Really sorry you have goneWho is going to tell us to Keep the Faith!! Respect your decision but slightly disappointed you have gone now without waiting to see what happens this season. You are right it was toxic last season for many reasons. I don't like the regime but the protests went to far. I am hoping that things calm down if we get the results on the pitch
Doesn't the fact someone as loyal and fair minded as BDL has told them to shove it speak volumes to you?
@BDL Huge respect for you Dave. When someone like yourself say enough is enough then that speak volumes about this regime. Let's hope it won't be long until they have all pissed off and you are back pitch side again.
Really sorry you have goneWho is going to tell us to Keep the Faith!! Respect your decision but slightly disappointed you have gone now without waiting to see what happens this season. You are right it was toxic last season for many reasons. I don't like the regime but the protests went to far. I am hoping that things calm down if we get the results on the pitch
Too far?! A few beach balls, a smoke bomb, a sign saying 'liar' and some protests in the car park are hardly too far.
If you lived in Greece or Turkey, the stadium would've been set alight and RD's family kidnapped.
Evening all, thanks for all the positive messages. Huge leap of faith but knew it was the right decision to make after speaking at length in the past few weeks to a few lifers, @3blokes being the one who copped it most! (Cheers Jon).
For the record, I was paid to do the job, but it was never about the money, I got to shout, scream (sorry) our heroes names out and welcome back (until I was told off) former heroes home.
I had the privilege of working with many good people at the Valley, some are still there keeping the old Charlton alive, some have moved on.
The regime won't be there forever, they may "own" the club, but we all know the fans are the owners, guardians of its history and its future. They will be gone, sooner rather than later I hope and a new regime will take its place. I prey that any new owner will look at what's happened, learn lessons and harness the power of the Charlton fans because united we are so much stronger.
As I said at then end of every game, Keep the Faith!
@BDL a very well made statement and a decision that must have taken a lot of soul searching. I wish you well for the future and hope that once again in the not too distant future I can relay your voice via the match thread as the teams are coming out. God bless you mate.
Evening all, thanks for all the positive messages. Huge leap of faith but knew it was the right decision to make after speaking at length in the past few weeks to a few lifers, @3blokes being the one who copped it most! (Cheers Jon).
For the record, I was paid to do the job, but it was never about the money, I got to shout, scream (sorry) our heroes names out and welcome back (until I was told off) former heroes home.
I had the privilege of working with many good people at the Valley, some are still there keeping the old Charlton alive, some have moved on.
The regime won't be there forever, they may "own" the club, but we all know the fans are the owners, guardians of its history and its future. They will be gone, sooner rather than later I hope and a new regime will take its place. I prey that any new owner will look at what's happened, learn lessons and harness the power of the Charlton fans because united we are so much stronger.
As I said at then end of every game, Keep the Faith!
We just need some reassurances @BDL that your not moving to Palarse like that @LouisMend fella?
I don't know Dave, but I did sit next to him at Sheff Utd in the Cup. Nice guy and obviously Charlton to the core. What I do know is that Dave genuinely added to the match day experience, with his knowledge, enthusiasm, wit and genuine passion for the club. As a pitch announcer he is the best I've heard around the grounds.
Evening all, thanks for all the positive messages. Huge leap of faith but knew it was the right decision to make after speaking at length in the past few weeks to a few lifers, @3blokes being the one who copped it most! (Cheers Jon).
For the record, I was paid to do the job, but it was never about the money, I got to shout, scream (sorry) our heroes names out and welcome back (until I was told off) former heroes home.
I had the privilege of working with many good people at the Valley, some are still there keeping the old Charlton alive, some have moved on.
The regime won't be there forever, they may "own" the club, but we all know the fans are the owners, guardians of its history and its future. They will be gone, sooner rather than later I hope and a new regime will take its place. I prey that any new owner will look at what's happened, learn lessons and harness the power of the Charlton fans because united we are so much stronger.
As I said at then end of every game, Keep the Faith!
So did Meire tell you off for welcoming back Chris Powell ?
Evening all, thanks for all the positive messages. Huge leap of faith but knew it was the right decision to make after speaking at length in the past few weeks to a few lifers, @3blokes being the one who copped it most! (Cheers Jon).
For the record, I was paid to do the job, but it was never about the money, I got to shout, scream (sorry) our heroes names out and welcome back (until I was told off) former heroes home.
I had the privilege of working with many good people at the Valley, some are still there keeping the old Charlton alive, some have moved on.
The regime won't be there forever, they may "own" the club, but we all know the fans are the owners, guardians of its history and its future. They will be gone, sooner rather than later I hope and a new regime will take its place. I prey that any new owner will look at what's happened, learn lessons and harness the power of the Charlton fans because united we are so much stronger.
As I said at then end of every game, Keep the Faith!
So did Meire tell you off for welcoming back Chris Powell ?
Don't tell him here @BDL ,this can be the opening post on the resurrected 'Ask BDL' thread
beats me why we need an announcer anyway. If you went to a restaurant you would not expect a bloke on the tannoy reading out the name of the chef, his kitchen staff and the waiters. You lot are weird.
Just learned this news and my first thought is to congratulate Dave on his decision. I know it will have been an extremely difficult one to take but nothing I didn't expect from this man.
I have known Dave since the mid nineties ( 1990s NOT 1890s !) when he was Chair of what was then the NWK Branch of CASC. Together with my daughter, we travelled to away games with Dave and his then girlfriend, Julie and consequently attended their wedding. I gradually became involved with the Supporter Group & within a couple of years found myself in his shoes....How did that happen, Dave ?
Much water ( and wine) has flowed under the bridge since those days but, even though the Lockwoods were busy bringing up their boys, Dave had an all encompassing job as well as performing his duties as The Man on the Mike in SE7, there was till time to support NWK through its transition to an independent entity..in fact to independent entity and beyond ! Nothing was too much trouble for BDL...
And so to the Duchatelet years.
Even though the reign of the Spivs couldn't have been a barrel of laughs for those in the club's "pay", without doubt, any Charlton supporting employees worth their salt will have found themselves between a rock & a hard place once Roland & co entered the building.
Turnover of staff since that fateful day has been well documented with Peter Finch falling on his sword early on. And from the embarrassed look on our Voice of the Valley's face last season when he was forced to relay some insignificant morsel to the masses, it was clear to me that Dave wished he was with the faithful in the stands.
BDL is an honourable man who has Charlton engraved on his heart. And he has made the right decision as those who are privileged to know him knew he would.
Katrien - your loss, and believe me it will be difficult if not impossible to fill the big man's shoes, is our gain.
Dave's not insignificant voice will be added to the CARD protests and you'd better believe we'll be seriously making some noise.
And the pendulum swings ever closer towards the light.....
Ketts sums it up for me on Dr Kish....here are a few lines taken from his post-:
Happenings behind the scenes did not help, and after much soul searching, Dave has decided to call it a day.
For me, The Valley will never be quite the same again. Dave's infectious enthusiasm was part of the match experience. Thanks for all the wonderful memories and ongoing friendship, see you around mate.
I have a lot of time for Ketts, and even he is feeling this very sad departure. Well done RD/KM/TK...what a bunch of complete tossers!!
Gosh reading this stirs up my hatred for the regime. I miss my club and sadden by what it has become.
Roland do the honourable thing and fuck off. You are not welcome, you will NEVER be welcome and we won't STOP until you're gone. Then when you're gone we won't even mention you in our museum. You mean nothing to CAFC, so just sell up and clear out. Hey as a leaving present you can take that stupid sofa, we'll all sign it "To Roland, good riddance, now piss off"
We have one big fight ahead of us, we WILL win, and boy is there going to be one big party at the valley when that fuck wit leaves.
When this lot go, we ought to ask the new owner to re-appoint Dave as a matter of urgency! Very eloquent, heartfelt statement and it's a shame that silly cow will never understand how terrible she is at her job. We have to conclude that the owner has a reason, other than a business one in appointing her. It is just common sense. This only confirms that my decision not to renew was the right one. To be honest, I was looking for any stupid reason to go back on my decision, but then you see the idiotic ticket price additions, the incompetent transfer policy and the best of the club leaving and you are reminded why you are doing it. What we have done to deserve the most incompetent owner and CEO in the history of the game is beyond me. Please, Please GO!
The fact that even Dave has packed has packed it is very telling, Dave I think you've done a brilliant job on the mic over the years, and are Charlton through and through, cant wait to hear you on the mic at a west stand car park protest, with your fellow Charlton brothers and sisters.
Really nice to read the positive comments on here about BDL and thoroughly deserved. He is a top top bloke and he hasn't even paid me to say that I know he agonised over this decision for a considerable time, because he loved the job he did, and he loves the club. Keeping it professional while the protests erupted all around was particularly hard. He kept it dignified and professional all the way through but that's what he is. The regime's loss. Where will they get the message that they are not wanted here?
Comments
When Roland has gone i'm sure us fans can do all we can to get you back there!
Thank you.
I know that he will really miss his work at The Valley but will relish his new freedom to speak his mind.
Top man Dave. Top statement.
Well played mate glad you managed to hang in there as long as you could, but it is a lost cause
If you lived in Greece or Turkey, the stadium would've been set alight and RD's family kidnapped.
For the record, I was paid to do the job, but it was never about the money, I got to shout, scream (sorry) our heroes names out and welcome back (until I was told off) former heroes home.
I had the privilege of working with many good people at the Valley, some are still there keeping the old Charlton alive, some have moved on.
The regime won't be there forever, they may "own" the club, but we all know the fans are the owners, guardians of its history and its future. They will be gone, sooner rather than later I hope and a new regime will take its place. I prey that any new owner will look at what's happened, learn lessons and harness the power of the Charlton fans because united we are so much stronger.
As I said at then end of every game, Keep the Faith!
Dave is now a fan first yet again,look forward to aweekend away sometime in the coming season.
What I do know is that Dave genuinely added to the match day experience, with his knowledge, enthusiasm, wit and genuine passion for the club.
As a pitch announcer he is the best I've heard around the grounds.
Just learned this news and my first thought is to congratulate Dave on his decision. I know it will have been an extremely difficult one to take but nothing I didn't expect from this man.
I have known Dave since the mid nineties ( 1990s NOT 1890s !) when he was Chair of what was then the NWK Branch of CASC. Together with my daughter, we travelled to away games with Dave and his then girlfriend, Julie and consequently attended their wedding. I gradually became involved with the Supporter Group & within a couple of years found myself in his shoes....How did that happen, Dave ?
Much water ( and wine) has flowed under the bridge since those days but, even though the Lockwoods were busy bringing up their boys, Dave had an all encompassing job as well as performing his duties as The Man on the Mike in SE7, there was till time to support NWK through its transition to an independent entity..in fact to independent entity and beyond ! Nothing was too much trouble for BDL...
And so to the Duchatelet years.
Even though the reign of the Spivs couldn't have been a barrel of laughs for those in the club's "pay", without doubt, any Charlton supporting employees worth their salt will have found themselves between a rock & a hard place once Roland & co entered the building.
Turnover of staff since that fateful day has been well documented with Peter Finch falling on his sword early on. And from the embarrassed look on our Voice of the Valley's face last season when he was forced to relay some insignificant morsel to the masses, it was clear to me that Dave wished he was with the faithful in the stands.
BDL is an honourable man who has Charlton engraved on his heart. And he has made the right decision as those who are privileged to know him knew he would.
Katrien - your loss, and believe me it will be difficult if not impossible to fill the big man's shoes, is our gain.
Dave's not insignificant voice will be added to the CARD protests and you'd better believe we'll be seriously making some noise.
And the pendulum swings ever closer towards the light.....
Love you Dave !
Happenings behind the scenes did not help, and after much soul searching, Dave has decided to call it a day.
For me, The Valley will never be quite the same again. Dave's infectious enthusiasm was part of the match experience.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories and ongoing friendship, see you around mate.
I have a lot of time for Ketts, and even he is feeling this very sad departure. Well done RD/KM/TK...what a bunch of complete tossers!!
Probably quite an emotional time for you Dave, which for the reasons I quite admire, but charlton hasn't left you and you haven't left charlton.
I hope you decide to do a lot of away games next season.
Roland do the honourable thing and fuck off. You are not welcome, you will NEVER be welcome and we won't STOP until you're gone. Then when you're gone we won't even mention you in our museum. You mean nothing to CAFC, so just sell up and clear out. Hey as a leaving present you can take that stupid sofa, we'll all sign it "To Roland, good riddance, now piss off"
We have one big fight ahead of us, we WILL win, and boy is there going to be one big party at the valley when that fuck wit leaves.
I know he agonised over this decision for a considerable time, because he loved the job he did, and he loves the club. Keeping it professional while the protests erupted all around was particularly hard.
He kept it dignified and professional all the way through but that's what he is.
The regime's loss.
Where will they get the message that they are not wanted here?