There are so many wonderful things to celebrate about VOTV, but what it means to me is this:
In 1985, I lived in Surbiton, but my parents were still in Eltham, and my Dad and I had got into going together to Charlton games again. It was a quietly special feeling, and it brought me home. And then we got that piece of paper, and it was all ripped apart again. .
In 1988 I was going to Selhurst to watch this thing that was still called Charlton but it wasnt anything to do with Charlton, SE7. It was an easy drive but my Dad and his mates came from a different direction, and we chose the most convenient stands at that dump for our separate journeys. Really, as I walked glumly through those alien streets to the supermarket, I asked myself what this place has to do with me. And then, outside the Sainsbury end, someone stuffed a piece of paper into my hand. It was called Voice of the Valley. And as I read it it slowly dawned on me that I wasnt alone. There were 5,000 people here who felt just like I did. I located and got to know Rick and Steve, and where the action was. The action that would lead us out of this nightmare, and home.
And everything that makes us proud as Charlton fans today stems from that scruffy piece of paper. A bunch of alienated individuals realised they were actually all members of a lost, exiled tribe. The tribe took its football club back home, helped build it up to heights we scarcely dreamed of, and defended it fiercely even as our dreams fell apart. The legacy of VOTV is a fanbase that, when the chips are down, knows that whatever else in our own lives is going on, we are all Charlton.
What a monumental, timeless legacy that is. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
What's your favourite VOTV cover? There were many priceless ones, but for some reason my personal favourite featured Terry Waite, the man of Blackheath held captive in Lebanon for so many years. I guess this must have been around the time of his final long awaited release, but were still in exile (maybe at Upton Park) and the photo showed him with a look of consternation saying "Whaddya mean, they're STILL not back at the Valley?"
They were never less than very funny. That's quite something to achieve over so many years. Of course the style is inspired by Private Eye, and why not, but it's still a hell of a skill to come up with a good topical one each and every time.
It's time for Airman Brown to land after many decades of hitting the target and doing what all fanzines should do which is to try to keep Owners honest and not be a mouth piece for the good, bad and ugly people who have run the club over the last 30+ years. At least we have an owner now who means well even if we are stuck as a mid table League 1 team at present.
I salute Rick and team for all their efforts over this long period. His experience of working for the club gave him an insight into the daily problems faced by professional football clubs and the possible solutions needed to run efficiently in a football results business.
What's your favourite VOTV cover? There were many priceless ones, but for some reason my personal favourite featured Terry Waite, the man of Blackheath held captive in Lebanon for so many years. I guess this must have been around the time of his final long awaited release, but were still in exile (maybe at Upton Park) and the photo showed him with a look of consternation saying "Whaddya mean, they're STILL not back at the Valley?"
They were never less than very funny. That's quite something to achieve over so many years. Of course the style is inspired by Private Eye, and why not, but it's still a hell of a skill to come up with a good topical one each and every time.
The one that sticks in my mind was from around the 1992 General Election, with Labour leader Neil Kinnock on the cover. It went something like
"Kinnock for Number 10?" "No chance boyo, they'll never drop Garry Nelson!"
Haven't bought it for years but was a great thing back in the day and maximum respect to airman for all he has and does do with the clubs best interests at heart - he's not always right but never doubted his intentions.
One of my favourite regular articles in the early VOTV was ‘Red Faces’ ( I think it was called) detailing former crap players - one that sticks in my mind was about Shane Westley - why, I do not know -pretty sure Ralph Milne cropped up in one as well
Years ago, when I heard about this fanzine I remember rushing up to Sportspages in Charing Cross in my lunch hour to see if I could buy a copy of the mag. And there they were - a few copies on the floor amongst all the other fanzines that were around at the time. I was delighted. 175 copies later, they are all still packed away in boxes in my wardrobe! (My wife will be the one person I suspect who will be pleased by this news!)
Since the very first issue, I've always looked forward to the next issue. The mixture of opinion, campaigning, gossip about events inside the club and historical articles always made it a good read. And I'm sure the part the magazine played in pre-internet days in getting us back to the Valley was invaluable.
And it's a huge shame that those who try and abuse and misuse our club won't be held so freely to account now
Thanks for your efforts Rick. Who knows, there was a large gap in publishing previously and I live in hope you might change your mind again in future!
I will admit that I haven’t bought a copy for quite a few years. Ironically it was because websites like this one filled that need to commune with one’s fellow supporters. However, in it’s heyday it was a superb means of disseminating information to the faithful and in doing so it raised the volume of fan’s opinions to the point where a move back to the Valley became unstoppable. I honestly believe that the heights achieved by the club in the late 90’s and early years of this century were linked to VOTV. The quality of the writing was extraordinarily high and frequently very funny. We often talk of the great servants of this club as “Legends”: VOTV deserves to take it’s place among the best of them.
My sincere thanks goes out to all who were responsible for it.
I’m very grateful to everyone for their kind words, on here, on Twitter, elsewhere, by email and at the ground today. It’s been heartwarming to hear how much affection and support there still was for VOTV. I don’t want to say too much more because there will be opportunity enough when the final issue comes out in September, but I really do appreciate the reaction and understanding.
Thank you Rick and to all those who have contributed to the VOTV over the years what an outstanding job you have done. It’s a proud part of our history as a club and won’t be forgotten.
Since I started watching the team back in 1987 it’s been a constant in my life and I will miss it greatly. I have lived away now for 17 years and each month when the copy arrives in the post it lifts my mood, no matter how good or bad the results are. Without doubt it has made me feel much closer to the club and has helped to keep that link and my interest. So thank you again Rick and team.
If there is a nostalgia addition I would ask for the Lennie Lawrence on the psychiatrist couch article to be included. Magnificent!
I’m very grateful to everyone for their kind words, on here, on Twitter, elsewhere, by email and at the ground today. It’s been heartwarming to hear how much affection and support there still was for VOTV. I don’t want to say too much more because there will be opportunity enough when the final issue comes out in September, but I really do appreciate the reaction and understanding.
With all the money you've made from selling VOTV, I hope you blow it all on Range Rovers and bitches
I’m very grateful to everyone for their kind words, on here, on Twitter, elsewhere, by email and at the ground today. It’s been heartwarming to hear how much affection and support there still was for VOTV. I don’t want to say too much more because there will be opportunity enough when the final issue comes out in September, but I really do appreciate the reaction and understanding.
But not enough to change your mind?! Seriously, I am looking forward to your next projects.
Haven't bought it for years but was a great thing back in the day and maximum respect to airman for all he has and does do with the clubs best interests at heart - he's not always right but never doubted his intentions.
Thanks for so many great reads …… so much awareness/reporting of what was happening at the club and the continuous “voice” of the support base. It has all been very much appreciated over the years.
I’m very grateful to everyone for their kind words, on here, on Twitter, elsewhere, by email and at the ground today. It’s been heartwarming to hear how much affection and support there still was for VOTV. I don’t want to say too much more because there will be opportunity enough when the final issue comes out in September, but I really do appreciate the reaction and understanding.
But not enough to change your mind?! Seriously, I am looking forward to your next projects.
Perhaps eventual retirement will free up the time required to produce VOTV?
September 10th is the target date. I’ve now refunded all the PayPal overpayments that I can - there are still a few dozen direct transfer or cheque overpayments and a handful of PayPal ones that were outside the date range for refunds. But very few people are owed more than £5.50 and the total is under £300. These loose ends will be tidied up when the (double) issue comes out.
Where subscriber accounts were zero or had a one issue credit I am allowing them to collect the last payment (reduced to the amount for this issue) and then close. Some of these will not finish until late September or even later. So if PayPal renewals are due, subscribers can expect to see small balancing debits - no more than £5.50 in the UK. I will also contact the direct transfer and cheque subscribers whose accounts won’t cover the last issue to let them know what’s happening.
Finally, I will put the issue on sale online - although the postage is going to be twice the usual as it will be heavy.
In the meantime, I’d better get on with putting the issue together!
I have a short window in the next couple of weeks if you still want to do that feature and centrefold spread Airman, just let me know soon.
Don't worry lookout I am already preparing the October issue. Vice of the valley it will be called. Centre spread is yours. No interview needed just let me know what you're perfect evening in would be.
I have a short window in the next couple of weeks if you still want to do that feature and centrefold spread Airman, just let me know soon.
Don't worry lookout I am already preparing the October issue. Vice of the valley it will be called. Centre spread is yours. No interview needed just let me know what you're perfect evening in would be.
Comments
They were never less than very funny. That's quite something to achieve over so many years. Of course the style is inspired by Private Eye, and why not, but it's still a hell of a skill to come up with a good topical one each and every time.
At least we have an owner now who means well even if we are stuck as a mid table League 1 team at present.
I salute Rick and team for all their efforts over this long period. His experience of working for the club gave him an insight into the daily problems faced by professional football clubs and the possible solutions needed to run efficiently in a football results business.
The boy Rick done good. Theo Foley patent!
"Kinnock for Number 10?"
"No chance boyo, they'll never drop Garry Nelson!"
One of my favourite regular articles in the early VOTV was ‘Red Faces’ ( I think it was called) detailing former crap players - one that sticks in my mind was about Shane Westley - why, I do not know -pretty sure Ralph Milne cropped up in one as well
Years ago, when I heard about this fanzine I remember rushing up to Sportspages in Charing Cross in my lunch hour to see if I could buy a copy of the mag. And there they were - a few copies on the floor amongst all the other fanzines that were around at the time. I was delighted. 175 copies later, they are all still packed away in boxes in my wardrobe! (My wife will be the one person I suspect who will be pleased by this news!)
Since the very first issue, I've always looked forward to the next issue. The mixture of opinion, campaigning, gossip about events inside the club and historical articles always made it a good read. And I'm sure the part the magazine played in pre-internet days in getting us back to the Valley was invaluable.
And it's a huge shame that those who try and abuse and misuse our club won't be held so freely to account now
Thanks for your efforts Rick. Who knows, there was a large gap in publishing previously and I live in hope you might change your mind again in future!
My sincere thanks goes out to all who were responsible for it.
If there is a nostalgia addition I would ask for the Lennie Lawrence on the psychiatrist couch article to be included. Magnificent!
Seriously, I am looking forward to your next projects.
Good luck in your new career as Katie Miere’s PA 😉
Do we still have a final ever(?….) issue to look forward to in the next few weeks?
Where subscriber accounts were zero or had a one issue credit I am allowing them to collect the last payment (reduced to the amount for this issue) and then close. Some of these will not finish until late September or even later. So if PayPal renewals are due, subscribers can expect to see small balancing debits - no more than £5.50 in the UK. I will also contact the direct transfer and cheque subscribers whose accounts won’t cover the last issue to let them know what’s happening.
Finally, I will put the issue on sale online - although the postage is going to be twice the usual as it will be heavy.
It's the future!