I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread again. Perfect for a dreary day in the Emerald Isle.
We had moved to Greenhithe by this time so got the train up separately meeting a mate from work on the way as she didn’t have anyone else to go with 😮 Decided to head straight to Wembley to soak up the atmosphere and so bought a load of tinnies & plonked ourselves on a patch of grass and waited for the rest of the family to arrive.
There were so many Sunderland fans but there were no issues. All in good spirits. All happy to chat. When we went in I just remember how much I really didn’t like Wembley. Having gone through the disappointment of the Full Members I just felt the place was really dark, dingy and miserable 😩 We took our seats. Only been married a few years but Hubby bumped into a fella who used to go out with his ex’s sister 🙄 Dad was moaning about Mum being there 🥱
I really remember thinking what am I doing here? But all that changed when we scored!!!
Terry’s eldest needed the loo, so of course I had to take her. Which meant I missed their equaliser but the noise left us in no doubt it wasn’t us who scored 😞 After that it was just mental. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a football match like it.
Not even our last visit to Wembley comes close tbh. In fact, I still can’t believe we did it. That slow walk behind the police horse back down Wembley Way was surreal as we were silent. I actually remember one of the WPC’s on her horse saying she couldn’t believe how well behaved we all were. When we got to London Bridge we saw a train going to Greenhithe & decided to get on it. Leaving Terry with our parents, his kids & others. We just wanted to get home we were so knackered. We’d got more tinnies for the train home but I don’t think I even finished one.
That night the White Hart (a Charlton pub) was rocking. The beer garden literally was right by our front door. I kept going out to the balcony to listen & then going back indoors. We just didn’t have enough energy left to join them.
We both came down with a real dose of flu after that. Took us ages to get over it.
I was so desperate for a ticket. Was only 14 at the time.
I watched it at home and experienced every emotion possible. After Rufus scored I had a strong feeling we would win, even after Sunderland scored in extra time. We just wouldn't give up. Such an incredible day. I got more and more excited that evening the more It sunk in.......
More games on Sky!
We'll be on Match of the Day!
Merlin Sticker Album!!
Fuck! FIFA! (Home kit was white!?!)
Sasa on Noel's House Party!!!
You couldn't wipe the smile off my face until around christmas time when I knew we were probably going back down.
So glad I was at the Play Off final in '19 and see us beat Sunderland again. It was always a massive regret that I didn't go the first time around but that made up for it.
Play off weekend was our Silver Wedding Anniversary and I’d booked us a short break in Jersey where we had our honeymoon. I couldn’t believe that Charlton had made a final and there was no way I could get to Wembley.
The hotel did not have Sky tv so made our way to St Helier and found a Sports Bar with plenty of room so was able to pick our spot ( easy when it’s 2 hours before kickoff). As kickoff approached the bar became full of Sunderland fans - how do they always manage to turn up?
Shortly before the teams were due out 6 huge northerners appeared and stood right behind us, pretty intimidating when you’re the only Charlton shirt in the bar. Anyway the teams came out and the 6 hulks behind me were fooking this and fooking that about Peter Reid - turned out they were Newcastle lads and supported any team that Sunderland were playing. As we all know that afternoon was a rollercoaster of emotions but there were 8 happy people by the end. On Friday it will be our Golden Wedding Anniversary this will be a much quieter and sedate day, don’t think our tickers could take the events of 25 years ago.
Still remember that day like it was yesterday, went with my two sons, and what a day it was to test all the emotions, going in 1-0 with a lovely Super Clive finish, and within 10 minutes of the restart 1-2 down, 2-2, another great finish by Clive after an equally great assist from Keith Jones,... 2-3, and then the last 5 minutes and up pops Rufus for his first ever goal for us.. I must say that if we had been on the end of the row, we might have left early at 2-3, the pressure was getting too much for me, and then up popped Rufus to force extra time...
Extra time, and before we knew it 3-4, down again, it was heartbreaking, but thanks to Browny's great tackle and set up for Steve Jones to cross for Clive to get his hattrick, we were 4-4...Phew. Penalties, hate them, and must say, didn't watch any of them, relying on crowd reaction to tell me the result, so, a great day, and must say no trouble with Sunderland fans on way back to the station, seems we all appreciated what was the best domestic match played at the Old Wembley,...great memories...👍
Wow - what a day. I was only young at this point, but nearly didn’t make the game, my younger brother the night before the game had a fit and swallowed his tongue, so spent all night in hospital, touch and go at one point. He get checked out at Canterbury hospital around 11.30 and mad dash to Wembley. Arrived just in time for kick off.. not as if we wasn’t physically and mentally drained before the game, and then having to go through the ups and down of the game, pretty emotional 24hrs! anyway wrote story about our trip in a competition with the local news paper, and won a kit for my football team. Which was presented at the valley on the day they was filming the MOTD start of the program. So got to meet Ilic.
To add to this anyway of getting a digital copy of Welling to Wembley??
Just seen the goals on twitter again. If you were there, that was something special. Still brings a tear to my eye watching it today. Something to remember whilst all this crap with the ongoing takeover rumbles on.
Fingers crossed we can see something like that again one day
I headed outside when it came to penalties ... I simply could not watch. I sat on the steps into the stadium with almost 100 others. We listened to the roar of the Chalrton supporters and then the distant cheers of the Sunderlands fans at the other end as the penalties alternated. One then the other. There was a fleeting millisecond when a yell started at the Charlton end when it was Sunderland's turn - Illic got a hand to one of the shots and oh-so-briefly there was a thought he had saved it. But the sound deflated before it really began and the whole back and forth resumed. Then the 14th penalty and the massive wave of sound as Illic saved. A quick hug of the person nearest and then a sprint back into the stadium to re-join our friends and family and start celebrating properly. I can't believe it was 25 years ago today I took this picture ...
I can only speak for myself but over the years I have noticed that quite a few of us left the stadium emotionally drained…..like we wanted to sit down somewhere quiet and alone just to gather ourselves. Normally I would be heading straight for the nearest pub but for some reason I just wanted to be alone for a while. I was emotionally drained and also felt a bit exhausted. I know this wasn’t the same for most of us, as can be seen on multiple 2019 threads but a fair few were left a bit numb and wondering what to do next. That was me anyway. 🤤🤤🤤
I remember coming home on the coach, and you would of thought we had lost the game. Everyone was so quiet, mentally and physically drained. Took the next day off work and headed for a day out at Broadstairs. Whilst on the beach I turned round and saw a large Charlton flag hanging from one of the houses. Made me feel proud to be a Charlton supporter. That Wembley final was a day I'll never forget, and helps to ease the pain of some the difficult times supporting Charlton.
The date is May 25th, 1998, and it's a Monday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Gemini. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.
The summer of 1998 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. It is Memorial Day in the United States, which means that summer has unofficially begun. In America, the song Too Close by Next is at the top of the singles charts.
Over in the UK, Feel It by Tamperer & Maya is the number-one hit song. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Deep Impact is at the top of the box office. Tony Blair is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Melrose Place", "Friends", "Xena: Warrior Princess", and "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction". A new form of communication called "text messaging" is starting to become more widespread. However, it can only be done if both the sender and the receiver are on the same cell network. The CD is quickly becoming the dominant format for music, and people are buying portable players such as the "Discman". Consequently, sales of cassette tapes are continuing to decline.
In fashion, bright and metallic colors are all the rage—a big change from the darker "grunge" colors of the early 1990s. Women are wearing maxi skirts, bell bottoms, knee boots, crop tops, tube tops, slip dresses, maxi coats, and platform shoes. Meanwhile, a lot of men have ditched their grunge and skater clothes in favor of a "dress casual" look. They are also beginning to cut their hair shorter. It's 1998, so radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Brandy, Monica, Aerosmith, R. Kelly, K-Ci & JoJo, Céline Dion, All Saints, Steps and Will Smith. The Clinton-Lewinsky sex scandal is receiving ongoing media attention.
If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Phil Hartman, Michelle Thomas, Big L, and Stanley Kubrick would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Super Mario 64", "Star Fox 64", "GoldenEye 007", and "Grand Theft Auto". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Johnny Bravo", "Pinky and the Brain", "Smart Guy", and "USA High".
Children are playing with toys such as Sylvanian Families, Polly Pocket, Littlest Pet Shop, and Dear Diary.
I can only speak for myself but over the years I have noticed that quite a few of us left the stadium emotionally drained…..like we wanted to sit down somewhere quiet and alone just to gather ourselves. Normally I would be heading straight for the nearest pub but for some reason I just wanted to be alone for a while. I was emotionally drained and also felt a bit exhausted. I know this wasn’t the same for most of us, as can be seen on multiple 2019 threads but a fair few were left a bit numb and wondering what to do next. That was me anyway. 🤤🤤🤤
I had a ticket for the game but, three days before, my first son arrived very early and through an emergency caesarian. It was all a bit touch and go for a while but it turned out alright. My wife and son ended up coming home (or rather to my mother in law's house - we were also moving house that weekend, which complicated things a bit) on the 25th, so I gave my ticket to my cousin. I was kindly let out for the afternoon and I watched the match in the Northbrook in Lee with a mate and his father in law, who was a Millwall supporter.
It was the best of all worlds, really - a lovely son and promotion in the greatest match ever at Wembley. A pretty memorable bank holiday weekend all round. Of course I would have liked to have been there, but I think that I got my priorities right. I was there for the full members cup final and for the 2019 play off final anyway.
In my 52 years of supporting the club, that game has to be my happiest memory - even though I imagine my blood pressure was off the scale until “Ilic has saved it”. The strangest thing is tho, on the supporters coach back to Eltham you could have literally heard a pin drop - I think we were all so drained of nervous energy & adrenalin that there was no singing or cheering. What a day!
Currently watching the game again for the umpteenth time.
I never remember us having so many opportunities after it went 3-2 - That Rufus goal really was deserved, given the pressure we'd been putting them under
Watching it now and spoiler alert, i was convinced it was golden goal when Summerbee scored.
Today should have been my 5th wedding anniversary but we couldn't get the venue she wanted. I would probably have missed our first anniversary if it had been 🤣🤣
Comments
Perfect for a dreary day in the Emerald Isle.
We had moved to Greenhithe by this time so got the train up separately meeting a mate from work on the way as she didn’t have anyone else to go with 😮
Decided to head straight to Wembley to soak up the atmosphere and so bought a load of tinnies & plonked ourselves on a patch of grass and waited for the rest of the family to arrive.
When we went in I just remember how much I really didn’t like Wembley. Having gone through the disappointment of the Full Members I just felt the place was really dark, dingy and miserable 😩
We took our seats. Only been married a few years but Hubby bumped into a fella who used to go out with his ex’s sister 🙄
Dad was moaning about Mum being there 🥱
I really remember thinking what am I doing here? But all that changed when we scored!!!
Terry’s eldest needed the loo, so of course I had to take her. Which meant I missed their equaliser but the noise left us in no doubt it wasn’t us who scored 😞
After that it was just mental.
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a football match like it.
In fact, I still can’t believe we did it.
That slow walk behind the police horse back down Wembley Way was surreal as we were silent. I actually remember one of the WPC’s on her horse saying she couldn’t believe how well behaved we all were.
When we got to London Bridge we saw a train going to Greenhithe & decided to get on it. Leaving Terry with our parents, his kids & others. We just wanted to get home we were so knackered. We’d got more tinnies for the train home but I don’t think I even finished one.
That night the White Hart (a Charlton pub) was rocking. The beer garden literally was right by our front door. I kept going out to the balcony to listen & then going back indoors. We just didn’t have enough energy left to join them.
We both came down with a real dose of flu after that. Took us ages to get over it.
But I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
HAPPY CLIVE MENDONCA DAY FELLOW ADDICKS ♥️
I watched it at home and experienced every emotion possible. After Rufus scored I had a strong feeling we would win, even after Sunderland scored in extra time. We just wouldn't give up. Such an incredible day. I got more and more excited that evening the more It sunk in.......
More games on Sky!
We'll be on Match of the Day!
Merlin Sticker Album!!
Fuck! FIFA! (Home kit was white!?!)
Sasa on Noel's House Party!!!
You couldn't wipe the smile off my face until around christmas time when I knew we were probably going back down.
So glad I was at the Play Off final in '19 and see us beat Sunderland again. It was always a massive regret that I didn't go the first time around but that made up for it.
As we all know that afternoon was a rollercoaster of emotions but there were 8 happy people by the end.
On Friday it will be our Golden Wedding Anniversary this will be a much quieter and sedate day, don’t think our tickers could take the events of 25 years ago.
I must say that if we had been on the end of the row, we might have left early at 2-3, the pressure was getting too much for me, and then up popped Rufus to force extra time...
Extra time, and before we knew it 3-4, down again, it was heartbreaking, but thanks to Browny's great tackle and set up for Steve Jones to cross for Clive to get his hattrick, we were 4-4...Phew.
Penalties, hate them, and must say, didn't watch any of them, relying on crowd reaction to tell me the result, so, a great day, and must say no trouble with Sunderland fans on way back to the station, seems we all appreciated what was the best domestic match played at the Old Wembley,...great memories...👍
anyway wrote story about our trip in a competition with the local news paper, and won a kit for my football team. Which was presented at the valley on the day they was filming the MOTD start of the program. So got to meet Ilic.
Can we have your babies, Mark?
Fingers crossed we can see something like that again one day
I can only speak for myself but over the years I have noticed that quite a few of us left the stadium emotionally drained…..like we wanted to sit down somewhere quiet and alone just to gather ourselves.
Normally I would be heading straight for the nearest pub but for some reason I just wanted to be alone for a while.
I was emotionally drained and also felt a bit exhausted.
I know this wasn’t the same for most of us, as can be seen on multiple 2019 threads but a fair few were left a bit numb and wondering what to do next.
That was me anyway. 🤤🤤🤤
Took the next day off work and headed for a day out at Broadstairs. Whilst on the beach I turned round and saw a large Charlton flag hanging from one of the houses. Made me feel proud to be a Charlton supporter. That Wembley final was a day I'll never forget, and helps to ease the pain of some the difficult times supporting Charlton.
It was the best of all worlds, really - a lovely son and promotion in the greatest match ever at Wembley. A pretty memorable bank holiday weekend all round. Of course I would have liked to have been there, but I think that I got my priorities right. I was there for the full members cup final and for the 2019 play off final anyway.
I never remember us having so many opportunities after it went 3-2 - That Rufus goal really was deserved, given the pressure we'd been putting them under
Today should have been my 5th wedding anniversary but we couldn't get the venue she wanted. I would probably have missed our first anniversary if it had been 🤣🤣