Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
Eddie Firmani
Comments
-
Saw his first game back after leaving Sampadoria. Vivid memory seeing a ball he delicately volleyed from 30 yards that started out heading 3 feet over the bar which dipped and swerved forcing a save from the keeper. I'd never seen a football do anything but go in a straight line before that day.2
-
Hero, Legend, Mr Charlton . Happy Birthday Mr Firmani1
-
He, Mike Bailey and Len Glover were the standout players when I first started going to the Valley in the 63/64 season. Great player.7
-
I am sure we have referenced many a golden memory created by Eddie Firmani in a Charlton shirt. He was amongst the classiest players I ever saw at The Valley. If you did not have the pleasure think Yann Kermorgant and multiply by 3.
Also a real gentlemen. Had the pleasure of meeting him at a couple of corporate events in his early retirement.
Beyond an almost mesmeric hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Ipswich an abiding memory was in the covered end watching him feed Kenning and Glover with the most astute and stylish of lay offs to the level of perfection.I have often recounted the Telegraph report of a 5 - 2 win over Cardiff where Eddie after his return from Italy tore the famed Welsh and International centre half, John Charles, apart. The Telegraph positioned each goal as a « gem with settings it need hardly be said by Firmani ».
One lay off to Kenning on the edge of the box was matched by the thunderous right foot drive which saw the ball literally crash into the roof of the net.
On his day just as with Kermorgant he was worth the entrance money alone.
Thanks for the memories - Happy Birthday Eddie18 -
I hope Brian Nicholas had his Keith Peacock mask on…superclive98 said:
1 -
In the film Buster about the Great Train Robbery.Phil Collins who played Buster was around his pool and he opened a paper and said great Eddie Firmani scored a hat Rick.Buster was a Charlton supporter.When Eddie played in Italy he was known as the cool turkey.4
-
Watched him the first time and when he returned and when he was our manager. Loved watching him play and thought he was a good manager. Met him briefly once, very easy to talk to. Happy birthday Eddie1
-
In that 68/69 season the late Ray Treacy scored one of the all time great Charlton goals. Against Clough’s Derby team as well. We won 2-0 and the day before beat Middlesbrough 4-1 both at the Valley - looked like promotion but Palace foiled us - all my family gutted.2
-
We beat Derby in January. Easter Friday beat Cardiff 4-1 Easter Saturday beat Middlesbrough 2-03
-
Absolutely correct. That kit was used in the 1963/64 season when we came 4th in the old Second Division behind Leeds, Sunderland and Preston. I remember the forward five for many of those games were Mike Kenning, Roy Matthews, Eddie Firmani, Dennis (Daisy) Edwards and Lenny Glover. I just seem to remember Firmani as being a really elegant looking player.sillav nitram said:I’m not sure if I’m imagining this but I do think I saw him play at the Valley it would have been around the time I started supporting the club, 1964.I do remember the kit with the red flashes on the shoulders unusual to have so little red? Were Castore around back then;)
Didn't realise he was still alive, Happy Birthday, Eddie.2 -
Sponsored links:
-
Never saw Eddie pre Italy but remember him when he came back.What a player,fantastic first touch,players would bounce off of him and often finish up in a heap,Eddie learnt a few tricks in Italy.Happy Birthday,a true legend.2
-
It was Millwall that “robbed” us more than Palace. They did the double over us, but lost twice to the Glaziers. I’ve never liked that lot from the (New) Den. 😁GeoffB said:In that 68/69 season the late Ray Treacy scored one of the all time great Charlton goals. Against Clough’s Derby team as well. We won 2-0 and the day before beat Middlesbrough 4-1 both at the Valley - looked like promotion but Palace foiled us - all my family gutted.1 -
That is a genuinely brilliant factLewis Coaches said:The first man to score an European Competition goal. Played for Charlton at the time.
Happy Birthday Eddie.0 -
What a pleasure to remember Eddie Firmani.On his return from Italy, scored 2 goals in his first game, away.
Then a home game, I still remember the anticipation! I was standing in the Jimmy Seed stand behind the goal and near the front, early in first half I think Eddie received the ball near the penalty spot. Without any fuss he shoots - and scores of course.
Happy birthday Eddie.1 -
We robbed ourselves, too many drawn games 8 at home I think. At Selhurst (when a couple of thousand supporters walked from the Valley) we drew 3-3 after being 2-0 up, Derby away, cracking game we hit the woodwork 4 times & lost 2-1. Happy memories but we should have done better.HarpoLes said:
It was Millwall that “robbed” us more than Palace. They did the double over us, but lost twice to the Glaziers. I’ve never liked that lot from the (New) Den. 😁GeoffB said:In that 68/69 season the late Ray Treacy scored one of the all time great Charlton goals. Against Clough’s Derby team as well. We won 2-0 and the day before beat Middlesbrough 4-1 both at the Valley - looked like promotion but Palace foiled us - all my family gutted.0 -
Way before my time, but Was he British transfer record holder at one time ?0
-
During his first match back at the valley I remember he had to have the legs of his shorts cut as they were to tight around his thighs, funny the things you remember.
He was a hero of my dads before he went to Italy and a hero to us both after.
Happy birthday Eddie thanks for the memories.1 -
MrOneLung said:Way before my time, but Was he British transfer record holder at one time ?
Yes, £35,000 was a record fee involving a British Club1 -
Happy Birthday Eddie0
-
My father first took me to The Valley aged 8 in Firmani's last season before moving to Italy. I remember how I felt on receiving the news that one of my new heros was leaving us. My first experience of being disappointed by CAFC. It set me up for life!! Why do I persevere nearly 70 years later?
Happy birthday Eddie!3 -
Sponsored links:
-
I said he scored the first ever European goal. Played for Charlton at the time. That’s different from scoring for Charlton.Eddie score a goal for Charlton in that ?
Transferred to Italian club a short will later.0 -
I think I just remember him playing for us in his second spell, 64'ish which was the year I went to my first match at The Valley. I certainly remember him clearly as the manager.A true Charlton (and football in general) legend.Happy birthday, Sir.1
-
You are right ACAB my memory slipping a bit. The 2 games at Easter were a real highlight max points and 6 goals.0
-
Many great memories of a magnificent player.The Ipswich game 4-0 (April 1965) - the almost grassless pitch was rock hard and there was a blustery and at times quite strong wind. For 21 players the ball was a mischievous balloon, seemingly quite uncontrollable, but at EF's feet it was merely a docile plaything, a slave to Eddie's supreme talent.And, as stated, there was another side to the master's game. If an opponent was unwise enough to try and intimidate any of our players, especially one of the younger guys, retribution would be swift and brutal. In such circumstances the referee's services were not required, EF being a firm believer in meting out his own personal brand of justice.The 5-2 defeat of Cardiff City (Oct 1963) was an unsurpassable display of sheer artistry. No-one would begrudge City their two goals because they certainly came to make a game of it, but how the Addicks failed to score at least a dozen is a genuine mystery for the ages.Eddie Firmani - angel and devil, a true football God. Many Happy Returns, Lord !!6
-
? Billy BondsMametz said:He, Mike Bailey and Len Glover were the standout players when I first started going to the Valley in the 63/64 season. Great player.0 -
John Hewie was right back that season. Billy made his debut the season after in 1965.KingKinsella said:
? Billy BondsMametz said:He, Mike Bailey and Len Glover were the standout players when I first started going to the Valley in the 63/64 season. Great player.0 -
My favourite ever player, bar none.He was unplayable in the 5-2 win over Cadiff in '63.He lived in a lovely house in Barnfield Wood Road, Bromley South/ Beckenham borders when he returned from Italy and his wife opened a wool shop in Plumstead High Street.His first game back was away at Manchester City and Eddie was signed so late in the week his name doesn't appear in the match programme.We won that game, a match we would almost certainly lost without the great man playingHappy birthday Eddie.4
-
My Mum & Dad's favourite player. I just missed seeing him play, but remember him as manager and vividly remember his sacking.
I seem to remember that he was once held hostage/captive in the Middle East ?
Does he still live in the States?0 -
Held by the Iraqis during Gulf War 1queensland_addick said:My Mum & Dad's favourite player. I just missed seeing him play, but remember him as manager and vividly remember his sacking.
I seem to remember that he was once held hostage/captive in the Middle East ?
Does he still live in the States?0 -
I particularly remember that Derby match at the old Baseball ground - it was my first long distance away League trip.charltonbob said:
We robbed ourselves, too many drawn games 8 at home I think. At Selhurst (when a couple of thousand supporters walked from the Valley) we drew 3-3 after being 2-0 up, Derby away, cracking game we hit the woodwork 4 times & lost 2-1. Happy memories but we should have done better.HarpoLes said:
It was Millwall that “robbed” us more than Palace. They did the double over us, but lost twice to the Glaziers. I’ve never liked that lot from the (New) Den. 😁GeoffB said:In that 68/69 season the late Ray Treacy scored one of the all time great Charlton goals. Against Clough’s Derby team as well. We won 2-0 and the day before beat Middlesbrough 4-1 both at the Valley - looked like promotion but Palace foiled us - all my family gutted.
Grey damp day, the ground seemed packed and top of the League Derby fans in full voice. Then Harry Gregory scored fairly early on ...... the silence was deafening, then about 50 Charlton fans started singing!
As you say we should have had more, but kept hitting the woodwork. Derby came at us very strongly in the 2nd half - and of course, the inevitable happened and in time honoured fashion we shipped an equaliser and their winner.
Memories from a then 13 year old.
0
