My parents moved down from Aberdeen to South London in the mid 80's, my old man being a massive dons fan, was fresh from the success of the Fergie era. When he came down he tried to find a new team which he could support, he tried all the London clubs and none of them really "fit", he wanted a local club with a good reputation. He went to watch Charlton and felt more at home, he also had a red and white scarf already from supporting the Dons so, as a typical Scotsman, he saved a bit of money.
He loved going with a great pal of his and when me and my sister were born struggled to afford a season ticket. So he decided to become a steward at Selhurst so he still wouldn't miss a game, again with his mate who he used to go with (RIP Mark).
I always watched football on tv when I was young and my dad was getting worried about my exposure to Arsenal and West Ham on the box. So he knew when I was 7 it was time to visit my new church for the rest of my life. I got taken to my first game in the 93-94 season against Peterborough at home, we won 5-1, it was amazing. The next home game we had m'boro at home and got beat 5-2....in 2 games of football I had seen Charlton score 7 and concede 6....what was there not to fall in love with. Got a season ticket the next season and have seen immense highs and lows, of which I was prepared for in my first 2 games.
Dad had started to take me to a few games at the Valley in 64/65. However, as a special treat he took me to see my hero (Jimmy Greaves) in the 1966 game Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United.
The teams were crammed with super stars, the occasion was enormous. the atmosphere unbelievable. The game lived up to the hype and Man U took the lead following some fantastic artistry by Georgie Best on the wing, (keepie uppies followed by an overhead kick) the ball arrived in the box for Denis Law to head home.
Amazingly with just three minutes remaining Alan Gilzean managed to pull one back and in the final minute Jimmy Greaves (who else) slotted the winner in his own inimitable style.
The funny thing was on leaving White Hart Lane I wanted more of the same, but I realised for the first time that my imprinting had already occurred … at the Valley. Charlton were my team and I’d just have to wait for such occasions to arrive in my corner of SE London.
I suppose if you look at the stats only, I endured many years of mediocrity (or worse). However, that doesn’t really tell the story. Remembering the great goals, moments, personalities, performances and the highs and lows is all part of it. The exiled years, an incredible promotion to division 1 whilst at Selhurst, play off dramas, the Sunderland game and the premiership years - all add to the character building process. As for the future well, ‘hope springs eternal’.
My dad took me last home game 1966-67 season Birmingham home we won 1-0 think it was Billy Bonds last game for Charlton .Started going regularly after then .Used to stand in the little bit of terrace by the West Stand and the open South Bank .Mind you I used to spend more time playing football in. that goal nearby even taking my own tennis ball .Running back when I thought some thing was happening on the pitch.Those were the days roasted peanuts before the game hot chestnuts on the way out.
Forgot to mention my first game was Brentford at the Valley, i don't remember it as i was not quite three years old yet but my Dad has insisted i come up for the game against them next year, as it will be the first time Brentford have come to the Valley in the second tier since my first game.
My parents moved down from Aberdeen to South London in the mid 80's, my old man being a massive dons fan, was fresh from the success of the Fergie era. When he came down he tried to find a new team which he could support, he tried all the London clubs and none of them really "fit", he wanted a local club with a good reputation. He went to watch Charlton and felt more at home, he also had a red and white scarf already from supporting the Dons so, as a typical Scotsman, he saved a bit of money.
He loved going with a great pal of his and when me and my sister were born struggled to afford a season ticket. So he decided to become a steward at Selhurst so he still wouldn't miss a game, again with his mate who he used to go with (RIP Mark).
I always watched football on tv when I was young and my dad was getting worried about my exposure to Arsenal and West Ham on the box. So he knew when I was 7 it was time to visit my new church for the rest of my life. I got taken to my first game in the 93-94 season against Peterborough at home, we won 5-1, it was amazing. The next home game we had m'boro at home and got beat 5-2....in 2 games of football I had seen Charlton score 7 and concede 6....what was there not to fall in love with. Got a season ticket the next season and have seen immense highs and lows, of which I was prepared for in my first 2 games.
Garry Nelson & John Hendrie hat-tricks if I recall correctly.
My grandad was a charlton fan my uncle mad charlton fan. My dad had no interest in football. I supported the flavour of the day and them aged 7 in 1966 started going to the valley. And have been an addicted charlton every since. I lived in plumstead at the time on a estate whose reputation went before it.
I live in the US, when the premier league started being broadcast on NBC, I decided to watch a game and I fell in love. At first I followed Everton, believing i could just pick any team I wanted too, then as I started to learn more about the football league and english football as a whole, I struck an immediate connection with Charlton. I may not be able to watch them on TV but I love them no matter what. Proud to be an American Addick
I'm a considerably newer Addick than most - also coming to the club much later in life when I was 39, too. Both my parents were never keen on any sports, and I was never a sporty kid at any rate so I went through my Primary School with interest only in the World/Euro Cups.
Through Secondary School I was pretty much meh about any sport, but in my GCSE and A-Level years became generally interested in football but never followed anyone as such. Because my school was in Beckenham most of my peers either followed Chelsea or Liverpool as the "big clubs" or else defaulted to the local Crystal Paralysis. One of my mates had a CPFC season ticket and was a complete statto about the club - I think that put me off a bit, but I did feel like not being a follower of any club left me somewhat out of the loop.
Fast-forward 22 years when my relationship with CAFC began in 2012 due to a "Football for a Fiver" promotion. My two boys had a flyer in their schoolbags and they had been nagging me to take them to a football game, so I took the plunge. Can't remember which game it was, but we really enjoyed it enough to buy a ticket for the three of us to the next home game.
The reason I came back was because I was really impressed at how family friendly the club was. I'd warned the boys "What happens in the ground stays in the ground" in case they heard a string of sweary invective being hurled around about us - but the warning was not required.
The rest is history. I got hooked by the CAFC bug and we attended pretty much every home game for the rest of that season and before I knew it, I was holding a 2012/13 season ticket in my hands!
Spookily enough, my Brothers-in-Law had both decided to get season tickets that very same season - I hadn't known about that, previously. I moved to sit with them in the Lower North from the family area where we had our tickets, and it has become very much a family occasion on Match Day now. My eldest is 12 and since going to Secondary School has become a Rugby player and is relatively disinterested in the sport with round balls so he has given up his ST, but my other lad and I will carry on attending.
So.... I'm proof that Football for a Fiver does work, and that a family friendly club makes all the difference, too. In fact the attitude of the club at large is truly excellent. My youngest and his cousin are doing a half-term footy course at Sparrows Lane this week and are loving it. On Tuesday afternoon Bob Peeters popped over to speak to them for five minutes which showed them it's not just about 90 minutes on the pitch for the Gaffer either.
My Dad took me to my first game back in the 60's although strangely he was never a big football fan. Even now my Mum is much more keen on Football than he is. Born & bred in Eltham, Charlton has been part of my life ever since. Very rarely miss a home game I used to go to a lot of away games but nowadays only travel away now and then.
1968, Charlton 3 Millwall 4 1st game never looked back, my local team (as was), family team no brainer, many lows and a few highs along the way, it's in the blood!!!
My parents moved down from Aberdeen to South London in the mid 80's, my old man being a massive dons fan, was fresh from the success of the Fergie era. When he came down he tried to find a new team which he could support, he tried all the London clubs and none of them really "fit", he wanted a local club with a good reputation. He went to watch Charlton and felt more at home, he also had a red and white scarf already from supporting the Dons so, as a typical Scotsman, he saved a bit of money.
He loved going with a great pal of his and when me and my sister were born struggled to afford a season ticket. So he decided to become a steward at Selhurst so he still wouldn't miss a game, again with his mate who he used to go with (RIP Mark).
I always watched football on tv when I was young and my dad was getting worried about my exposure to Arsenal and West Ham on the box. So he knew when I was 7 it was time to visit my new church for the rest of my life. I got taken to my first game in the 93-94 season against Peterborough at home, we won 5-1, it was amazing. The next home game we had m'boro at home and got beat 5-2....in 2 games of football I had seen Charlton score 7 and concede 6....what was there not to fall in love with. Got a season ticket the next season and have seen immense highs and lows, of which I was prepared for in my first 2 games.
Garry Nelson & John Hendrie hat-tricks if I recall correctly.
You do indeed mate, Leaburn and Pardew with the others.
I never got a match programme on the day, but due to the kindness of @LargeAddick my first Charlton match was fully completed 20 years later.
1968, Charlton 3 Millwall 4 1st game never looked back, my local team (as was), family team no brainer, many lows and a few highs along the way, it's in the blood!!!
Exactly what Robbie Williams' missus was asking yesterday !
Although if she's a 58 year old ex skin head who used to stand at the back of the Covered End in her socks because the rozzers knicked her DM's, the name could be her fault...
'Cos the 75 bus took me from door to door.....v Everton 1959,...and my older brother probably got fed up taking his little brother to Highbury..(although he did take me to my first game at the Valley against Arsenal in the cup in 1956). I am grateful to him, RIP.
Dad took me down to the Valley for relegation clash with the sinking Cobblers - the returning Eddie's goal performance did it for me and I was hooked ;-)
My uncle Fred took me every game at The Valley from when I was five. Then to a lot of away matches when I was old enough. It’s just in my DNA. Both my daughter and granddaughter have Valley as their middle name. Since 2020 I’ve lived in West Yorkshire so getting to The Valley is now a rare treat. I’d still say that barring my children and grandchildren that supporting Charlton has been the greatest gift of my life.
Late 1950s. A sensory delight: the sound of the crowd, the massive east terrace, the players, the smells of the liniment and the peanuts and the excitement. Nothing like it in my black and white (dull) child's life.
'Cos the 75 bus took me from door to door.....v Everton 1959,...and my older brother probably got fed up taking his little brother to Highbury..(although he did take me to my first game at the Valley against Arsenal in the cup in 1956). I am grateful to him, RIP.
'Cos the 75 bus took me from door to door.....v Everton 1959,...and my older brother probably got fed up taking his little brother to Highbury..(although he did take me to my first game at the Valley against Arsenal in the cup in 1956). I am grateful to him, RIP.
Family - Dad first taken in 1947, by his Uncle who started watching Charlton in the 1920’s - Dad first took me aged 6 in 1976 - if I hadn’t of liked football, he wouldn’t have bothered, but I did, so I had no chance, always gonna be Charlton - my Son doesn’t like football, but my Daughter does, so she had no chance either, She is Charlton as well
I guess my Dad cursed his Uncle, I curse my Dad, and my Daughter curses me - we have all had this terrible millstone hung around our necks 😃
Comments
He loved going with a great pal of his and when me and my sister were born struggled to afford a season ticket. So he decided to become a steward at Selhurst so he still wouldn't miss a game, again with his mate who he used to go with (RIP Mark).
I always watched football on tv when I was young and my dad was getting worried about my exposure to Arsenal and West Ham on the box. So he knew when I was 7 it was time to visit my new church for the rest of my life. I got taken to my first game in the 93-94 season against Peterborough at home, we won 5-1, it was amazing. The next home game we had m'boro at home and got beat 5-2....in 2 games of football I had seen Charlton score 7 and concede 6....what was there not to fall in love with. Got a season ticket the next season and have seen immense highs and lows, of which I was prepared for in my first 2 games.
The teams were crammed with super stars, the occasion was enormous. the atmosphere unbelievable. The game lived up to the hype and Man U took the lead following some fantastic artistry by Georgie Best on the wing, (keepie uppies followed by an overhead kick) the ball arrived in the box for Denis Law to head home.
Amazingly with just three minutes remaining Alan Gilzean managed to pull one back and in the final minute Jimmy Greaves (who else) slotted the winner in his own inimitable style.
The funny thing was on leaving White Hart Lane I wanted more of the same, but I realised for the first time that my imprinting had already occurred … at the Valley. Charlton were my team and I’d just have to wait for such occasions to arrive in my corner of SE London.
I suppose if you look at the stats only, I endured many years of mediocrity (or worse). However, that doesn’t really tell the story. Remembering the great goals, moments, personalities, performances and the highs and lows is all part of it. The exiled years, an incredible promotion to division 1 whilst at Selhurst, play off dramas, the Sunderland game and the premiership years - all add to the character building process. As for the future well, ‘hope springs eternal’.
To conclude. Any regrets? Nah, not really. COYR.
Both my parents were never keen on any sports, and I was never a sporty kid at any rate so I went through my Primary School with interest only in the World/Euro Cups.
Through Secondary School I was pretty much meh about any sport, but in my GCSE and A-Level years became generally interested in football but never followed anyone as such. Because my school was in Beckenham most of my peers either followed Chelsea or Liverpool as the "big clubs" or else defaulted to the local Crystal Paralysis. One of my mates had a CPFC season ticket and was a complete statto about the club - I think that put me off a bit, but I did feel like not being a follower of any club left me somewhat out of the loop.
Fast-forward 22 years when my relationship with CAFC began in 2012 due to a "Football for a Fiver" promotion. My two boys had a flyer in their schoolbags and they had been nagging me to take them to a football game, so I took the plunge. Can't remember which game it was, but we really enjoyed it enough to buy a ticket for the three of us to the next home game.
The reason I came back was because I was really impressed at how family friendly the club was. I'd warned the boys "What happens in the ground stays in the ground" in case they heard a string of sweary invective being hurled around about us - but the warning was not required.
The rest is history. I got hooked by the CAFC bug and we attended pretty much every home game for the rest of that season and before I knew it, I was holding a 2012/13 season ticket in my hands!
Spookily enough, my Brothers-in-Law had both decided to get season tickets that very same season - I hadn't known about that, previously. I moved to sit with them in the Lower North from the family area where we had our tickets, and it has become very much a family occasion on Match Day now.
My eldest is 12 and since going to Secondary School has become a Rugby player and is relatively disinterested in the sport with round balls so he has given up his ST, but my other lad and I will carry on attending.
So.... I'm proof that Football for a Fiver does work, and that a family friendly club makes all the difference, too. In fact the attitude of the club at large is truly excellent. My youngest and his cousin are doing a half-term footy course at Sparrows Lane this week and are loving it. On Tuesday afternoon Bob Peeters popped over to speak to them for five minutes which showed them it's not just about 90 minutes on the pitch for the Gaffer either.
Love my club - Love Charlton.
I never got a match programme on the day, but due to the kindness of @LargeAddick my first Charlton match was fully completed 20 years later.
Sorry Granpa but your idea of promotion and mine are entirely different!!
I guess my Dad cursed his Uncle, I curse my Dad, and my Daughter curses me - we have all had this terrible millstone hung around our necks 😃
Aw fuggeddit!
My great uncle took my grandad, grandad took my dad, dad took me, the curse is passed on.