I was thinking about those travelling up to Morecambe for tomorrow night’s match and wondered whether the players give out complimentary tickets anymore? I’m sure the answer is “not on your Nellie”. But when we went to away matches in the 70’s especially night matches we use to wait for the team coach to arrive and ask for complimentary tickets. It wasn’t always successful but I recall Preston away that sticks in my mind. Did anyone else use to cadge a freebie ticket from the players on the team’s arrival?
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I turn up ask if i am on the "guests list" got told "If you won't pay to see your boy play what chance do we have of charging anybody else"!
I put them in my jacket and a bit later I could hear a quiet voice coming out of the pocket saying MrOneLung, your clothes look sharp tonight, and MrOneLung you are by far the best poster on CharltonLife.
I ran back to Chris Parkes and told him what was happening and he just said 'well the tickets are complimentary'
Never wanted or asked for one as i liked to be independent when it came to players performance during and after a match.
Don't ask me when it was cause I'm old and don't remember anything.
If I try to remember I think it was the last game of the season.
In the hour before kick off he'd come outside in front of the ground looking for us, to tell us the team line up and gossip.
Then he'd reach into his inside jacket pocket for a wad of complimentaries and dole them out to us, each in turn: "Do you need tickets lads?"
It was a ritual. These were the remainder of our team's complimentary tickets that were going spare.
We loved Theo! Always looked after us regular away fans and so sociable.
I remember them eyeing us with suspicion and not looking best pleased to see us. Always stuck with me that has and I did wonder at the time if it was a regular thing for them. Seems like it was.
You just turned up, straight out of the Lewis coach (usually just the one!) and queued to get in.
Most paid at the turnstile and stood on the terraces, because that was what they preferred.
Theo's complimentaries were always great seats in the Grandstand (usually just the one!) - usually near the halfway line and a very decent view of the play. Although you did have to behave yourself!
These were Third Division games remember, so amenities were sparse and very old school.
As a teenager who'd spent all his money watching Charlton home and away, it was a treat and very much appreciated.
The pre-match chat with Theo was great too .... he got to know us by our 1st names and made us feel very inclusive.
If one of us wasn't there, he'd notice straight away and ask where they were.
Third Division days in the 70s; but looking back, different era, different everything - but great times all the same.