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Sparrows Lane

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  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,601
    My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    He was there with my Grandad then. A few members of my family worked there, my aunt and uncle in the offices and my mum worked it the payroll dept for a while.
  • ross1
    ross1 Posts: 50,974
    My memory is fading, but I am sure I watched them on the Rectory Field, at the other end to where Kent played cricket, probably 50's unless this was a friendly against Greenwich Borough who played there
  • I'm sure Sparrows Lane was Unilever's sports ground at one time. I played against Uni;ever in the late 60's.

    Wasn't Unilever a different sports ground on Sparrows Lane? 
  • Addick Addict
    Addick Addict Posts: 39,791
    I'm sure Sparrows Lane was Unilever's sports ground at one time. I played against Uni;ever in the late 60's.

    Wasn't Unilever a different sports ground on Sparrows Lane? 
    It certainly wasn't in the late 70s. As I say I played for both Unilever and Aries at Sparrow's Lane in the South London Alliance - from memory Aries was a company owned by a couple of blokes who were printers who bought it off Unilever.
  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    He was there with my Grandad then. A few members of my family worked there, my aunt and uncle in the offices and my mum worked it the payroll dept for a while.
    My mum was secretary to the Managing Director of Stones at Deptford, besides propellors the company made air conditioning for trains. I remember going to the sports ground pre season  and watching Charlton train and especially remember seeing John Hewie, which must have been about 1960
  • msomerton
    msomerton Posts: 2,972
    Does the Sparrows lane training ground also incorporate the old Shooter's Hill Grammar school sports ground. I remember walking from Shooter's Hill to the ground there during the lunch hour for the weekly sports afternoon. Ated the cross country run around the park. 
  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    I served my apprenticeship at J.Stone Deptford in the 1960's and moved with the company to Crawley, although didn't stay with them for long.
    What was your uncles name?  
  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    I served my apprenticeship at J.Stone Deptford in the 1960's and moved with the company to Crawley, although didn't stay with them for long.
    What was your uncles name?  

    I worked there from 1966- 1969 when they moved to Crawley, I was a storekeeper
  • charltonbob
    charltonbob Posts: 8,259
    Dave Rudd said:
    We were training there way back in the 70's. 
    I used to go many times with my dad to watch training. Mark Penfold was just breaking into the team @ 16.
    Keith Peacock gave me and my dad a lift in his Vauxhall Victor 101. He was playing then, thats how long ago it was!
    Some days they trained at the Valley, other days, Sparrows Lane. We used to ring before to see where they would be training that day.
    This is correct.

    I played there for Catford Invicta in the early 1970's when we were coached by Mike Franklin (RIP).

    Also, as mentioned on other threads, in the 1960's, the team trained at the Stones Sports Ground on Woolwich Road for many years.  We also had the infamous gym (single storey wooden hut painted in black creosote or something like that) at the Valley.  You can see it in some of the old pictures.
    That's right, I remember me & a mate going to the Valley one afternoon, I guess it must have been pre season & we had gone to buy season tickets. Hearing noise coming from the old hut we obviously went over to be nosy & some of the players were in there playing football. No idea who was in there now, it was such a long time ago, must have been mid/late 60s. There was also a set of goal posts up on the mound by the side of the South terrace which must have been used for shooting practice.
  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    I served my apprenticeship at J.Stone Deptford in the 1960's and moved with the company to Crawley, although didn't stay with them for long.
    What was your uncles name?  

    I worked there from 1966- 1969 when they moved to Crawley, I was a storekeeper
    Who are you?
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  • Dippenhall
    Dippenhall Posts: 3,919
    msomerton said:
    Does the Sparrows lane training ground also incorporate the old Shooter's Hill Grammar school sports ground. I remember walking from Shooter's Hill to the ground there during the lunch hour for the weekly sports afternoon. Ated the cross country run around the park. 
    Was trying to remember that too. Think it was further down Avery lane.  Cross country course an easy jog compared to the bloody hills around the school and up through the "Sanctuary".


  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    I served my apprenticeship at J.Stone Deptford in the 1960's and moved with the company to Crawley, although didn't stay with them for long.
    What was your uncles name?  
     Eric Harmer, he helped to run Greenfield FC and played cricket for J Stone well into his 50’s. 
  • My uncle worked at J Stone for 50 years. The marine division (Deptford) made propellers including those for the QE and QM. I’m not sure if that part of the business continued when they upped sticks to Crawley in the 60s. He moved with them, as an incentive staff were offered new two bedroom houses at a peppercorn rent. 
    I served my apprenticeship at J.Stone Deptford in the 1960's and moved with the company to Crawley, although didn't stay with them for long.
    What was your uncles name?  

    I worked there from 1966- 1969 when they moved to Crawley, I was a storekeeper
    Who are you?

    Have sent you a message
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 16,521
    edited October 2020
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
  • Airman Brown
    Airman Brown Posts: 15,734
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
    Was adjacent but not the same place.
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 16,521
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
    Was adjacent but not the same place.
    Thank you!
  • Paddy Powell
    Paddy Powell Posts: 2,842
    edited October 2020
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
    My old man was the groundsman there at about that time (80-81). There was definitely a (club owned?) building with a bar in it, because we lived in it (the building, not the bar..).

    One of my earliest memories - getting launched 20 feet by a Martin Robinson howitzer to the stomach. 39 years later and I can still see the ball zeroing in on me.
  • msomerton
    msomerton Posts: 2,972
    msomerton said:
    Does the Sparrows lane training ground also incorporate the old Shooter's Hill Grammar school sports ground. I remember walking from Shooter's Hill to the ground there during the lunch hour for the weekly sports afternoon. Ated the cross country run around the park. 
    Was trying to remember that too. Think it was further down Avery lane.  Cross country course an easy jog compared to the bloody hills around the school and up through the "Sanctuary".


    Think you are wright about the Shooter's Hill sports ground, it was a bit of a track down that muddy lane.
     Agree about being made to run around Shooter's HHill for the 40min pe lesson  itwadthe Scots pe master who like to do that. He also arranged inter form shitty competitions.ⁿ
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,601
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
    My old man was the groundsman there at about that time (80-81). There was definitely a (club owned?) building with a bar in it, because we lived in it (the building, not the bar..).

    One of my earliest memories - getting launched 20 feet by a Martin Robinson howitzer to the stomach. 39 years later and I can still see the ball zeroing in on me.
    Was the bar run by a bloke called Jock (didn't know him by any other name)? We used to play on the plastic pitch there.
  • Davo55
    Davo55 Posts: 7,836
    In 1987 I was living in Tiverton Drive, just off Sparrows Lane, with the training ground being over the fence at the end of the garden, except for a small access road to garages. I very often went over there with my youngest son (born 1983) to see the youth team playing. Given that the first team were playing at Selhurst then, Sparrows Lane was more than just a training ground, it felt like an anchor keeping us rooted in the local area, and gave hope of a return to the Valley. I remember seeing a lot of young players who later "made it", Minto, Barness, Brown, Rufus, Watson, Jason Lee spring to mind. That important role in our history and this happy memories are why Sparrows Lane means as much to me as the Valley. I would love to see TS acquire SL and really invest and commit to it having a very long term future.
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  • Rothko
    Rothko Posts: 18,807
    Didn't the youth team play a fair few games at the Merdian before SL reopened? 
  • Paddy Powell
    Paddy Powell Posts: 2,842
    As a teenager I used to go and watch us training occasionally in school holidays in the era of Martin Robinson and Paul Walsh so pre 1985. I always thought it was at Sparrows' Lane - cetainly New Eltham. In fact, I'm sure I recognise the brick building in the picture. Was this a re-opening/ redevelopment?
    My old man was the groundsman there at about that time (80-81). There was definitely a (club owned?) building with a bar in it, because we lived in it (the building, not the bar..).

    One of my earliest memories - getting launched 20 feet by a Martin Robinson howitzer to the stomach. 39 years later and I can still see the ball zeroing in on me.
    Was the bar run by a bloke called Jock (didn't know him by any other name)? We used to play on the plastic pitch there.
    I was too young at the time to remember names, but there was defnitely a grey haired fella in and around the place. I don't know if that describes the man you mention, but that amazingly detailed description is the best I can give you. 

    The only other person (players aside) that I can remember is a Christopher Reeve lookalike who had a 'modern' blue tractor with a cab. Charlton's antique tractor didn't have one.. He must have worked on one of the ajoining fields/clubs, but was a regular visitor.
  • Dippenhall
    Dippenhall Posts: 3,919
    msomerton said:
    msomerton said:
    Does the Sparrows lane training ground also incorporate the old Shooter's Hill Grammar school sports ground. I remember walking from Shooter's Hill to the ground there during the lunch hour for the weekly sports afternoon. Ated the cross country run around the park. 
    Was trying to remember that too. Think it was further down Avery lane.  Cross country course an easy jog compared to the bloody hills around the school and up through the "Sanctuary".


    Think you are wright about the Shooter's Hill sports ground, it was a bit of a track down that muddy lane.
     Agree about being made to run around Shooter's HHill for the 40min pe lesson  itwadthe Scots pe master who like to do that. He also arranged inter form shitty competitions.ⁿ
    That Scots PE teacher gave me my one and only A+ for PE. He was ex military commando I think.
  • IT_Andy
    IT_Andy Posts: 477
    My dad played rugby for Charlton Park and in the 70's and 80's their ground was next door. Didn't like rugby as a kid but had to go some Saturdays. Me and my brother would jump over the fence and play football on the field. Great place always well looked after. 
  • JohnnyH2
    JohnnyH2 Posts: 5,342
    Rothko said:
    Didn't the youth team play a fair few games at the Merdian before SL reopened? 
    The youth team played at the Meridian from the start of the 85/86 season and stayed their even after the official opening of Sparrows Lane in October 87. From the start of 88/89 season youth team games were always played at Sparrows Lane and may have started there from the start of the year in January 88.

    Pre 85/86 season youth team games were played at Valley Leisure a ground just down the road from Sparrows Lane. That is the ground that was also known as Jock's place
  • msomerton said:
    msomerton said:
    Does the Sparrows lane training ground also incorporate the old Shooter's Hill Grammar school sports ground. I remember walking from Shooter's Hill to the ground there during the lunch hour for the weekly sports afternoon. Ated the cross country run around the park. 
    Was trying to remember that too. Think it was further down Avery lane.  Cross country course an easy jog compared to the bloody hills around the school and up through the "Sanctuary".


    Think you are wright about the Shooter's Hill sports ground, it was a bit of a track down that muddy lane.
     Agree about being made to run around Shooter's HHill for the 40min pe lesson  itwadthe Scots pe master who like to do that. He also arranged inter form shitty competitions.ⁿ
    That Scots PE teacher gave me my one and only A+ for PE. He was ex military commando I think.
    Rudd? I remember everyone calling him Jock, but I don’t remember ever being in a class of his. 
  • buckshee
    buckshee Posts: 7,867
    I remember Lenny training the team on the hills by the cafe at Oxleas Woods pre season 1985, I was there on a day trip from primary school so you can imagine how excited the Charlton supporters among us were.
  • I'm sure Sparrows Lane was Unilever's sports ground at one time. I played against Uni;ever in the late 60's.
    Correct, it certainly was. My Dad played football for Unilever down there up to around 1983 or so.
  • TEL
    TEL Posts: 10,100
    Met Mr Alwen a couple of times many moons ago. Thorough gentleman and will always have my respect for the hard work that he and Mike Norris did in getting us back home.

    He gave me a toot as he passed by in his Bentley on the way to Fratton Park on one occassion, Charlton scarf on the rear parcel shelf as was the way back then.