Firstly, this is not a question intended to ask anything about the football on the pitch itself. We all know that side of it has been by and large an absolute disaster.
How do you feel about being back at football on a weekly / bi weekly basis post lockdown, if that is what you are doing?
I’ve been thinking about it more lately, as we’ve seen the crowds drop off throughout the season.
At the risk of sounding controversial - I’ve actually got a lot of fond memories of this season. Having the ritual back of seeing friends, travelling around the country, spending time with my Dad etc is something that hasn’t felt spoiled at all by the lack of quality football.
Personally, I think there’s still an element of me that remembers how miserable it was having to watch all games on a stream during lockdown. Back then I’d have given an arm and a leg to watch us lose to Morecambe if it meant I could do it in person and have a day out of it. I certainly won’t ever take it for granted ever again.
But as the results continue to disappoint, it feels as though the match going tendencies for a section of fans will change. The comments around whether to renew/not renew next season are an indication of that.
So what has the experience been for you, being back in grounds on a regular basis? (Football aside!)
Has it been as enjoyable as you’d envisioned? Has it encouraged you to go to more games than usual, or less?
Comments
The works on the A2, which should be over before the new season, and the ULEZ zone havent helped either.
For the first time, there have been a few occasions (mostly midweek) where I've decided to sack off attending the game and have stayed at home to watch it instead - Those decisions havent been helped by minor reasons, but they're the sort of reasons that wouldnt have stopped me from attending in person prior to lockdown.
Really enjoy going to the Valley and appreciate it more than ever these days despite the actual football/ results more often than not leaving a lot to be desired.
Am gutted season is over soon and that no world cup this summer but looking forward to next season and will be renewing season ticket for another 10 months of false hope and disappointment.
Although I was still gutted England lost the Semi in Euro 96.
Jesus, spoilers mate.
For me, the inability to go The Valley was one of the worst things about lockdown. As a result, I treated myself to a season ticket for the first time in years, because win/lose/draw, being there brings me joy.
I (try to) divorce the result from the day. Of course it hurts when we've had a crap season, but I'm infinitely more grateful for being able to actually be there.
Also, for my part, the football watching habit has been partly cured, if yer no wot i meen .. lastly, when I go to an away game, I like to stay in the area wherever the game's played to have a look round and relax away from home for a while .. since the post pandemic hotel re-openings the prices have gone through the roof, that allied to the price of petrol has curtailed my away days for this season .. Ipswich will be my first since Doncaster
I have fairly low expectations, I know we're rubbish at the moment and miles behind the Spanners and the Divers, but I enjoy being in the ground with my daughter and I enjoy going to the River Ale House after when we can.
(Should have done too
I've also watched a lot on non-league football this season and that hasn't been especially good either but that might be because my non-league team (Hendon) have had a similarly poor season to Charlton.
I'm on 51 games watched this season (including three in Hamburg) so I have made the most of being able to go.
Yes, I have enjoyed the ‘fact’ that live football is back on the agenda.
But bitterly disappointed that for the most part the experience has been spoiled for us Charlton fans by some really shyte performances.
I've missed swathes of seasons before but that was when it was my own choice to step away. I've been to over 20 games this season which must be my first such season since 2011/12. It's been great socially before the game to meet up with family and friends. The tripe on the pitch has bothered me way less than it would have done had Covid not appeared.
I won't forget how gutting it was during lockdowns to work all week and not have football to go to on Saturday. I'm grateful I'm now able to attend as and when I want and I'd imagine that gratitude will last for some time to come.
Back with my now expanded group of 8 as 4 kids have joined us since Covid.
Watching them enjoy their first trips to The Valley with no understanding of how small the likes of Morecambe are so simply enjoying the goals has been great.
The club, on the whole has looked after us well and there have been a couple of footballing highlights.
Most of all the enforced gap has really made me realise how much I enjoyed meeting the other 3 adults in my little group every other week.
It's been part of my life since I was 7 and I can't imagine it not being.
Generally speaking, I absolutely love watching football with massive crowds. Watching games with that fake noise was unbelievably shit.
Saturday I am going with my two daughters which could help me to find the reason to want to go more. I think the general apathy is following on from the disconnect of the Roland years, followed by the pandemic and exacerbated by our continued malaise.
The extent to which I'm happy with the match day experience is largely dependent on how we perform. I already meet with the people I see at Charlton and I don't need a football match as an excuse for a beer - in fact it makes me less likely to have one as there's the question of how I get home. It's great seeing us win in the flesh, but too often that doesn't happen. If we're going to lose, I'd rather watch it on the stream. At least then I don't have to suffer a long journey home.
The main thing I learnt though boycotting is that there are forms of entertainment that aren't so heavily dependent on the outcome. Last Saturday morning I went out birdwatching. At lunchtime I had to hurry home so I could get to football. If I didn't have a season ticket, I probably wouldn't have bothered. With hindsight I wish I hadn't. My message to those running the club is that performances and results have to get better. Otherwise there is a very real risk that I won't be around much.
while the football has been disappointing this season I’ve started more frequently going for a drink with one of my kids before a game and my dad has come a few games, so I’ve enjoyed certain non-football aspects more. My kids have also been mascots this season and that day was probably one of my most enjoyable ever at The Valley, so I’ve quite a few positives to take away from this season.