prompting,
Remember watching the Hoolies doing their stuff, thinking how cool and good it must be to be in with them, but we stayed on the outside close enough to be there to feel like we were nearly wih them but in reality we were not in the circle nowhere near but you knew if anyone started on you that you wouldnt be alone,
Then to Upton Park where my real Love with Charlton started i could afford the away days the real excitement the real fans the hardcore those that went far and wide on Buses that didnt look like they would get us out of Charlton let alone some far flung part of England, Welcome into my life Betty Hutchins ( a lady who saved me being stuck around some shitty places with a quick lift of the collar and onto the bus)
Soon we were going home Lennie had gone then there was Curbs (didnt like him at first he wernt Charlton he was a Hammer)
Back to the Valley pulling up plants painting railings , breaking into the training session at the Valley and watching then there was Dec 5th it was true we were home and we were never going to go anywhere else again we were Home, The magnitude of that never really kicked in until a few seasons later and the way we were growing i would have watched them anywhere and had done the politics where a bit above me i wasnt that intrested to be truthful i owe a debt of thanks to those who did the things you did to get us home.
No more Meridian club sports bar for the POTY (shame)
I used to say all i wanted was to see Charlton in a meaningfull game at Wembley and my tears were for real in the playoff final
We were going to be in the big league my wait had been worthwhile and although in those days at shithurst i saw league 1 footie some how the Premier league seemed different we had made it we were now big time
The rest we all know but i know one thing I fuking love this club
My first game was on April 12, 1952 against Wolves in the old First Division. How do I know? I've still got the programme, price three old pence, and I really don't care how "sad" you think that is! :) So my Dad was to blame for me supporting Charlton. He had to work hard to persuade Mum to let me go with him, but I'd told him I was going to support Chelsea if he didn't, so he had no choice!
My Dad was a fan from the late 1920's, and my grandad, who died quite young, was too. I don't know when he first started going, but it must have been a long time ago. Dad went to see us win the Cup, and I never forgave him for not taking me. His rather feeble excuse was that I was only three months old.
When we moved to Bexleyheath I used to get the so-called "special bus" from the bus garage to The Valley. I used to stand on the railings at the bottom of the East Terrace. There was also an old bloke who used to walk around the the "hard shoulder" at the edge of the pitch who sold peanuts for a tanner a bag as well. Relegation and failing to bounce back after losing 4-3 to Blackburn in the last game was a blow, but I suppose it made it easier to take all the crap that came afterwards.
The best attack we ever had, with apologies to Super Clive, Andy Hunt, Hales, and all the rest, had to be the team with Sam Lawrie, Stuart Leary and John Summers in it. If we'd had a defence to match, we'd have been near the top of the First Division, and not in the Second.
Most memorable game? Not the Play-Off Final, but seeing us beat Arsenal 1-0 at The Valley. I never saw us beat them in the old First Division, and I never thought I'd get the chance again. What a great day that was! Seeing Arsene Wenger falling base over apex chasing a ball along the touchline because the"Mighty Gunners" were losing 1-0 to "little old Charlton!
I've lived abroad for over thirty years now, and i only get to a few games ever season. I'll still be turning up next year, relegation or not, so if you see a grey haired old bloke with a flat cap, but without blanket or flask, who doesn't make a lot enough noise, don't moan about him too much, it might be me!
i remeber when i was around 10 dad said right fulham palace charlton qpr pick a team and we'll get a season ticket (father son bonding shite) picked charlton mainly as my dads brother and cousion were season ticket holders and as they say the rest is history...
It may not be the most important thing in life, but like Family it's a constant in our life.
Like the records we love become the soundtrack to our lives, so CAFC becomes a significant part our personal "history" even though at times it's plays a trivial background part behind life's more imporant moments.
One thing we certainly didn't have years ago was a forum like this where all of us like minded anoraks can chew the fat, shed a tear and have a laugh safe in the knowledge that we are not the only saddo around. ;-)
Maybe we should re-title the thread "Charlton- A way of Life".
Or perhaps "Charlton -A trouble Shared"
We wouldn't have it any other way, would we?
Dartford Addick: when I was about 13, I went to a dartford festival and they gave out free bags to everyone with a booklet and things in it and also a season ticket form.
I found out my cousin was a die-hard charlton fan and he got me following them, I took more notice of the scores and followed them more and bugged my parents for a season ticket for two years, but couldn't get one for the first 2 years as dad wasn't prepared to fork out for it and wasn't a charlton fan and they didn't want me going by myself I, I found a mate through my local football team who I played for who was up for going and he said he'd come with me (converted him from a man united dan to charlton over time), convinced dad to let me go eventually though... (had to make him tea whenever he asked for the remainder of the season, he made me sign a contract and everything)
Haven't looked back since.
JazzyJazzyJazzy: for me it was actually a friend of mine that lived on my street that changed me from being an Arsenal fan to a cafc fan (this being back when I was around 10-11years old) I attended a match with him and that's when the love for Charlton all started, so really I thank my mate Billy G for it all :-)
cafcdan18: My primary school got a load of tickets for Charlton in early 1998, I went along with my Dad and loved it. The rest is history. Before that, I sort of looked out for Man United like most at school, however I was only 8/9.
My uncle took me and my little bro. (now a head-teacher in Dagenham) and our cousins to see Charlton beat Fulham 5-3 in 1968. That was us hooked, and little bro. and I have attended just about every home game (and as many away as professional and family lives allow) since. Once, I missed 2 Ray Treacy goals (v Norwich) queuing for that oddly cheese and onion flavoured tea they used to serve at the Valley for my Unc.
[cite]Posted By: ShootersHillGuru[/cite]Thanks to my Uncle Fred - God bless him
My family moved to SE London when I was 5. At primary school in Greenwich my brother and I became friends with Shooters. Shooter’s uncle (who was really a grand uncle and must have been in his late 60’s at the time) had been taking him to the Valley for a two or three years when he invited me and my brother. So for the next 8 or 9 years, for every home game, the four of us would leave his house in Pelton Road in Greenwich and walk to the Valley, stopping at a sweet shop in Trafalgar Road to buy some sweets with the shilling he gave to each of us. I always use to get an aero bar or a frys. We always used the old turnstiles behind what is now the away end. His uncle would stand next to the floodlights in the corner and we would go and stand behind the goal. When Charlton were away he would occasionally take us to the Den or Highbury. When I first started going the Charlton strip was white with red shoulders. I know it is not the traditional Charlton colours but it is still my all time favourite strip.
New neighbours and now one of my best mates introduced me to CAFC in their Smelhurst exile years. Was living in Lee Green and took 2 buses if Dad wasn't driving us over, so was a trek for a team that wasn't my first team before I started to watch them. Was a Liverpool fan as a kid (Grandad - God rest his soul was born in Liverpool and a fan - Dad was a rugby player and had little or no interest in footy before my quickly developed passion for Charlton saw him support us too). How little did I know that on 15th August 1987 I would be sucked into supporting the club through every journey, joyous or painful since. We lost that game 2-1 and think Mark Reid scored (?), but I soon learned the Charlton story, was loving Lennie's escapology routines and got completely hooked. Top of my Christmas list every year, was a Junior Reds half season ticket and my love of following Charlton influenced many a decision thereafter, staying in London in my Uni years, so I didn't have to miss a home game, no time for a Saturday job, just saved working all summer when no games were on and holidays became a no no when the season started. I loved playing a part, however small working with Steve Dixon and Ben Tegg in the Valley Party, whose passion and commitment for the cause further inspired my support and there you have it, love our home (albeit only experienced the new, other than when I helped clear the old), our team (through thick and thin) and love the spirit of my fellow fans of the club. There's never a dull moment supporting this club and even whilst going through some harder times, I've always the sense that good times will roll in just a short time to come. I'm a bit cup half full in nature, but there is something in the team, the place and the fans that also gives me the sense that something good will happen. Play off final against Sunderland will be an amazing day remembered til my last. "Many miles have I travelled....!"
[cite]Posted By: Pavo[/cite]my love of following Charlton influenced many a decision thereafter, staying in London in my Uni years, so I didn't have to miss a home game, no time for a Saturday job, just saved working all summer when no games were on and holidays became a no no when the season started.....Play off final against Sunderland will be an amazing day remembered til my last. "Many miles have I travelled....!"
All of this is so true of me too. And all my jobs have had to be within a 90 minute drive of the Valley. What's more, I've now infected my youngest son with the disease: he's applying for universities, but only within "the radius".
Well the Judge gave me two options, 1) support the Addicks or 2) have him and half a dozen local dignataries spank me with a toilet duck in the saloon bar of the Royal Tavern. The rest is history.
Was brought up in Geneva, but my dad was born and grew up in Woolwhich and Eltham. Half of the family support Arsenal and the other half support Charlton. I fly back about 7 times a year to see friends, family and My Team.
My Dad was in the regular Army so we moved around a lot. Consequently I had spells of watching Arsenal, Watford and Southend, until at the age of 17 I met my wife to be who lived in Plumstead and whose family were Charlton from way back. I started to come with her Brother, and he and I are still supporting together at the age of 73. I have always felt an affinity with South London, and somehow or other for me The Valley is a very special place. It was great on Sunday to be one of 4,000 singing Valley Floyd Road as loud as I have ever heard it.
[cite]Posted By: Vienna_Addick[/cite]My first game was on April 12, 1952 against Wolves in the old First Division. How do I know? I've still got the programme, price three old pence, and I really don't care how "sad" you think that is! So my Dad was to blame for me supporting Charlton. He had to work hard to persuade Mum to let me go with him, but I'd told him I was going to support Chelsea if he didn't, so he had no choice!
My Dad was a fan from the late 1920's, and my grandad, who died quite young, was too. I don't know when he first started going, but it must have been a long time ago. Dad went to see us win the Cup, and I never forgave him for not taking me. His rather feeble excuse was that I was only three months old.
When we moved to Bexleyheath I used to get the so-called "special bus" from the bus garage to The Valley. I used to stand on the railings at the bottom of the East Terrace. There was also an old bloke who used to walk around the the "hard shoulder" at the edge of the pitch who sold peanuts for a tanner a bag as well. Relegation and failing to bounce back after losing 4-3 to Blackburn in the last game was a blow, but I suppose it made it easier to take all the crap that came afterwards.
The best attack we ever had, with apologies to Super Clive, Andy Hunt, Hales, and all the rest, had to be the team with Sam Lawrie, Stuart Leary and John Summers in it. If we'd had a defence to match, we'd have been near the top of the First Division, and not in the Second.
Most memorable game? Not the Play-Off Final, but seeing us beat Arsenal 1-0 at The Valley. I never saw us beat them in the old First Division, and I never thought I'd get the chance again. What a great day that was! Seeing Arsene Wenger falling base over apex chasing a ball along the touchline because the"Mighty Gunners" were losing 1-0 to "little old Charlton!
I've lived abroad for over thirty years now, and i only get to a few games ever season. I'll still be turning up next year, relegation or not, so if you see a grey haired old bloke with a flat cap, but without blanket or flask, who doesn't make a lot enough noise, don't moan about him too much, it might be me!
Blimey mate your an older relic than me. At least you saw some of the good times before the rot set in.
I started supporting Charlton in the mid fifties but wasn't taken to my first game till end of season 58.
My Dad was to blame I was brain washed from the start. Growing up in a Millwall stronghold meant my mates were blue which didn't become a nuisance till they started their climb in the 60's.
I'm a new convert, only "found" Charlton in late 2009 when I moved to Brockley from Sweden and wanted to support a football club reasonably local to me, and a friend of mine happened to live in Floyd Road. I didn't know much about English football at the time but remembered Charlton as one of the clubs that very rarely found their way onto TV when I was a kid, and also felt more drawn to the Valley than the Den. I started following the club online and then went along to the home game v Carlisle last spring. Then didn't make it back until Sheffield Wednesday last autumn and am now very fond of the club and jonesing to go to what matches I can afford and be around for. Living in New Cross-ish area I suppose I am in Millwall land but, eh, not interested.
my father and grandfather were supporters so it naturally followed ,my first game was a 3-2 home win v Carlisle ,i think in 1965 could have been 66) such cafc luminaries playing were Ron Saunders ,Alan Campbell,Billy Bonds,Peter Burridge ...Willie Carlin and Chris Balderstone were playing for the opposition .Cant fail to remember how imposing the East Terrace was ,the ,even then outdated /air conditioned loos at the bartram entrance ,the scoreboard etc Memories of the 75 bus route from brownhill road through Lee,Blackheath Village ,The standard etc abound ...all in all the service was pretty good !!! i am going a bit "off piste"with the next paragraph what followed ? years of mediocrity save for the 68/69 season ,ensuing relegation ..promotion with killers goals against Preston ,ahem relegation again ...promotion under Mike Bailey ,the Hulyer period(you could tell it would all go wrong)....Sunley ,the appointment of Sir Len ,Selhurst (oh no !!),Upton Park ,the return .promotion and relegation to the premiership ....the premiership and relative stability ...relegation ,relegation and mediocrity,are we about to experience a new dawn ? lets hope so! but i must say its been a pleasure and i truly thank my dad for taking me there (aswell as my brother ) and getting me hooked ..cant think what i would have done without it!COYA !!!!!!!!!!!
As a boy I followed West Ham having the odd kit bought for me, but I never went to any games, during the late eighties my friend (Tangoflash) took me and his younger brother to the odd Charlton game at Selhurst Park and then ironically onto Upton Park. During this transitional period I was affectionally known as Hammer-ton as his constant wind ups of me supposedly following the hammers was ridiculous as I never went to see them. It was during the days at Upton Park I eventually turned for the good, and started going more regularly, and probably coinciding with me leaving school and getting more money. Since then I've been a steward in the old North stand during 94-98 years and seen many a match and heard many a drum bang. I gave up the stewarding when we were promoted via the play offs and had a season ticket since, right upto last season when finances and work committments took over.
Mum's family from Charlton, Nan and Granded and various others from that side of the family used to watch them, my Great Uncle (by marriage rather than blood) was Wilson Lennox who played up front for us in the the late 1920's.
Had a brief flirtation with Watford as they were my local side until I was about 7. Charlton scarf for Xmas when I was about 8 combined with my nan taking me for a walk to see the mystical, overgrown Valley, viewed from The Heights, was enough to convince me and then a school trip to see penultimate game at Selhurst against Newcastle was enough to seal the deal. Back again with my dad the following week for the West Ham game.
Grandad was raised in the area and was a fan in the 40s.
Him and my Dad a moved to Dageham in the 60s and they both used to cycle from Dagenham to Charlton every other week. My Dad used to think that football was an all day thing and was suprised when he realised how long a game actually took. My grandad became a black shep because he moved across the river and despite being there most weeks hardly ever saw the family tat still lived there.
My Dad's brother had a trail with the club and still has the letter from Jimmy Seed. He became a reporter and occasinally reorted on the club.
My Dad moved his family out to Essex and gave the 'gift' of Charlton to me and two brothers.
There are now the beginnings of the fourth generation of fans with three nephews under 7 (not been to their first games yet).
i have recently moved back to the area and feel like I've 'come home' to where my family is from.
[cite]Posted By: Coveredendchoir[/cite] during the late eighties my friend (Tangoflash) took me and his younger brother to the odd Charlton game at Selhurst Park and then ironically onto Upton Park.
Comments
Blinding posts......
Love it..
And Ive no doubt that you'll also make some new friends on Charlton Life.
Dad used to go. (Still does)
Dad's dad used to go (still does)
Mum's dad now goes!
Uncles aunts etc all massive fans.
Need I say more?
I love Charlton Athletic
I remember the Panini Football sticker book at Juniors and the only ones i cared about were Charlton and Everton for some odd reason, My brother was always more into it than me though, I loved them but in Juniors BMX's and being out on a Saturday was more important, Once secondary school though the bug was there It was all Millsmall and Charlton in our lot who was the best who was shit who we had lost to,
My memories of us leaving the Valley are there though i remember wondering what it meant, what will happen and where the fuk is Sellout park the one thing i did know was i would soon find out as i was going to be going to every game i could,
I got a Tea Cosy hat half red Charlton the other half blue for Rangers, Footie was cheap back then i seemed to be able to afford it with my Paper Round and Milk Round Money no probs and still have enough to last for food and Fags for the remainder of the week at Eaglesfield,
I rember the Arther Waite or how ever it was spelt i rember the way the fans congregated in certain sections and where i could stand and where i couldnt (cheers Bruv cramping your style was i)
The greasy Spoon cafe was the start point for many a game before we found booze, it has always amazed me that so many on here and at footie can remember the games the goal scorers me couldnt name many at all without deep thought or prompting,
Remember watching the Hoolies doing their stuff, thinking how cool and good it must be to be in with them, but we stayed on the outside close enough to be there to feel like we were nearly wih them but in reality we were not in the circle nowhere near but you knew if anyone started on you that you wouldnt be alone,
Then to Upton Park where my real Love with Charlton started i could afford the away days the real excitement the real fans the hardcore those that went far and wide on Buses that didnt look like they would get us out of Charlton let alone some far flung part of England, Welcome into my life Betty Hutchins ( a lady who saved me being stuck around some shitty places with a quick lift of the collar and onto the bus)
Soon we were going home Lennie had gone then there was Curbs (didnt like him at first he wernt Charlton he was a Hammer)
Back to the Valley pulling up plants painting railings , breaking into the training session at the Valley and watching then there was Dec 5th it was true we were home and we were never going to go anywhere else again we were Home, The magnitude of that never really kicked in until a few seasons later and the way we were growing i would have watched them anywhere and had done the politics where a bit above me i wasnt that intrested to be truthful i owe a debt of thanks to those who did the things you did to get us home.
No more Meridian club sports bar for the POTY (shame)
I used to say all i wanted was to see Charlton in a meaningfull game at Wembley and my tears were for real in the playoff final
We were going to be in the big league my wait had been worthwhile and although in those days at shithurst i saw league 1 footie some how the Premier league seemed different we had made it we were now big time
The rest we all know but i know one thing I fuking love this club
My Dad was a fan from the late 1920's, and my grandad, who died quite young, was too. I don't know when he first started going, but it must have been a long time ago. Dad went to see us win the Cup, and I never forgave him for not taking me. His rather feeble excuse was that I was only three months old.
When we moved to Bexleyheath I used to get the so-called "special bus" from the bus garage to The Valley. I used to stand on the railings at the bottom of the East Terrace. There was also an old bloke who used to walk around the the "hard shoulder" at the edge of the pitch who sold peanuts for a tanner a bag as well. Relegation and failing to bounce back after losing 4-3 to Blackburn in the last game was a blow, but I suppose it made it easier to take all the crap that came afterwards.
The best attack we ever had, with apologies to Super Clive, Andy Hunt, Hales, and all the rest, had to be the team with Sam Lawrie, Stuart Leary and John Summers in it. If we'd had a defence to match, we'd have been near the top of the First Division, and not in the Second.
Most memorable game? Not the Play-Off Final, but seeing us beat Arsenal 1-0 at The Valley. I never saw us beat them in the old First Division, and I never thought I'd get the chance again. What a great day that was! Seeing Arsene Wenger falling base over apex chasing a ball along the touchline because the"Mighty Gunners" were losing 1-0 to "little old Charlton!
I've lived abroad for over thirty years now, and i only get to a few games ever season. I'll still be turning up next year, relegation or not, so if you see a grey haired old bloke with a flat cap, but without blanket or flask, who doesn't make a lot enough noise, don't moan about him too much, it might be me!
It may not be the most important thing in life, but like Family it's a constant in our life.
Like the records we love become the soundtrack to our lives, so CAFC becomes a significant part our personal "history" even though at times it's plays a trivial background part behind life's more imporant moments.
One thing we certainly didn't have years ago was a forum like this where all of us like minded anoraks can chew the fat, shed a tear and have a laugh safe in the knowledge that we are not the only saddo around. ;-)
Maybe we should re-title the thread "Charlton- A way of Life".
Or perhaps "Charlton -A trouble Shared"
We wouldn't have it any other way, would we?
I found out my cousin was a die-hard charlton fan and he got me following them, I took more notice of the scores and followed them more and bugged my parents for a season ticket for two years, but couldn't get one for the first 2 years as dad wasn't prepared to fork out for it and wasn't a charlton fan and they didn't want me going by myself I, I found a mate through my local football team who I played for who was up for going and he said he'd come with me (converted him from a man united dan to charlton over time), convinced dad to let me go eventually though... (had to make him tea whenever he asked for the remainder of the season, he made me sign a contract and everything)
Haven't looked back since.
JazzyJazzyJazzy: for me it was actually a friend of mine that lived on my street that changed me from being an Arsenal fan to a cafc fan (this being back when I was around 10-11years old) I attended a match with him and that's when the love for Charlton all started, so really I thank my mate Billy G for it all :-)
My family moved to SE London when I was 5. At primary school in Greenwich my brother and I became friends with Shooters. Shooter’s uncle (who was really a grand uncle and must have been in his late 60’s at the time) had been taking him to the Valley for a two or three years when he invited me and my brother. So for the next 8 or 9 years, for every home game, the four of us would leave his house in Pelton Road in Greenwich and walk to the Valley, stopping at a sweet shop in Trafalgar Road to buy some sweets with the shilling he gave to each of us. I always use to get an aero bar or a frys. We always used the old turnstiles behind what is now the away end. His uncle would stand next to the floodlights in the corner and we would go and stand behind the goal. When Charlton were away he would occasionally take us to the Den or Highbury. When I first started going the Charlton strip was white with red shoulders. I know it is not the traditional Charlton colours but it is still my all time favourite strip.
All of this is so true of me too. And all my jobs have had to be within a 90 minute drive of the Valley. What's more, I've now infected my youngest son with the disease: he's applying for universities, but only within "the radius".
Blimey mate your an older relic than me. At least you saw some of the good times before the rot set in.
I started supporting Charlton in the mid fifties but wasn't taken to my first game till end of season 58.
My Dad was to blame I was brain washed from the start. Growing up in a Millwall stronghold meant my mates were blue which didn't become a nuisance till they started their climb in the 60's.
Memories of the 75 bus route from brownhill road through Lee,Blackheath Village ,The standard etc abound ...all in all the service was pretty good !!!
i am going a bit "off piste"with the next paragraph
what followed ? years of mediocrity save for the 68/69 season ,ensuing relegation ..promotion with killers goals against Preston ,ahem relegation again ...promotion under Mike Bailey ,the Hulyer period(you could tell it would all go wrong)....Sunley ,the appointment of Sir Len ,Selhurst (oh no !!),Upton Park ,the return .promotion and relegation to the premiership ....the premiership and relative stability ...relegation ,relegation and mediocrity,are we about to experience a new dawn ? lets hope so! but i must say its been a pleasure and i truly thank my dad for taking me there (aswell as my brother ) and getting me hooked ..cant think what i would have done without it!COYA !!!!!!!!!!!
Since then I've been a steward in the old North stand during 94-98 years and seen many a match and heard many a drum bang. I gave up the stewarding when we were promoted via the play offs and had a season ticket since, right upto last season when finances and work committments took over.
Had a brief flirtation with Watford as they were my local side until I was about 7. Charlton scarf for Xmas when I was about 8 combined with my nan taking me for a walk to see the mystical, overgrown Valley, viewed from The Heights, was enough to convince me and then a school trip to see penultimate game at Selhurst against Newcastle was enough to seal the deal. Back again with my dad the following week for the West Ham game.
Him and my Dad a moved to Dageham in the 60s and they both used to cycle from Dagenham to Charlton every other week. My Dad used to think that football was an all day thing and was suprised when he realised how long a game actually took. My grandad became a black shep because he moved across the river and despite being there most weeks hardly ever saw the family tat still lived there.
My Dad's brother had a trail with the club and still has the letter from Jimmy Seed. He became a reporter and occasinally reorted on the club.
My Dad moved his family out to Essex and gave the 'gift' of Charlton to me and two brothers.
There are now the beginnings of the fourth generation of fans with three nephews under 7 (not been to their first games yet).
i have recently moved back to the area and feel like I've 'come home' to where my family is from.
And i'm still regretting it....;-)