Thinking back to 25 years ago, it also marks the end of our 7 years of being football nomads. While this was a terrible time for the club, I will always have a soft spot for our spell at Upton Park, a much better ground than Selhurst, especially as this was when I became a regular, even if attendances were terrible. Standing on the North Bank, sitting in both tiers of the old main stand, standing on the South Bank when we were
away to West Ham, I'm gutted I never stood on the chicken run to complete a full set of stands watching Charlton!
The 91/92 team is one of my favourite Charlton sides, a small squad but one full of great characters and excellent players, and led brilliantly by Steve and Alan! Was gutted when we had to sell Robert Lee at the start of the next season.
Picking a few "highlights"
1) The Anthony Barness own goal (from 1:50 onwards) still one of the best I've ever seen at a match. A 3-1 midweek defeat to Grimsby Town in front of 3,658
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4CjIkrSqHY&feature=related2) The 2-0 win over Leicester, when they brought so many fans down, some were escorted across the pitch to use the chicken run stand. Great goal by David Whyte (RIP)
3) Our final game there against Newcastle, a slightly forgotten landmark game in our history. A 3-1 defeat, with Robert Lee now playing for Newcastle, and Gavin Peacock scoring twice for them. Also memorable for the complete lack of segregation in the Main Stand which was full of Newcastle fans, probably more than Charlton fans in fact!
What other memories do people have?
Comments
Six of us had over a ton on it. Don't think we got home that night.
Simon Websters late volley to beat Bristol City
1st game against Newcastle , who I think were quite fancied , beat them 2-1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Curbs and Gritts 1st game as joint managers.
As well as Leicester.
Looking back, the North Bank and its echo after the open end of the Holmesdale was fantastic, and the back of that stand saw the formation of many groups, friendships etc that last until today.
Also remember being in Edinburgh when we beat West Ham 1-0 with pardew scoring if I remember correctly.
Cambridge United, the only game I have ever left early. After eighty minutes of John Beck's antifootball my younger brother and I left to go back to the pub, my older brother remained and saw Paul Gorman's consolation goal, which in my mind I have built up to be a wonder goal that he bullet headed in from twenty-five yards. Please someone confirm that it was just a bundled tap in off his backside from a yard out so that it can stop haunting me.
Leicester 2-0 was also brilliant.
Being in the 'away' end when we played them. Felt really weird lol
I loved it there.
I'm actually so glad we didn't go there first, don't think we would ever got back to the Valley.
Two West ham mates came with me to the game.
I spent most of the journey to the match telling them how useless leaburn was only for him to score two quality goals.
My memory might be playing tricks on me but I think Stan collymore and Jason Lee were playing for Southend
- It was part of the process of going home (Selhurst was part of the process of leaving).
- It was a nice old school ground that, even with a sparse crowd, had a bit of an atmosphere.
- It wasn't Selhurst, which was, is, and always will be, a shithole.
In terms of memories:-
- Leaburn seemed to come good at Upton Park - moved on from assisting to actually scoring.
- Simon Webster's two late goals against Bristol City
- Beating Millwall (I think the only time I have seen us do so)
- Leicester's invasion
- Robert Lee playing against us for Newcastle in the last "home game" of our exile.
Bob Bolder practically chucking the ball in to his own net to lose 1-0 to Bury in the League Cup (some things never change!) in front of the tiniest crowd.
Having to watch Robert Lee in black and white stripes wasn't much fun.
1-0 win over West Ham, us as away team
Both spring to mind.
And as others have said, really enjoyed the North Bank.