Was born in Plumstead, flirted with Arsenal, when about 6. But came to my senses and started going to the Valley first game was 1966 vs Plymouth. The rest is history, my son had no choice, he played a couple of times for the club when he was at the Advance Football School at Swanley, at Sparrows Lane. Proudest days of my life!
Support your local team my Dad said - his was West Ham, but he wouldn't allow me to support them, due to where we lived, so I started going to Crystal Palace, but really wanted Dad to take me to Stamford Bridge, as I liked Chelsea for some reason (probably, they were winning things, which is important when you're 11). Dad never did take me to see Chelsea and I stopped going to Palace. Fast forward a few years, I've moved and my kids are interested in footie, so I told them what my Dad told me "support your local team". I took them along to The Valley and they were hooked, but so was I. I am Charlton through and through - in the last 25 years I've seen it all with Charlton, except a decent cup run, of course. I wonder who my grandkids will support...
fuck that , I haven’t gone through all this shit all my life for my 4 little cnuts to fuck off and support Spurs , no sir , you little brats have no choice you are Charlton fans and there is no alternative .
I'm also the first Charlton supporter in the family, north London dominated, my Brother is an Arsenal supporter as was my gran, uncles are Spurs supporters, hence the first game I went too.
Lived in bow all my life surrounded by West Ham .My mates dad was from s.e London took us to our first match at the valley. I think it was against Bury 1964 . Went to his funeral some years ago turns out he only supported Charlton to upset his brothers who were all Millwall.
My dad had started to take me to Highbury as a nipper to watch his beloved Arsenal. On about my second or third trip to north London from our home in Abbey Wood we were running dead late and as the train pulled in to Charlton station my old man conceded defeat and rather than miss the first half at Arsenal, decided to take me to the Valley instead. At that age I'm not sure I'd even heard of Charlton but from that day I was hooked. My dad was absolutely gutted that I never became a gooner and often said how much he regretted running late that day.
My dad was born in McCall Crescent about 400 yards from the Valley. His father was from Yorkshire who moved to Charlton, via spells in Alaska and California, in the early 1920’s. My grandfather died in 1964 and some of my few memories of him are of him telling me about the Charlton team of the 1930’s and 40’s.
My first game was 29th February 1964 against Portsmouth when I was 7. We lost one nil but I was hooked.
Grew up in South West London - closest teams being Wimbledon (Dad's Team) and Palarse (Grandad's Team). Luckily my Uncle saved me with a trip to The Valley in '95 vs Norwich. I was shouting Leaburn's name in no time
My dad was hooked in the forties when Charlton were one of the best teams in the country. Took me to my first game aged nearly 5 in 1970. If it’s in your blood there’s nothing you can do about it.
fuck that , I haven’t gone through all this shit all my life for my 4 little cnuts to fuck off and support Spurs , no sir , you little brats have no choice you are Charlton fans and there is no alternative .
My dad was born in McCall Crescent about 400 yards from the Valley. His father was from Yorkshire who moved to Charlton, via spells in Alaska and California, in the early 1920’s. My grandfather died in 1964 and some of my few memories of him are of him telling me about the Charlton team of the 1930’s and 40’s.
My first game was 29th February 1964 against Portsmouth when I was 7. We lost one nil but I was hooked.
My Dad’s first Charlton game was Addicks vs Portsmouth - as a result of that he was (of course) an Addick - but always had a soft spot for Portsmouth - he got to see (Charlton legends aside) the great Jimmy Dickinson play for for Pompey - over 750 league appearances for Pompey - quite simply WOW - he must have been some player - 750, that’s incredible
Can any older CL’s tell us about Jimmy Dickinson ??
Became fascinated at 13 when moved to London in 1985 with this football ground that wasn't being used near where I lived in Kidbrooke the rest as they is history. Before then I used go to the Dell and watch Southampton even had my picture taken with Ruben Agboola. What a player he was:)
We used to live in Springfield opposite the church,every other saturday,my dad would join he masses of people walking past our flat,I confess I had little interest in football at this time,one evening,I was told,come on your coming to see Tom Finney play,it was around 56-57 ( I had no idea who Finney was only that my dad worshipped the ground he walked on)well we beat Preston 2-1,leary got the winner,the rest is history,who would have thought of the traumas that lay ahead 65 years later. I did a little later start visiting other london grounds,but there just was nothing to beat the Valley,still isnt
Dad was working on the building site that became Valiant House, watched the first couple of seasons friends there and then continue from inside The Valley .
My dad was born in McCall Crescent about 400 yards from the Valley. His father was from Yorkshire who moved to Charlton, via spells in Alaska and California, in the early 1920’s. My grandfather died in 1964 and some of my few memories of him are of him telling me about the Charlton team of the 1930’s and 40’s.
My first game was 29th February 1964 against Portsmouth when I was 7. We lost one nil but I was hooked.
My Dad’s first Charlton game was Addicks vs Portsmouth - as a result of that he was (of course) an Addick - but always had a soft spot for Portsmouth - he got to see (Charlton legends aside) the great Jimmy Dickinson play for for Pompey - over 750 league appearances for Pompey - quite simply WOW - he must have been some player - 750, that’s incredible
Can any older CL’s tell us about Jimmy Dickinson ??
Was he a great player ?
Jimmy Dickinson did indeed play in the first game I saw in 1964. However, as I was only seven I can’t remember how he played. My main memories of the game are things like the noise, the colours of the shirts and the fact that there was a Portsmouth supporter wearing a blue and white top hat!
It crept up on me. Slowly. Inevitably. My mum lived in Charlton and used to go with her Dad in the 30/40s and one of the big regrets I have is I didn't properly talk to her about it. By the time I was interested in football, it was the 70s and we lived in Erith. My dad was forever threatening to take me to a game but it never happened. He was flexible in his support, but by then it wasn't something my mum was going to do. After my kids were born, I found myself following Charlton's results. I have good mates who are Charlton (including a crew who used to go Selhurst back in the day) but I was always busy with other things then. When my son said he wanted to go aged 5, I took him to The Valley. He didn't really like it, but my daughter (then 10) did and it's now something we do together. I like that I have 4 generations of fans in my family even if there's not a direct link.
Whilst still at school Charlton used to run a bus service on Saturday home games for 2/6 (old money 12.5p) from St Mary's Cray station and all round the St. Paul's Cray Estate. Sadly later stopped through lack of support, but me and some mates could get a 161 from Petts Wood then get off and walk from the end of Woolwich Common through Marion Park. Happy days to remember.
Born in Plumstead, lived in Abbey Wood throughout my childhood so was the only professional team that I could get to on a bus. Also had Keith Peacock & Peter Reeves coach at my junior school (Alexander McLeod) ) and for Woolwich district. Therefore I am a classic ‘support your local team’ despite my dad being a gunner. Proud to say both my kids are passionate Addicks as well
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Proudest days of my life!
My dad was born in McCall Crescent about 400 yards from the Valley. His father was from Yorkshire who moved to Charlton, via spells in Alaska and California, in the early 1920’s. My grandfather died in 1964 and some of my few memories of him are of him telling me about the Charlton team of the 1930’s and 40’s.
My first game was 29th February 1964 against Portsmouth when I was 7. We lost one nil but I was hooked.
I couldn't. You'd just have to go ahead and shoot me.
Can any older CL’s tell us about Jimmy Dickinson ??
Was he a great player ?
I did a little later start visiting other london grounds,but there just was nothing to beat the Valley,still isnt
My mum lived in Charlton and used to go with her Dad in the 30/40s and one of the big regrets I have is I didn't properly talk to her about it. By the time I was interested in football, it was the 70s and we lived in Erith. My dad was forever threatening to take me to a game but it never happened. He was flexible in his support, but by then it wasn't something my mum was going to do.
After my kids were born, I found myself following Charlton's results. I have good mates who are Charlton (including a crew who used to go Selhurst back in the day) but I was always busy with other things then. When my son said he wanted to go aged 5, I took him to The Valley. He didn't really like it, but my daughter (then 10) did and it's now something we do together. I like that I have 4 generations of fans in my family even if there's not a direct link.
Started going with my Dad in 1992, aged 5. With the exception of one Roland protest season, I’ve been a season ticket holder with him ever since.