For tomorrow
As we all know Charlton Athletic were formed on 9 June 1905, not by an employer or works team (West Ham, Arsenal) or a church (QPR, Southampton) or a school or out of an existing sports club (Forest) or even as a franchise to utilise an existing stadium (Liverpool, Chelsea, Palace) but by a group of 14 and 15 year old boys on a street corner.
It's a unique foundation in English league football
Here's a history written in 1955 for the club's golden jubilee when some of the founders were still alive.
Comments
Many Happy Returns.
Cheers for this and Happy Birthday 9th June
Happy birthday for tomrrow, CAFC.
It's been a struggle and when ever we had a chance to be a big club, we never had the ambitious owners to take us to the next level.
A boys club of brothers and mates is a great historical start and it feels like the academy youth sides are still our best teams.
Since the first time back in 1965, when as an 8yr child i ducked in under a turnstile, Charlton have been my one constant, and at times my only friend, in my sometimes chaotic life.
Happy birthday Charlton Athletic. God bless you.
A few things also piqued my interest.
Ogilby Street (often called Ogilby Hill) was actually a street that ran off Frances Street.
The two were linked by Rideout Street, which was the street I was born into in 1953.
Fancy having to carry goalposts from East Street to Woolwich Common. Sheesh! Presumably all the way up Charlton Lane or Charlton Church Lane. Or I suppose they could have taken the scenic route through Maryon Wilson Park.
I wonder if the pitch on Woolwich Common was what became Woolwich Stadium?
Saw our reserves play there back in the day.
Wouldn't mind owning a copy of that Jubilee Handbook. Will check ebay!
Edit: I wonder what the drapery store was on the corner of Hare Street. Burtons sat on the corner for many years, but I am not sure it goes back that far.
Freebodys on the other side was there in my Mum's time, mid-thirties, but was listed as a Hosiers
What was Woolwich Stadium - I can’t find anything on the internet ?
Edit - found it now - was opposite the hospital