We wrote to RM when he handed over to the new guys. To us he was Mr. Charlton and we just wanted to thank him for everything he had done. Just three weeks ago we received a handwritten letter from RM in which he explained that our letter had only just been found in a pile of other things. He thanked us for our thoughts etc. but we were just knocked out that he had taken the trouble to reply. Just a little example of why he was, and remains, very special. It's just so good to see him looking a whole lot healthier and long may it continue.
I suspect that PA along with others including Rick, developed their relationships during the Back To The Valley campaign.
For those that don't know PA is an advertising guru and he mobilised his team in a top international London based agency - whose name I forget and am shamed to have done so because I was a client of that agency once - and they created the the "Back To The Valley" poster campaign.
I like what the new owners have done so far and I do hope that whenever Richard decides to leave the club that he gets the recognition he devers. I really want us to chant his name as a appreciation to all the hard work he has done.
100% really hope he is recognised if/when he decides to leave, have nothing but utter utter respect and admirability to the man ... mr.charlton
Great post Richard about another Addicks legend called Richard!
Of course he and the board made mistakes. The last few years have been hell for all of us but how much more hell when its a large chunk of your families inheritance down the dustpipe?!
He kept the ship afloat - somehow, and kept his nerve until it was handed on to decent investors. He still retains an interest and a decent sized stake as well.
As others have already said, Richard Murray is a star. Of course mistakes were made - but if only we could all enjoy the benefit of hindsight! And let's not forget the personal tradgedy referred to by PA. His wife died after being bitten by a wasp & spending 3 years in a coma. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to get through that day by day while still running a successful PL football team. Thanks Richard & Happy New Year to you & yours.
A thoroughly decent man..............obviously along the way he made some mistakes and no doubt one or two enemies, you'd hardly expect otherwise.
Came out well on-top of the Simon Jordan spat by acting with class and dignity, which is something you cannot buy, though Jordan mistakenly thought he could.........he made a complete fool out of Jordan IMHO.
You came out of your chairmanship with far more plusses than minusses Richard............good to still have you around the place and long may that continue.
Great thread,thanks PA. I don't know if RM reads CL but it would be nice if you texted him and pointed him to this thread,i'm sure he would fell very pleased and proud to know how well us fans feel about him.
Great Charlton man. Was IMHO a victim of the greed endemic within English football where relegated Premiership clubs in the main are doomed to financial hardship. A few bad calls and we all know what happened. Here's the thing though. He didn't jump ship. He battoned the hatches and managed to sail the good ship Charlton Athletic to safe water. One of the greatest names in our history.
Great thread,thanks PA. I don't know if RM reads CL but it would be nice if you texted him and pointed him to this thread,i'm sure he would fell very pleased and proud to know how well us fans feel about him.
Yes I think I will do that.
It's great to see that everybody feels the same way
Don't think any Charlton fan should have anything other than the utmost respect for Richard Murray. I can only echo what has already been said and we all owe Richard a great deal for what he achieved at Charlton and for the sacrifice's he made, and not just financially either. A true Charlton legend.
I certainly add my endorsement to the comments above - especially what he did in the past couple of years to keep the club afloat and out of administration was remarkable and no doubt came at a huge cost to him financially and personally. Delighted that he is still on board and once more enjoying being an Addick.
hear hear ! Just wondered if we could have a special mention for RM & the Board for the past year at the Brentford match next week ? Perhaps BDL could arrange something ??
That wouldn't be appropriate as BDL is paid by the club and as such shouldn't be using the club's facilities to make statements about the club's owners. It would have no more meaning than Matt Wright publishing an editorial in the programme praising the directors.
I also think the time for (self-)congratulation is when we get out of this division, not before!
A big thanks to Mr Murray for leading the club forward, developing The Valley to the superb stadium we have today - and of course, the Premiership years! The past few years may have been trying times, but Mr Murray kept his nerve; today we look forward to the renaissence of Charlton Athletic, with Mr Murray continuing to play a contributing role.
So pleased to hear his health is returning. As fans, it's easy to overlook the worry and toll on health that running a football club can take.
Good post Prague. Well deserved recognition and praise for Mr Murray. From someone who was first taken along in 1970, Richard's tenure is the one that has brought me the vast majority of the good times I have seen with Charlton. Have been in some very fortunate positions for some games and was always made to feel very welcome by Richard (and Pete V). A man after all our hearts and thankfully for us all, I think, one who had the best interests of Charlton always at the forefront. I will always be grateful...
Let Curbs go (no transfer cash for Bullard and Sidwell)
Hired Ian Dowie
Promoted Les Reed
Hired Pards
Promoted Parky
Depends how you look at things really !
Let us not forget that those decisions were Board ones not just RM although he will have had a major input.
Parky's appointment was pretty much forced on them due to lack of dosh/stalemate in the Boardroom.
Les Reed was always going to be a stop gap.
Pardew was almost universally approved of by fans and was a stand out choice at the time (not by me I hasten to add)
Dowie's appointment came after the preferred candidate - Billy Davies had sat on his hands. I personally thought it was a decent appointment - but of course the Jordan sting didn't help.
As for letting Curbs go, that was down to Curbs - he wanted out. (In my view he wanted out the previous season but was persuaded to stay by being given some cash to freshen up the squad). I don't think he/the Board were going to make that mistake again. As regards money for Bullard and Sidwell, well does history show they would have been decent signings especially if we had paid more than we had available for them?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have - I think he/the board made mistakes but they are to some extent inevitable when running football clubs that have to duck and dive on relatively meagre resources. One of the biggest problems for all clubs other than the rich few is that the PL structure makes it almost impossible not to gamble when you have achieved a decent period in the top flight because the dangers of falling out of the league are so catastrophic even with (more) generous parachute payments.
murray didn't let curbs go he told him he wanted him to sign a longer contract , when curbs said no but i'm happy to see out my last year , murray decided it was best for him to go
curbs offered to help in the finding of a new manager , murray turned the offer down and decided on dowie but decided on dowies coaching staff
murray through all his good intentions, didn't know how to say no to pardew when he was on his spending mission that took us to the edge of financial disaster
It's a very large subject, but if you think overall Richard Murray was a negative influence on Charlton's history then I have no respect for your judgement.
Comments
We wrote to RM when he handed over to the new guys. To us he was Mr. Charlton and we just wanted to thank him for everything he had done. Just three weeks ago we received a handwritten letter from RM in which he explained that our letter had only just been found in a pile of other things. He thanked us for our thoughts etc. but we were just knocked out that he had taken the trouble to reply. Just a little example of why he was, and remains, very special. It's just so good to see him looking a whole lot healthier and long may it continue.
A thoroughly decent man..............obviously along the way he made some mistakes and no doubt one or two enemies, you'd hardly expect otherwise.
Came out well on-top of the Simon Jordan spat by acting with class and dignity, which is something you cannot buy, though Jordan mistakenly thought he could.........he made a complete fool out of Jordan IMHO.
You came out of your chairmanship with far more plusses than minusses Richard............good to still have you around the place and long may that continue.
Top bloke
exactly , it's amazing how great the chairman and the board are when the team are doing well
it's when the chips are down and the shit has been washed from everyones eyes that you see what is exactly left
The past few years may have been trying times, but Mr Murray kept his nerve; today we look forward to the renaissence of Charlton Athletic, with Mr Murray continuing to play a contributing role.
So pleased to hear his health is returning. As fans, it's easy to overlook the worry and toll on health that running a football club can take.
Proof that for some the glass will forever remain half-empty.
murray didn't let curbs go he told him he wanted him to sign a longer contract , when curbs said no but i'm happy to see out my last year , murray decided it was best for him to go
curbs offered to help in the finding of a new manager , murray turned the offer down and decided on dowie but decided on dowies coaching staff
murray through all his good intentions, didn't know how to say no to pardew when he was on his spending mission that took us to the edge of financial disaster
Hired Dowie to spite Crystal Palace
Gave Dowie our multi-million inheritance to waste on poor signings
Hired Pardew to spite West Ham
Promoted Parkinson to spite Addick Supporters
I too am a big fan of Mr Murray
What a very odd view you have.