Just a general enquiry as to why people who are Charlton fans are Charlton fans.
I grew up in a Chelsea household, but me being me only supported them for a brief while. I then at about the age of 8 began to support Spurs as my Brother in law, who I loved and looked up to supported them. At the time the terraces,early 80's, were a bit of a violent mess and my Dad refused to take me to any football match. But after years of relentless badgering from me to go to games he finally caved in. My Dads best mates son Neil was a Palace fan and Charlton had literally just begun playing at Selhurst. So every mid week game we would go there regardless of who was playing. Swiftly I became hooked on Charlton and within weeks my bedroom became Red! Bob in goal, Ralph 'set em alight' Milne on the wing and Willow banging them in, never ever looked back! COYR
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Comments
By Stu.
Plus ca change.....
Too cheap for Arsenal, not a cabby so Spurs out, not a complete money obsessed glory hunting twat so Chelsea eliminated and where the hell IS Brentford anyway?, so there was really no other choice.
I was also identified as having masochistic tendancies as a child, I liked playing with my train set, preferred Haddock to Cod, wasn't allergic to peanuts, liked wide open spaces, oh and my Dad TOLD ME I was Charlton, put your Coat on were going!
We bunked in over the bogs at the top of the East Terrace(Kentish laundry)and have never looked back since. If only I had known
However, spent most of his life in south east London, grew up in Gerda Lane in new Eltham, although a gooner he used to hop on the bus to go and watch Charlton in the mid to late 50’s, met my mum when they both worked at queen Mary’s hospital (divorced when I was 12) grandparents eventually moved back to burnt oak/Colindale area of north London.
I was born & bred in SEL, the old hospital near Barnehurst station to be exact (then considered SEL) and as a kid was a gooner through dad etc, only ever went to 1 game to watch Charlie George in the mid 70’s
Pre season 1980, lived in flats near Woolwich college, went with some mates to the friendly v West Ham just after they had won the fa cup, I never looked back.
We lived in Wolfe crescent from around 1981, he left for deepest Kent a few years back, we could hear the crowd in the back garden.
My dad now retired down in Herne Bay, still goes to a lot of Charlton games when he can, but a gooner still at heart.
Mums side, grandad never followed Football that I know of, my traveller/gypsy Nan (think Catherine tates Nan) was allegedly a Chelsea fan, uncles, 1 Charlton, 1 millwall, 1 Man Utd (he actually lives in one of the houses in valley grove and drinks in the lib, some of you may know him)
My other uncle who passed away nearly 10 years ago was Man Utd, he was a hell of a goalkeeper as a youth, was watched a few times by Charlton and millwall allegedly but booze and a life of crime got the better of him in the end.
I have cold sweats thinking about what if I got a 227.
But probably the best reason, I born in Plumstead. So it was the right thing to do.
Robins and Valiants don't do it.
Whoever I chose, I was always going to be in for a life time of misery. I picked Charlton because it was closer to home and I much preferred The Valley.
Unfortunately it ends here as my daughter, despite my best efforts, doesn't like football.
He asked me to forgive him on his death bed, I refused, saying your action has condemned me to a life of misery and endless suffering and on top of that you took me to Charlton, b’stard.
I seem to recall the first game he took me to was, Charlton v Blackburn where we needed to draw to go up and of course we lost, typical Charlton and it’s been downhill skiing ever since, only without the skis.