Never would I have felt like this in the 45 years I have supported our team. My Saturdays consisted of watching our beloved club home and away, numerous rows with her indoors as all plans had to be scheduled around match days from August to May.
I dread to think how many of teams of thousands I have spent watching us in the 80 s and 90s when we were dire, standing on a terrace in a grim town up north on Tuesday taking two days off of work.
Even my wedding took place in close season so I wouldn’t miss any fixtures on the day or on our honeymoon, was even cheesed off as we had Welling away that day as well. In America I would set the alarm at silly o’clock to listen the games whilst in holiday.
Now I no longer plan my days on a Saturday around our club,maybe do eight to ten away days a season, even have agreed to go to the in laws on Boxing Day. Normally I would make all the excuses under the sun to swerve going to see them but on a match day?
On a Saturday now I think when we are at home and half a season ticket, given I also have a three round trip, I no longer have that enthusiasm and think I won’t bother today. Even the good lady is now getting the hump because she doesn’t lose me for 10:hours on a Saturday after my post and pre match drinks which enables us to chew the fat in what we have been up to.
Is anyone else starting or now feeling like this, or is it just a sign of getting old ?
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The big difference is away games, which I don't even so much as stream unless a) my girlfriend is away or b) it is one of my roughly 2 in-person away games a season
However now I can't be bothered to spend, a bit like you, 8 to 10 hours on a Saturday travelling to and from a home match....so yes I've wasted my money on my ST this season, but I currently have no motivation. It's not just the football, which at times has been good, but the crap ownership that's done foe me (and I used to be a huge supporter of TS...but no longer)
It's not getting old that's done for me, but the way the club is run with little to no ambition to get us out of this godforsaken league.
Home game: yes.
I think being 14th in League one every season does that to you.
We’re unfortunately a boring club to support.
Still, when we are on a ten game winning streak in February/March, and end up at Wembley, all that love will come flooding back!
As some have said the football has been dreadful, ambition, despite TS, zero and I reserve the right to go or not and I don't give a shit if that makes me a fly by night supporter.
I've done my time, I've served my probation and I wont be, Charlton till I die, though I may go to confession and repent when I'm on my deathbed.
Haven't we had a similar thread to this before.
When I was very young and first started going to Charlton with my Dad, I was absolutely nuts about them. The thing was all consuming and remained so for many many years.
But my Dad, who was a wise bloke, also made me aware of what sort of football club I was getting involved with.
I wish I could remember exactly the phrase he used, but the sentiments he expressed realistically summed up the Charlton supporting journey and is as relevant now as it was back then.
So although apathy has set in for me too, I believe Charlton will come again and it reenergise our support, which I think is holding up pretty well considering.
We are supporters of a unique football club and none of us would swap it.
my job i do now is a lot more hours in a week i used to be on the tools so home early afternoon most days, now i often work into the evening.
the costs involved last saturday to port vale rt train from barnehurst match ticket, beers and food for the day £200.00
i do other things charlton are no longer my no 1 priority.
Very difficult for her to continue her decades long affair with you mooching about the house.
i think it’s mainly due to getting older, having other things to balance, and us being largely shit for quite a period of time. But it’s never really been about the football, more who you’re doing it with.
All comes down to TS, as long as he here, we will never be successful.
I dont agree with it, but it's the world we live in now.... it's far too easy to spread apathy by negative posting here and on fb and I think that's really to blame as we as people are far too easily influenced by what we read.
Now I spend my weekdays in term time volunteering at the school with the children and recently turned down the opportunity to go on the payroll as I've never treated like a job more of a privilege to help these children (that and I dont want the taxman after me)
Last year I sat a Diploma in Animal Assisted Therapy which I passed with distinction and this year along with two school needed assessments which I also passed on child safety, I'm sitting another Diploma on recognising and working with children and young adults living with Autism.
A standing joke with the teaching staff that I got more qualifications now than when I was at school!
I sat and watched Mick E on Zoom the other night with admiration on how he keeps doing it, just listening to him made me realise the fire is still burning for this great club, I dont know if I'll ever return but thats not important.
What's relevant is the club is returned to the hands of someone that cares about the club, its staff and its fans.
I am going through a similar thing now. My enthusiasm for football seems to be mirroring my enthusiasm for anything at the moment.
Think it’s a mix of age and priorities with kids doing more and the trains for away games being a real pain. I would normally do 15 odd aways a year think Port Vale was my third this season. Because of the trains being as they are at the moment drove which took away the normal pre match beer and then the football was awful.
Don’t think it helps to much in that we don’t seem to have that big game at all that gets everyone up for it, no derbies or big games and then we get a cup run and even that is just ok, we will end up going out to Brighton a team we have played fairly recently and not even a day out.
I don’t particular relate to anyone in this team or feel that connection. They are all bang average like us as a club at the moment.
I still will go to all home games and will be going Saturday as it’s what I do and don’t think that will ever change.
I am sure things will change back again soon but this season already feels boring.
If it fell flat, I apologise, and will delete.
If you do fancy it on the day KAT comes into play along with Sadiq Khan's nasty charge for driving into the area and other economic pressures in this day and age.
That's not the club's fault, of course.
There is cost ..... cost of travelling from Cornwall to the other side of London. It's a long journey, very early start, very late return home.
Plus the cost of watching the actual match. I'm retired now and making do on State pension, so I have to be careful with every penny I spend.
Then there was Covid with the lockdown and matches played in empty stadiums.
In recent years, I'd invariably sit with my dear old Dad, planning my family visits around games.
He was a season ticket holder into his late 80s and the reason I become an ardent Addick, first taking me to The Valley back in 1964.
He's gone now and I can't quite find the motivation to go back to The Valley, although I still take in occasional away games in the South West.