I am going to say that Leary was one of the first players to introduce this tactic, certainly no one else at Charlton had seen or heard of it until out of the blue he started doing it. Just where he got it from is unknown as far as I know. What a fantastic piece of footage and seeing my all time favourite player and sporting hero Stuart Leary bagging a brace was the icing on the cake. I would certainly have been there….aged 14……happy days.🥲 A truly superb find McCartney…….many thanks mate.👏🏽
Really enjoyed watching that @McCartney Took my right back to my boyhood Valley - although a couple of years before my first game.
Wasn't that the season when we had to play Walsall away in a relegation scrap - whoever won stayed up? We had to win or bust. Naturally we were losing 1-0 ........... when the game was abandoned in a storm. If that had been the final result, Charlton were relegated.
Of course, the game had to be replayed - and a few days later we won the re-arranged fixture 2-1, and escaped relegation. Walsall were relegated instead.
One of my old Dad's boyhood stories to me of how Charlton escaped relegation - thanks to a deluge.
At the Plymouth game now. Watching how it should be done.
I see that Argyle scored their 2nd goal ..... when Broom swept home.
- joking aside he played so well this afternoon - involved in every play forward it seemed and their defence were terrified of him, he just (OK lets do this) brushed them aside. But if he played at Charlton he wouldn't play like that, they all worked so well together. I was envious. Reminded me of our 2010/11 team.
I was there. These are some notes I recently sent a Plymouth fan.
In 1962 Argyle were absolutely flying and looked a good bet to reach the First Division for the first time. On 7 Apr 62 The Valley turned green as a crowd of 20098, 50% higher than the season's average, was swollen by thousands of away fans. A London game is usually a good day out, and Argyle were riding high, but what had their fans really smelling blood was the fact that the Addicks had no goalkeeper. Every single goalie on the books was injured, sick or otherwise unavailable. Step forward John Hewie. In his one-club career he played in almost 500 games and covered all eleven positions. Well, in this moment of crisis he took the number one shirt - surely easy pickings for a rampant Argyle so close to Division One they could almost taste it. Long John Hewie, the ultimate utility player, was well over 6' with a spindly frame and wingnut ears - surely this fragile figure would stand no chance in the rough and tumble of the six-yard box? And Wilf Carter - Charlton's nemesis, who else - scored in the 20th minute to bring the sides level after Leary's 16' early opener for the home team. Charlton rallied round and Hewie found himself guarded not just by his defence but by ten minders who to a man were prepared to protect him to the death. Every time he had to gather a loose ball he held it as gently as if it were a new-born babe. Plymouth lost momentum and scored no more. The Addicks took control and scored twice more in the second half. Argyle's ambitions had been well and truly torpedoed, and they eventually finished fifth (two promoted in those days).
Hewie played four matches as emergency goalie. Two wins, two draws.
Really enjoyed watching that @McCartney Took my right back to my boyhood Valley - although a couple of years before my first game.
Wasn't that the season when we had to play Walsall away in a relegation scrap - whoever won stayed up? We had to win or bust. Naturally we were losing 1-0 ........... when the game was abandoned in a storm. If that had been the final result, Charlton were relegated.
Of course, the game had to be replayed - and a few days later we won the re-arranged fixture 2-1, and escaped relegation. Walsall were relegated instead.
One of my old Dad's boyhood stories to me of how Charlton escaped relegation - thanks to a deluge.
How we stayed up I will never know. We won our previous game against Southampton 2-1 I with a stoppage time winner, Without that we would have gone down on the day. In the replayed game against Walsall, the hosts only had ten men on the pitch at the end and one of them was a passenger shunted out onto the wing.
Really enjoyed watching that @McCartney Took my right back to my boyhood Valley - although a couple of years before my first game.
Wasn't that the season when we had to play Walsall away in a relegation scrap - whoever won stayed up? We had to win or bust. Naturally we were losing 1-0 ........... when the game was abandoned in a storm. If that had been the final result, Charlton were relegated.
Of course, the game had to be replayed - and a few days later we won the re-arranged fixture 2-1, and escaped relegation. Walsall were relegated instead.
One of my old Dad's boyhood stories to me of how Charlton escaped relegation - thanks to a deluge.
No, that was season 1962-63. This was 1961-62. That season Liverpool and Leyton Orient went up to division 1.
Makes you wonder with the half back line we had, how we were relegation threatened.
I am going to say that Leary was one of the first players to introduce this tactic, certainly no one else at Charlton had seen or heard of it until out of the blue he started doing it. Just where he got it from is unknown as far as I know. What a fantastic piece of footage and seeing my all time favourite player and sporting hero Stuart Leary bagging a brace was the icing on the cake. I would certainly have been there….aged 14……happy days.🥲 A truly superb find McCartney…….many thanks mate.👏🏽
Oh, by the way, were you there too?
No I was two years from being born and 8 years from my first Valley visit but I love watching these old games expecially from the 60s. There's plenty of good stuff on this YouTube channel
Imagine having a situation today where we had to start a game without a proper keeper. Some of those complaining about our lack of cover at the beginning of the season would probably have been suicidal at the thought!
Happy days, I was there usual spot on the railings covered end in the corner where the altercation happened. Scottish outside right Sam Lawrie was a fiery little character 😈.
With Hewie in goal it seems the half back line was Bailey, Hinton and Tocknell. Full backs Sewell and possibly Kinsey although he started off his career with us as a winger and was fairly advanced in those clips.
Forward line Lawrie, Matthews, Leary, Edwards and either Kinsey or A N Other. And for those still watching in black and white the goalkeepers were wearing blue jumpers, fact 😉.
Thanks McCartney, great memories for me, I was a fifteen year old who started watching around January 62. I was in the lower middle of East terrace with my dad. Plymouth were the first team I can actually remember us playing. A hard hit shot bounced off Long John Hewie's chest and back into play.
I didn't realise how good Leary was and this was the end of his career with us. Superb halfback line with Marvin Hinton and Mike Bailey alongside Brian Tocknell. At that time Brian Kinsey was playing as a winger.
Talking of the following seasons relegation scrape at Walsall, I was there for the first match, memories of the away end food kiosk at half-time and rain pouring through the roof! Say I was unable to go to the replay.
I was right behind the Covered End goal, so as to follow Hewie's every move in the first half and our lively forwards' in the second. It was a memorable game for sure. The large away attendance made for an excellent atmosphere, especially as time wore on and their fans became more and more anxious.
Hinton, Bailey and Leary were outstanding players, and Lawrie and Tocknell were not far behind. Leary was simply a magician. The needless dispute between him and the club led to Leary's departure for QPR the following season and a miraculous escape from relegation for CAFC - that it should have come to this was no surprise, since Leary had more or less single-handedly kept the Addicks up in 61/62.
I was present at this match. Thanks for the opportunity to relive the experience. A roll call of names to stimulate the memories: Marvin Hinton, John Hewie, John Sewell, Mike Bailey, Sam Lawrie and goalscorer, Stuart Leary. Kenneth Wolstenholme was the commentator. He divided opinion in those days. Some folk used to turn the sound down on their telly, so as not to listen to his 'babble'. Home and opposition supporters were not segregated in those days. Standing on the expanse of the East Terrace, I can't ever recall any problems from this period in the 1960s.
On the rare days the TV was in town, we used to get the nod a few days before the game from a fellow fan who was something in broadcasting (not Michael Grade). The TV camera gantry, if you could call it that, was a spindly affair supported by scaffolding poles. Quite an exposed position when the wind and the rain swept across the ground.
Electric cables led off to the outside broadcast vans, which were normally parked adjacent to the Sam Bartram Gate. I assume the commentary was actually done inside one of these vehicles. I believe we once had film cameras on that part of the East Terrace for the Arthur Askey film The Love Match. Sometime around 1955, I believe. Has the film surfaced on Talking Pictures TV yet?
Lovely old piece of footage. Just over 2 weeks after this, on Easter Monday 23rd April 1962 my uncle took me to my first ever game at the Valley against Bristol Rovers. Willie Duff was back in goal and John Hewie at left back. Stuart Leary scored both goals in a 2-1 win. I was a bit too young to take in the nuances of the game, but the sights, sounds and smells and the energy of the crowd - I was hooked.
I was present at this match. Thanks for the opportunity to relive the experience. A roll call of names to stimulate the memories: Marvin Hinton, John Hewie, John Sewell, Mike Bailey, Sam Lawrie and goalscorer, Stuart Leary. Kenneth Wolstenholme was the commentator. He divided opinion in those days. Some folk used to turn the sound down on their telly, so as not to listen to his 'babble'. Home and opposition supporters were not segregated in those days. Standing on the expanse of the East Terrace, I can't ever recall any problems from this period in the 1960s.
On the rare days the TV was in town, we used to get the nod a few days before the game from a fellow fan who was something in broadcasting (not Michael Grade). The TV camera gantry, if you could call it that, was a spindly affair supported by scaffolding poles. Quite an exposed position when the wind and the rain swept across the ground.
Electric cables led off to the outside broadcast vans, which were normally parked adjacent to the Sam Bartram Gate. I assume the commentary was actually done inside one of these vehicles. I believe we once had film cameras on that part of the East Terrace for the Arthur Askey film The Love Match. Sometime around 1955, I believe. Has the film surfaced on Talking Pictures TV yet?
Again, thanks for the memories.
Very surprised to read your comments re Kenneth Wolstenholme. He of course commentated on the ‘66 World Cup Final and was considered something of a national institution at the time. It’s the first I’ve heard that there was ‘significant’ divided opinion about him, I am not saying there weren’t ‘some’ people who didn’t like his style and delivery but there always will be with commentators but to call it significant to me is far from reality. As I say, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.🤔
Just following on with Ken Wolstenholme. He was of course the main commentator on Match of the Day. Match of the Day however wasn't launched until August 1964, so I am wondering where this footage was originally broadcast. We didn't get our first TV at home until 1964, so I don't know if there was a predecessor to MOTD.
MOTD brought a structure to the coverage, better and more cameras, etc. Prior to that they were just random games. We featured from time to time, the BBC not afraid to venture into Div Two. As mentioned the camera position on the East Terrace had to be built from scratch for each visit and then dismantled. The platform was completely exposed. As far as I know the commentator was sat out there in the open. (Another notable televised game was the last home game of 62/63 which CAFC won in the last minute to ensure a meaningful match at Walsall.)
Some great memories shared......a good couple of years before my first visit in 64 which I only remember the walk to the Valley from the Milne estate and having a lemonade crate to stand on behind a barrier on the East Terrace....no idea who we played and sadly nobody alive now to ask.
https://youtu.be/Aco-jaUGPtw
Comments
Just where he got it from is unknown as far as I know.
What a fantastic piece of footage and seeing my all time favourite player and sporting hero Stuart Leary bagging a brace was the icing on the cake.
I would certainly have been there….aged 14……happy days.🥲
A truly superb find McCartney…….many thanks mate.👏🏽
EDIT: click on the "Watch on Youtube" link.
Really enjoyed watching that @McCartney
Took my right back to my boyhood Valley - although a couple of years before my first game.
Wasn't that the season when we had to play Walsall away in a relegation scrap - whoever won stayed up?
We had to win or bust. Naturally we were losing 1-0 ........... when the game was abandoned in a storm.
If that had been the final result, Charlton were relegated.
Of course, the game had to be replayed - and a few days later we won the re-arranged fixture 2-1, and escaped relegation.
Walsall were relegated instead.
One of my old Dad's boyhood stories to me of how Charlton escaped relegation - thanks to a deluge.
I was there. These are some notes I recently sent a Plymouth fan.
Hewie played four matches as emergency goalie. Two wins, two draws.
In the replayed game against Walsall, the hosts only had ten men on the pitch at the end and one of them was a passenger shunted out onto the wing.
Plymouth were the first team I can actually remember us playing.
A hard hit shot bounced off Long John Hewie's chest and back into play.
I didn't realise how good Leary was and this was the end of his career with us. Superb halfback line with Marvin Hinton and Mike Bailey alongside Brian Tocknell. At that time Brian Kinsey was playing as a winger.
Talking of the following seasons relegation scrape at Walsall, I was there for the first match, memories of the away end food kiosk at half-time and rain pouring through the roof!
Say I was unable to go to the replay.
I was right behind the Covered End goal, so as to follow Hewie's every move in the first half and our lively forwards' in the second. It was a memorable game for sure. The large away attendance made for an excellent atmosphere, especially as time wore on and their fans became more and more anxious.
Hinton, Bailey and Leary were outstanding players, and Lawrie and Tocknell were not far behind. Leary was simply a magician. The needless dispute between him and the club led to Leary's departure for QPR the following season and a miraculous escape from relegation for CAFC - that it should have come to this was no surprise, since Leary had more or less single-handedly kept the Addicks up in 61/62.
On the rare days the TV was in town, we used to get the nod a few days before the game from a fellow fan who was something in broadcasting (not Michael Grade). The TV camera gantry, if you could call it that, was a spindly affair supported by scaffolding poles. Quite an exposed position when the wind and the rain swept across the ground.
Electric cables led off to the outside broadcast vans, which were normally parked adjacent to the Sam Bartram Gate. I assume the commentary was actually done inside one of these vehicles. I believe we once had film cameras on that part of the East Terrace for the Arthur Askey film The Love Match. Sometime around 1955, I believe. Has the film surfaced on Talking Pictures TV yet?
Again, thanks for the memories.
Just over 2 weeks after this, on Easter Monday 23rd April 1962 my uncle took me to my first ever game at the Valley against Bristol Rovers.
Willie Duff was back in goal and John Hewie at left back.
Stuart Leary scored both goals in a 2-1 win.
I was a bit too young to take in the nuances of the game, but the sights, sounds and smells and the energy of the crowd - I was hooked.
He of course commentated on the ‘66 World Cup Final and was considered something of a national institution at the time.
It’s the first I’ve heard that there was ‘significant’ divided opinion about him, I am not saying there weren’t ‘some’ people who didn’t like his style and delivery but there always will be with commentators but to call it significant to me is far from reality.
As I say, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.🤔
Match of the Day however wasn't launched until August 1964, so I am wondering where this footage was originally broadcast.
We didn't get our first TV at home until 1964, so I don't know if there was a predecessor to MOTD.
MOTD brought a structure to the coverage, better and more cameras, etc. Prior to that they were just random games. We featured from time to time, the BBC not afraid to venture into Div Two. As mentioned the camera position on the East Terrace had to be built from scratch for each visit and then dismantled. The platform was completely exposed. As far as I know the commentator was sat out there in the open. (Another notable televised game was the last home game of 62/63 which CAFC won in the last minute to ensure a meaningful match at Walsall.)