My Dad first took me in the 1961/62 season. I was fascinated by the shirts of Charlton, white with a red flash on the shoulders. The smell of old Holborn, roasted peanuts and putting the half time scores up on boards. The archaic toilet facilities and the huge East terracing. From my first match I was hooked. It is a habit I have been unable to break in the next nearly sixty years.
My Dad first took me in the 1961/62 season. I was fascinated by the shirts of Charlton, white with a red flash on the shoulders. The smell of old Holborn, roasted peanuts and putting the half time scores up on boards. The archaic toilet facilities and the huge East terracing. From my first match I was hooked. It is a habit I have been unable to break in the next nearly sixty years.
Yeh, same season for me @dickplumb (ps that red flash kit didn't arrive until the following season) My uncle (did I mention before he was Harry Lennon's grandad ) took me to the Easter game against Bristol Rovers. Sam Lawrie and Stuart Leary scored, although I can only remember one of the goals now.
I also used to like the white shirts with the red shoulder flashes. You occasionally see iconic photos of Mike Bailey and I think John Hewie in those shirts.
First game for me was in 1967-1968. Taken by my uncle, whose first game had been 0-0 vs Preston North End in May 1938. Having a connection that far back meant imbibing a huge amount of knowledge (and folk lore!) about the club. Been going regularly ever since and have now been a season ticket holder for many years. I was there for the 3-1 win vs Preston NE in 1975 and for Stoke in 1985 when we learnt the club was moving to Selhurst Park. I was at Wembley in 1998, at Stamford Bridge when we knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup in 2005 (the last real, undisputable, high point for me) and many, many more. Memorable times? Being a teenager in the 70's and drinking in the Waterman's Arms pre-game. Being amazed at Allan Simonsen and the casual way Paolo di Canio could change the game by flicking the ball around. But the way, since 2008-2009, we've drifted into being a club that yo-yo's between the 2nd and 3rd tiers has been hard to take, and not something I would have predicted, however mediocre some of the owners have been (and still are).
70/71 was my first match. Loved the Valley. Just loved being there. Vivid memories of the Preston evening game to clinch promotion. Remember getting in the ground late with my dad and I think we were 1 down. Was at last game v Stoke at the valley. Went through the selhurst park days and great memories but tainted by being away from the valley. Leeds playoff l went to all three games. Helped clear the valley despite by then having moved to Norwich. Seen us three times at Wembley. Two play off finals were amazing for different reasons for me. I lived in chislehurst as a kid and went to kemnal manor school. Don't recall any other supporters there! No regrets. Love being a Charlton fan despite the dissapointments that we have to endure. Family mostly Charlton to. Still love just being at the valley. Something about it for me. Not sure what really.😃
First game was Oct 65 ..a 3-2 home win v Carlisle...Billy Billy bonds and Mike Bailey in our team and the likes of Willie Carlin and Chris balderstone playing for Carlisle..I was immediately hooked ,catching the 75 bus from brownhill road ,the sam Bartram entrance ,the incredible view as the grass revealed itself like a distant subbuteo pitch beyond the precipice atop the east terrace.
My golden years as a supporter would have been the 70s killer, flash and paddy were great players.
Cafc has given me so many great memories..those play off victories probably are top of the list primarily as I shared them with my brother and late father, daughter and nephew
Now as we stare into yet another cafc abyss let's hope somehow the club does a 180 and we head towards the sunlit uplands of football ..for Christ sake we deserve it
1,137 games (I don't include friendlies) since 1982. 730 at home (W331 D189 L210) 407 away (W114 D90 L203)
Seen us most v QPR & Middlesbrough = 28 times each.
Seen us most away at QPR =15 times
Most away wins at Swindon = 7 times out of 11
Least away wins = never seen us win at Everton, Liverpool or Ipswich despite going there 7 times each.
First home win = Leicester City January 1983 2-1 (Simonsen 2)
First away win = Fulham December 1983 1-0 (Paul Curtis - YAY!)
Big games missed;
Away to Chelsea 1-1 (Paul Miller)
1st game back at The Valley v Portsmouth (couldn't get a ticket),
Play off semi away to Ipswich 1998
Favourite game; play off v Leeds at St Andrews
Favourite thrashing; 1-5 away to Man City 1985
Best ground; the old St James' Park, Newcastle (with the open terracing)
Least favourite; Kenilworth Road (by some distance!)
Brilliant level of detail - have you kept records since the first game?
During a period of unemployment 10 years ago I went back and worked it all out. Colin Cameron's book was invaluable, as were the 100s of programmes and Rothmans Yearbooks I had stacked away.
I basically did every game I'd ever seen at non-league or above. I've got about 80 Brentford, 25 QPR and Fulham games in there, with an assortment of Millwall, Palace, Spurs, Orient, Chelsea, West Ham and Bristol Rovers. I watched a lot of London football in the 80s....and a bit of Bristol Rovers.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
What year was the Nottingham double header mate? Where did QPR reserves play their games? Surely not Loftus Road?
In hospital for another game against boro cigars on the pitch at Carlisle “no excuses” on the pitch nicked against leicester nicked against qpr/fulham moist at yeovil cabs home from Brighton roda/Amsterdam away
Riding a plod horse at palace turbo shandies at newcastle
Refused at pride park being run out of Manchester airport by d twigg fallimg on g crooks on the plane at newcastle mags being thrown on the pitch {Leicester ?} various millwall various palace
Hot dogs at qpr champagne in maple leaf Irish and Caribbean tramps in the local Tottenham boozers scarface at highbury
I lived in Lewisham and it was a choice between the Spanners, Nigels or the Addicks.
Dated a bird from Bexley and remember her Dad had a Charlton mug. Made me watch out for their results.
Charlton finished top and got promoted.
The first actual game I watched (Sky televised), was away to Derby (Santa and JJ) in a 2-2 draw. Watched it in a pub in Lewisham.
First game at The Valley was a cup game against the Spuds. We were up 2-0. Ended up losing 4-2.
When the upper north opened, I managed to get a season ticket. First game was the opener against Chelsea. We were up 2-0...ended up losing 3-2.
The first win I witnessed at The Valley was 1-0 against Boro (Euell early in the game from memory).
First away was Boro (1-1 - JJ). Remember Hogan’s in Darlington (70p pints), while we waited for the train to Middlesbrough.
I loved going pre- and post match in The Royal Oak. Great memories.
Left London for NZ in the season we went down. Last game was against Blades (we drew and this was pretty much the nail in the coffin). Remember watching the away defeat to Blackburn in a pub (think we lost 4-1).
Since then, I’ve only been able to watch us once (Scunthorpe 2-2 in 2011), as every time we’ve been back, it’s been in July.
Have had some amazing (and incredibly depressing) times following this club and my interest hasn’t declined, although it’s been pretty rough, since I left (apart from 2011/12 and Wembley last year).
Strangest experience was watching us play Brondby behind closed doors at The Valley (Hugo Z Hackenbush managed to get me in). Might have been 2003 or 04?
Started up a little supporters club (Auckland Addicks) and currently seven of us meet up to watch the games on iFollow.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
What year was the Nottingham double header mate? Where did QPR reserves play their games? Surely not Loftus Road?
I think Forest double header was 1985. We were rained off at Notts Co (we'd all got to Nottingham station and we were told it was off) and the pre-arranged game was a Sat morning 0-0. We watched Forest v Wimbledon FA Cup game at 3pm and that was also 0-0 (but much better). We bunked back on the Wimbledon supporters train.
Yes, the QPR games were all at Loftus Road. First one was 1983 one afternoon and I bunked off school in Northolt to see us get cained 5-0 on the astroturf. Bloke called Tony Simmonds got 3 for them and there was a fella welding the crash barriers behind the goal all through the game!
The 2nd one was early 90s and I bunked off work and I think we lost 3-1 with Steve Brown scoring.
The last one was an evening. Think we lost 1-0 (not sure). Majid Bougherra and Scott Wagstaff were definitely playing, so I think it was our first season back down in the Championship.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
What year was the Nottingham double header mate? Where did QPR reserves play their games? Surely not Loftus Road?
I think Forest double header was 1985. We were rained off at Notts Co (we'd all got to Nottingham station and we were told it was off) and the pre-arranged game was a Sat morning 0-0. We watched Forest v Wimbledon FA Cup game at 3pm and that was also 0-0 (but much better). We bunked back on the Wimbledon supporters train.
Yes, the QPR games were all at Loftus Road. First one was 1983 one afternoon and I bunked off school in Northolt to see us get cained 5-0 on the astroturf. Bloke called Tony Simmonds got 3 for them and there was a fella welding the crash barriers behind the goal all through the game!
The 2nd one was early 90s and I bunked off work and I think we lost 3-1 with Steve Brown scoring.
The last one was an evening. Think we lost 1-0 (not sure). Majid Bougherra and Scott Wagstaff were definitely playing, so I think it was our first season back down in the Championship.
Majid Bougherra, what a footballer.
I first saw him play for Wednesday v Birmingham in our relegation season(my mates 50th birthday, he's Wednesday). The geezer had a blinder and all the Wednesdayites were raving about him. I was so pleased when he came to us, a shame it did not work out.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
What year was the Nottingham double header mate? Where did QPR reserves play their games? Surely not Loftus Road?
Great to read all these stories We are such a special club - so many ups and downs
First game March 67 - beat Carlisle 1-0 Eddie Firmani. As a young kid I was awe struck by the size of the ground. It just had a presence that I can feel even as I write now
Favourite seasons 68/69 and what might had been had we got promoted 71/72 (I know we got relegated) but the start of bonding with so many people in the Covered End
74/75 Hardly missed a game home or away and so many great times at away games
76/77 Going to Loret de Mar and bumping into some Charlton boys staying in same hotel
78 getting nicked at Orient last game of season - but at leat we stayed up
Gors without saying all the Promotion years were gold and the relegation years not so good. Last year and Wembley was extra special and Inreally thought we as a club would now move forward once again.....
Lowest point is currently as I speak We just have to get these WA....s out of our club
But we have so many wonderful fans from Airman to Doucher and NLA to name but a few that gives me the confidence we will come through this.
Im on a What's App with up to 30 great people who I have known for so many years and can call my friends We may disagree about certain things but one thing we share is We are Charlton till we Die
Beginning: Dad sat me on the wall at the back of the East Terrace when I was four. My guess is that would be the start of the 63-64 season. In truth I can’t remember a time when I didn’t go to Charlton games.
Background: Grandad, Dad, me, brother, nephew and sons all lifelong Charlton supporters. None of us have lived ‘south of the water’, although I often walked to The Valley when living in Silvertown. Got first season tickets in 1974 having missed only three home games in ten years. (One of those a punishment for misbehaviour - a rare win, 3-0 v Norwich!). Had a season ticket ever since. Didn’t miss a ‘home’ game at Selhurst or Upton Parks, despite living and working in Sheffield for four years. Seen Charlton play at 135 different grounds.
Highlights: Wembley; beating Preston for promotion; St Andrews; Battle of the Bridge; Carlisle three times; wins at Anfield, Old Trafford, Highbury, Stamford Bridge... Woolwich Town Hall.
Lowlights: Conceding seven goals at Luton, Brighton, Burnley; FA cup quarter finals; the League Cup every bloody year; relegation this season; owners.
Disappointments: finishing 3rd in 68/69; selling our best prospects; Scott Parker’s decision costing me the opportunity to see us play in Europe.
Undoubtedly we are, right now, at our lowest ebb. Several times in the eighties I thought I might be seeing our last ever game. I get that same feeling now.
Would I change any of it? Nah! It’s made me who I am. I right miserable, pessimist old fart.
First game - February 1993 at home to Sunderland - lost 1-0 Season ticket from 1994/95 season to 2015-17 season
Seen us at Wembley twice Sat in most areas of the stadium - West Lower and Upper, East stand, North Lower and Upper
Been to loads of away games Sponsored Paul Mortimer for 2 seasons - lovely bloke One of very few Charlton fans to have played with Jorge Costa on Cape Verde beach haha Mascot at home against Barnsley 1995 Played with Peter Garland
First game - February 1993 at home to Sunderland - lost 1-0 Season ticket from 1994/95 season to 2015-17 season
Seen us at Wembley twice Sat in most areas of the stadium - West Lower and Upper, East stand, North Lower and Upper
Been to loads of away games Sponsored Paul Mortimer for 2 seasons - lovely bloke One of very few Charlton fans to have played with Jorge Costa on Cape Verde beach haha Mascot at home against Barnsley 1995 Played with Peter Garland
In hospital for another game against boro cigars on the pitch at Carlisle “no excuses” on the pitch nicked against leicester nicked against qpr/fulham moist at yeovil cabs home from Brighton roda/Amsterdam away
Riding a plod horse at palace turbo shandies at newcastle
Refused at pride park being run out of Manchester airport by d twigg fallimg on g crooks on the plane at newcastle mags being thrown on the pitch {Leicester ?} various millwall various palace
Hot dogs at qpr champagne in maple leaf Irish and Caribbean tramps in the local Tottenham boozers scarface at highbury
First game - February 1993 at home to Sunderland - lost 1-0 Season ticket from 1994/95 season to 2015-17 season
Seen us at Wembley twice Sat in most areas of the stadium - West Lower and Upper, East stand, North Lower and Upper
Been to loads of away games Sponsored Paul Mortimer for 2 seasons - lovely bloke One of very few Charlton fans to have played with Jorge Costa on Cape Verde beach haha Mascot at home against Barnsley 1995 Played with Peter Garland
Played with Peter Garland you say?
Yeah, my old man used to run a social football kickabout and one of the kids parents knew Peter Garland well so they got in contact with him and played with us a few times. Everytime I scored I used to do the Leaburn and Garland celebration with him.
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
I did the Notts County away game. Was contemplating the Forest Wimbledon game too but didn’t bother. Their supporters train pulled in while we were waiting for ours home.
I seem to remember out game was re-arranged at the last minute and only found out about it the day before?
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
I did the Notts County away game. Was contemplating the Forest Wimbledon game too but didn’t bother. Their supporters train pulled in while we were waiting for ours home.
I seem to remember out game was re-arranged at the last minute and only found out about it the day before?
Charlton 1,137 Hendon 185 Brentford 84 Dulwich 26 QPR 22 Fulham 21 German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck) HSV 16 Orient 5 Millwall 5 (George Graham era) Palace 4 West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era) Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000) Spurs 3 QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton) Bristol Rovers 2 Chelsea 2 Hayes 2 Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time) Arsenal 1 Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.) Lierse 1 Ghent 1 Anderlecht 1 Dorchester 1 Sudbury 1 Hampton 1 Harrow Boro 1 Slough 1 Welling 1 York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
I did the Notts County away game. Was contemplating the Forest Wimbledon game too but didn’t bother. Their supporters train pulled in while we were waiting for ours home.
I seem to remember out game was re-arranged at the last minute and only found out about it the day before?
One carriage was it?
No, to be fair they had quite a few more than we did for the Notts County game. Mind you, their's was a 4th Round FA Cup Tie and Forest were still a really good side then. There were about 500 in the away corner, with a handful of Charlton, Leicester and Derby fans mixed in.
Unlike our 0-0 at Notts County, the Forest 0-0 was actually a really good game. Wimbledon kicked two or three off the line (Kevin Gage I think) and Dave Bassett said they'd been practising by shooting at defenders on the line, who had to clear it. Wimbeldon won the replay at Plough Lane!
No FA Cup 4th Round for us that season, having been knocked out by Tottenham in the much delayed replay (due to snow/frozen ground).
My father took me to my first game August 65. Plymouth home. 1-1 Bailey equalising Mike Trebilcock’s opener. Later he signed for Everton and scored twice in the fa cup final.(Mike not me dad) Since then I’ve seen us play at 125 different grounds and seen us play in six different countries. Been nicked twice, let off once. My father is a season ticket holder and regular away traveller at the age of 92. I wonder who the oldest active supporter is. Blackpool72 runs him a close second.
Managed a team playing at The Valley (Charlton Life Charity game)
Seen three play off finals, two at Wembley and one at St Andrews, and one full members cup final.
Took two weeks off from work (Self employed) to work with the Valley Party in the Election campaign and was one of thre party 'agents' on the night of the count in 1990.
Went to nearly 300 consecutive games home and away including PSFs. in the 80s-90s
Painted the fences at The Valley leading up to the 5th December 1992
Ran an election Campaign for the post of Supporters Director (remember when we had that kind of respect?)
Getting nicked for speeding on the M6 coming back from a win at Everton, must have been doing nearly 100, which would normally needed a court appearance. but the copper (who I suspect was a Liverpool Supporter) let me off with a fine and three points by agreeing to say I was doing 80.
Days when the question for mates was "What time are we leaving to get to the game on Saturday?" not "Are you going on Saturday?"
Making friends with a common passion.
More importantly, a lifetime of joy and heartbreak following the club which holds a place in my heart now, and always will.
First game attended was Feb 14th 1981, the 5th Round FA Cup match against one of the top sides in Europe at the time, Bobby Robson's Ipswich. Given I've spent over half of my life in Norfolk it's rather ironic that my first match was over the border.
I had a season ticket whilst we were at Selhurst, which was when I started attending on a regular basis, and did a lot of away matches then - normally on Betty Hutchins' coach from Bexleyheath but occasionally by train. As I was a regular traveller on the Supporters' Club coaches and trains at the time I think I may have "forced" one of the main organisers to include his middle name when he was a subscriber to Richard Redden's history of Charlton book as we shared the same name.
I missed the Boleyn Grounds years as I was at uni in Norwich and wasn't able to get the homecoming match either.
I restarted my season ticket in the 1999-2000 season in the Covered End, travelling down from Norfolk every other week and have continued to this day. When the top shelf was added I moved upstairs and am now happily ensconced on the back row looking down the East Stand touchline.
I've seen Charlton at Wembley twice: 1987 and 2019.
I have seen Charlton beat Man Utd, Liverpool, and Arsenal more times than I've seen us win over the Spanners.
My all-time favourite Charlton player is John Humphrey, my favourite during the Premier League era was the Big Bad Bustling Bulgarian Radostin Kishishev.
I took my seven-year-old grandson to his first game in February; he managed our last three home games before lockdown ("I thought I was going to be a Norwich supporter but I'm going to be a Charlton supporter now"). All he wants to do is go back.
One sub appearance at the Valley, tactical switch by @LargeAddick for me to replace @TCE, on the winning Charlton Unathletic team. Took a throw-in plus three other touches on the ball. Poised for the tap-in if @KillersBeard's long-range effort hadn't found the back of the net. Glory days.
Dad took me to The Valley in 1953 (I was born in 47) to see the icon of football at that time, Stanley Matthews. Saw my first solo live game in 55, to watch the top team at that period, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Other childhood memories were the 7-6 Huddersfield game, going to an away FA cup in 1960 at Bristol C. 2-0 down hf time, but a second half hat trick from the deminutive winger,Sammy Lawrie sealed a next round away trip to Wolves ( we lost 1-0)Wolves went on to win the FA cup and runners up in the league.
Spent the late 70s/80s/mid 90s referring, so seeing little of Charlton. Was fortunate, very fortunate, to be appointed the reserve match official for Charlton's return to The Valley in Dec 92. Easily the best footballing day of my life!
Comments
My golden years as a supporter would have been the 70s killer, flash and paddy were great players.
Cafc has given me so many great memories..those play off victories probably are top of the list primarily as I shared them with my brother and late father, daughter and nephew
Now as we stare into yet another cafc abyss let's hope somehow the club does a 180 and we head towards the sunlit uplands of football ..for Christ sake we deserve it
I basically did every game I'd ever seen at non-league or above. I've got about 80 Brentford, 25 QPR and Fulham games in there, with an assortment of Millwall, Palace, Spurs, Orient, Chelsea, West Ham and Bristol Rovers. I watched a lot of London football in the 80s....and a bit of Bristol Rovers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Louis
Charlton 1,137
Hendon 185
Brentford 84
Dulwich 26
QPR 22
Fulham 21
German 17 (non-league various, mainly around Hamburg & Lubeck)
HSV 16
Orient 5
Millwall 5 (George Graham era)
Palace 4
West Ham 4 (Frank McAvennie era)
Internationals 4 (Yugoslavia x2, Holland & Italy at Euro 96 & 2000)
Spurs 3
QPR Reserves 3 (all v Charlton)
Bristol Rovers 2
Chelsea 2
Hayes 2
Tempo Overijse 2 (Belgian Div 4 at the time)
Arsenal 1
Notts Forest 1 (v Wimbledon with a load of Charlton fans, after our morning game v Notts Co.)
Lierse 1
Ghent 1
Anderlecht 1
Dorchester 1
Sudbury 1
Hampton 1
Harrow Boro 1
Slough 1
Welling 1
York City Res 1
1,556 games and a lot of money but I bet that's about half as many as Elfs.
Charlton
Charlton
Where did QPR reserves play their games? Surely not Loftus Road?
Fell asleep for whole game against boro
cigars on the pitch at Carlisle
“no excuses” on the pitch
nicked against leicester
nicked against qpr/fulham
moist at yeovil
cabs home from Brighton
roda/Amsterdam away
turbo shandies at newcastle
being run out of Manchester airport by d twigg
fallimg on g crooks on the plane at newcastle
mags being thrown on the pitch {Leicester ?}
various millwall
various palace
champagne in maple leaf
Irish and Caribbean tramps in the local Tottenham boozers
scarface at highbury
and I’m a lincoln city fan
I lived in Lewisham and it was a choice between the Spanners, Nigels or the Addicks.
Dated a bird from Bexley and remember her Dad had a Charlton mug. Made me watch out for their results.
Charlton finished top and got promoted.
The first actual game I watched (Sky televised), was away to Derby (Santa and JJ) in a 2-2 draw. Watched it in a pub in Lewisham.
First game at The Valley was a cup game against the Spuds. We were up 2-0. Ended up losing 4-2.
When the upper north opened, I managed to get a season ticket. First game was the opener against Chelsea. We were up 2-0...ended up losing 3-2.
The first win I witnessed at The Valley was 1-0 against Boro (Euell early in the game from memory).
First away was Boro (1-1 - JJ). Remember Hogan’s in Darlington (70p pints), while we waited for the train to Middlesbrough.
I loved going pre- and post match in The Royal Oak. Great memories.
Left London for NZ in the season we went down. Last game was against Blades (we drew and this was pretty much the nail in the coffin). Remember watching the away defeat to Blackburn in a pub (think we lost 4-1).
Since then, I’ve only been able to watch us once (Scunthorpe 2-2 in 2011), as every time we’ve been back, it’s been in July.
Have had some amazing (and incredibly depressing) times following this club and my interest hasn’t declined, although it’s been pretty rough, since I left (apart from 2011/12 and Wembley last year).
Strangest experience was watching us play Brondby behind closed doors at The Valley (Hugo Z Hackenbush managed to get me in). Might have been 2003 or 04?
Started up a little supporters club (Auckland Addicks) and currently seven of us meet up to watch the games on iFollow.
Yes, the QPR games were all at Loftus Road. First one was 1983 one afternoon and I bunked off school in Northolt to see us get cained 5-0 on the astroturf. Bloke called Tony Simmonds got 3 for them and there was a fella welding the crash barriers behind the goal all through the game!
The 2nd one was early 90s and I bunked off work and I think we lost 3-1 with Steve Brown scoring.
The last one was an evening. Think we lost 1-0 (not sure). Majid Bougherra and Scott Wagstaff were definitely playing, so I think it was our first season back down in the Championship.
I first saw him play for Wednesday v Birmingham in our relegation season(my mates 50th birthday, he's Wednesday). The geezer had a blinder and all the Wednesdayites were raving about him.
I was so pleased when he came to us, a shame it did not work out.
If only ESI realised what they are killing.
If they do then they don't have a heart.
We are such a special club - so many ups and downs
First game March 67 - beat Carlisle 1-0 Eddie Firmani.
As a young kid I was awe struck by the size of the ground.
It just had a presence that I can feel even as I write now
Favourite seasons 68/69 and what might had been had we got promoted
71/72 (I know we got relegated) but the start of bonding with so many people in the Covered End
74/75 Hardly missed a game home or away and so many great times at away games
76/77 Going to Loret de Mar and bumping into some Charlton boys staying in same hotel
78 getting nicked at Orient last game of season - but at leat we stayed up
Gors without saying all the Promotion years were gold and the relegation years not so good.
Last year and Wembley was extra special and Inreally thought we as a club would now move forward once again.....
Lowest point is currently as I speak
We just have to get these WA....s out of our club
But we have so many wonderful fans from Airman to Doucher and NLA to name but a few that gives me the confidence we will come through this.
Im on a What's App with up to 30 great people who I have known for so many years and can call my friends
We may disagree about certain things but one thing we share is
We are Charlton till we Die
Keep the Faith
Beginning: Dad sat me on the wall at the back of the East Terrace when I was four. My guess is that would be the start of the 63-64 season. In truth I can’t remember a time when I didn’t go to Charlton games.
Background: Grandad, Dad, me, brother, nephew and sons all lifelong Charlton supporters. None of us have lived ‘south of the water’, although I often walked to The Valley when living in Silvertown. Got first season tickets in 1974 having missed only three home games in ten years. (One of those a punishment for misbehaviour - a rare win, 3-0 v Norwich!). Had a season ticket ever since. Didn’t miss a ‘home’ game at Selhurst or Upton Parks, despite living and working in Sheffield for four years. Seen Charlton play at 135 different grounds.
Highlights: Wembley; beating Preston for promotion; St Andrews; Battle of the Bridge; Carlisle three times; wins at Anfield, Old Trafford, Highbury, Stamford Bridge... Woolwich Town Hall.
Lowlights: Conceding seven goals at Luton, Brighton, Burnley; FA cup quarter finals; the League Cup every bloody year; relegation this season; owners.
Disappointments: finishing 3rd in 68/69; selling our best prospects; Scott Parker’s decision costing me the opportunity to see us play in Europe.
Undoubtedly we are, right now, at our lowest ebb. Several times in the eighties I thought I might be seeing our last ever game. I get that same feeling now.
Would I change any of it? Nah! It’s made me who I am. I right miserable, pessimist old fart.
Season ticket from 1994/95 season to 2015-17 season
Sat in most areas of the stadium - West Lower and Upper, East stand, North Lower and Upper
Sponsored Paul Mortimer for 2 seasons - lovely bloke
One of very few Charlton fans to have played with Jorge Costa on Cape Verde beach haha
Mascot at home against Barnsley 1995
Played with Peter Garland
Unlike our 0-0 at Notts County, the Forest 0-0 was actually a really good game. Wimbledon kicked two or three off the line (Kevin Gage I think) and Dave Bassett said they'd been practising by shooting at defenders on the line, who had to clear it. Wimbeldon won the replay at Plough Lane!
No FA Cup 4th Round for us that season, having been knocked out by Tottenham in the much delayed replay (due to snow/frozen ground).
Since then I’ve seen us play at 125 different grounds and seen us play in six different countries.
Been nicked twice, let off once.
My father is a season ticket holder and regular away traveller at the age of 92.
I wonder who the oldest active supporter is.
Blackpool72 runs him a close second.
I had a season ticket whilst we were at Selhurst, which was when I started attending on a regular basis, and did a lot of away matches then - normally on Betty Hutchins' coach from Bexleyheath but occasionally by train. As I was a regular traveller on the Supporters' Club coaches and trains at the time I think I may have "forced" one of the main organisers to include his middle name when he was a subscriber to Richard Redden's history of Charlton book as we shared the same name.
I missed the Boleyn Grounds years as I was at uni in Norwich and wasn't able to get the homecoming match either.
I restarted my season ticket in the 1999-2000 season in the Covered End, travelling down from Norfolk every other week and have continued to this day. When the top shelf was added I moved upstairs and am now happily ensconced on the back row looking down the East Stand touchline.
I've seen Charlton at Wembley twice: 1987 and 2019.
I have seen Charlton beat Man Utd, Liverpool, and Arsenal more times than I've seen us win over the Spanners.
My all-time favourite Charlton player is John Humphrey, my favourite during the Premier League era was the Big Bad Bustling Bulgarian Radostin Kishishev.
I took my seven-year-old grandson to his first game in February; he managed our last three home games before lockdown ("I thought I was going to be a Norwich supporter but I'm going to be a Charlton supporter now"). All he wants to do is go back.
Dad took me to The Valley in 1953 (I was born in 47) to see the icon of football at that time, Stanley Matthews. Saw my first solo live game in 55, to watch the top team at that period, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Other childhood memories were the 7-6 Huddersfield game, going to an away FA cup in 1960 at Bristol C. 2-0 down hf time, but a second half hat trick from the deminutive winger,Sammy Lawrie sealed a next round away trip to Wolves ( we lost 1-0)Wolves went on to win the FA cup and runners up in the league.
Spent the late 70s/80s/mid 90s referring, so seeing little of Charlton. Was fortunate, very fortunate, to be appointed the reserve match official for Charlton's return to The Valley in Dec 92. Easily the best footballing day of my life!