I was at this game. It was not long after the club was saved by the John Fryer/Sunley group. One of Robert Lee's early games for the club. I doubt that many of the travelling fans that day noticed the future SJP legend! I remember we took the lead but didn't realise they only went 2-1 up late in the game as they were all over us - Chris Waddle was outstanding. Tons of Geordies everywhere and a lot of folk wanting to watch the Keegan London farewell. We watched from the East Terrace, which didn't seem that crowded - such was the scale of it.
I was at the last big "Old Valley" game, the Spurs 3rd round replay in January 1985. The East Terrace seemed packed that night. I guess the TV gantry, reduced the standing area and restricted viewing, but I was amazed that the attendance was given as only 21,000. It seemed far more. I know there's speculation that the figure was closer to 30K. That said it made you wonder what the days of +60K crowds were like. Sadly that was the last big game for the iconic East Terrace - within months a perfect storm of Heysel/GLC/Gliksten/new board had combined to change the landscape completely and we were off to selhurst. Never to see its like again...
went to both the Newcastle and Spurs games, 2 of the largest crowds I ever saw at the Valley, the Keven Keegan factor certainly put a few on the gate, my real memory though was a group of Charlton running across the pitch and around the old Marmon stand to have a go at the Newcastle fans, it really stuck with me as a 16 year old.
The Spurs game was the night before I joined the army so my head was everywhere but I have a vivid memory of Glen Hoddle in front of the Covered End picking up coins that had been thrown at him, winking and shoving them down his socks.
So two big games and its the disorder that stands out more than the football!
went to both the Newcastle and Spurs games, 2 of the largest crowds I ever saw at the Valley, the Keven Keegan factor certainly put a few on the gate, my real memory though was a group of Charlton running across the pitch and around the old Marmon stand to have a go at the Newcastle fans, it really stuck with me as a 16 year old.
The Spurs game was the night before I joined the army so my head was everywhere but I have a vivid memory of Glen Hoddle in front of the Covered End picking up coins that had been thrown at him, winking and shoving them down his socks.
So two big games and its the disorder that stands out more than the football!
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I was at the last big "Old Valley" game, the Spurs 3rd round replay in January 1985. The East Terrace seemed packed that night. I guess the TV gantry, reduced the standing area and restricted viewing, but I was amazed that the attendance was given as only 21,000. It seemed far more. I know there's speculation that the figure was closer to 30K. That said it made you wonder what the days of +60K crowds were like. Sadly that was the last big game for the iconic East Terrace - within months a perfect storm of Heysel/GLC/Gliksten/new board had combined to change the landscape completely and we were off to selhurst. Never to see its like again...
The Spurs game was the night before I joined the army so my head was everywhere but I have a vivid memory of Glen Hoddle in front of the Covered End picking up coins that had been thrown at him, winking and shoving them down his socks.
So two big games and its the disorder that stands out more than the football!