My dad was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He first went to his beloved Charlton in 1951 and would skip school of afternoon to watch them play in the afternoon before teams played under floodlights. Stories that he would tell his grandchildren about how he used to them train during school holidays, his hero’s such as Johnny Summers, The great Sam, Derek Ufton.
A season ticket holder for over forty years, and was one of the first to sign up to Valley Gold when it was launched at the training ground.
As per normal when the final whistle went at the end of the season, next morning, renewed his season ticket, same seat Black A on the end.
He has now been told by his consultant that he can no longer go to see his beloved Charlton for some time due to he is vulnerable to all infections. He was devastated that he can no longer see the team that he has spent watching every Saturday afternoon for the last 70 years.
I called the club and asked about the chances of a refund on his ticket as the only match he had attended was the Derby match, in which I was told to write in and each case was judged on merit that I thought was a bit harsh, however an email was sent with the details of my dads illness and that he will not be able to attend any of the matches.
The work mobile rings, looking at the screen it shows “ Charlton Athletic Holdings”. Just expecting it to be the ticket office just answered it in the normal of answering my phone, when the lady at the end introduced herself as Raelynn from Charlton Athletic to talk about my email and that will be giving a full refund etc.
All of a sudden the penny dropped who this woman was, and she was very keen to find out how Dad was, the stories that he had, about our family, my children where we had a ten to fifteen minute conversation.
She is going to also get Thomas to ring my dad on Saturday when he comes out of hospital.
In the past I have questioned the appointments and decisions that have been made, but to have this personal touch, in which I am sure that most clubs would have just got the ticket office to call me back or send an email went a hell of a long way.
if the call on Saturday gives my dad a bit more happiness in this fight that he is facing where he has told that it is not curable it will mean everything to our family.
Comments
Best wishes to your dad, hope he can return at some point.
My father was diagnosed with the same a couple of years ago - in the height of Covid. It’s pretty shitty and won’t go away but he knows this and you wouldn’t know it to see him. In his 70s and he just keeps on going. If anything it’s made him more resilient.
there is life after the diagnosis and he will hopefully be back on his feet and cheering us on again with you soon.
Hopefully see you soon.
Make sure you get Charlton TV set up for him
The club can get things right and this is great to see. My own dad wrote a heartfelt letter to Thomas explaining why, after decades, he wasn't renewing his season ticket. Time has started to take its toll and he now needs to be selective as to how often he comes. Raelynn became involved and Dad received a hand written reply from Thomas thanking him for all his support over the years - a really nice touch that was much appreciated.
Well played the club and Raelynn too of course.