I went with my Dad; it was his last ever Charlton game... What a way to bow out! We parked near the stadium and I'll never forget the endless lines of coaches full of Charlton fans. That brought out the first tears of the day!
Nothing to add on the match itself but I wanted a photo of my Dad and me and hadn't brought my camera. An Addick near us took a couple of photos and my address and kindly posted them on. Still very grateful for those special photos.
Then of course there was the generosity of the Sunderland fans as we left the stadium.
Jon Champion has the propensity to be quite an annoying commentator, but his calling of that's days event is the definitive version imho... well... aside from Mike Mansfield and Paddy Powell. They've missed his best line off that clip though - "The concept of defeat is quite beyond Charlton's sensibilities".
Peter Drury is the commentator on that clip mate. He did the ITV commentary for the highlights programme that was shown on the evening of 25 May.
Drunk. Been home half an hour. Put "The Greatest Game" on. Bought it ages ago, never watched it though. Heavily patronised in the build up waffle - Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool amongst 80+ clubs with a lower record crowd than us, so shut up. Our team is beautiful, and Mendoca's first goal is world class.
Great day with 5 minutes to go wandered who i should avoid the next day, and the rest is history.
Sunderland fans were great on the way home also, met a few who wernt bitter or nasty at all. My resounding memory is of their forth goal it was like muted applause as if they thought it was inevitable we would equalise.
That had to be the greatest match ever to grace the two towers. Not that I could enjoy the spectacle in the way a neutral could. I recall Rufus scoring in slow motion as Perez went chasing the impossible and Superclives third like it happened yesterday. I remember waving a Charlton flag at the end like I was demented as the players celebrated in front of us. I remember being shattered afterwards as if I had been playing!!! If Chelsea or Arsenal fans ask me what are the plusses of supporting Charlton, I point to that. It meant more to us than anything those clubs will ever achieve will mean to their fans. It was our reward for being Charlton fans - a magical day.
I tell my son, who was born in 2001 that all the frustration and heartache associated with supporting our great club will be fixed when Charlton give you your day. I might not be around when it happens - I hope I am - but I hope he gets it. I still feel priviledged to have got 1998 and have pictures up on the wall of Superclive with teh trophy, the team celebrating and Richard Rufus - for me the greatest Charlton player in my supporting lifetime.
We went to a pub in greenwich which was opening early and serving beers and brekkie from 9am which was unusual, possibly illegal then. A bloke from the pub was driving a mini bus to Wembley. I cant remember which pub, would love to know if anyone else from here went to that pub and has some memories if it. My group of mates didnt get the minibus back as we decided to head back to Charlton to celebrate.
I was definitely working that day, not a bank holiday in Cairo, then went and watched (2 hour time difference was handy) the whole thing down The British Club - magical, especially as I knew my eldest was there.
Jon Champion has the propensity to be quite an annoying commentator, but his calling of that's days event is the definitive version imho... well... aside from Mike Mansfield and Paddy Powell. They've missed his best line off that clip though - "The concept of defeat is quite beyond Charlton's sensibilities".
Peter Drury is the commentator on that clip mate. He did the ITV commentary for the highlights programme that was shown on the evening of 25 May.
Just been having a cuppa in the kitchen and casting my mind back 17 years. Id love to relive that day. Every bit of it was special. Even walking down well hall road at about 8am to get the bus being tooted at because i had my cafc shirt on.
Apart from my kids being born got to be the best day I've ever had , just brought a tear to my eye , honestly can't believe Wots happened to our club .
Comments
Nothing to add on the match itself but I wanted a photo of my Dad and me and hadn't brought my camera. An Addick near us took a couple of photos and my address and kindly posted them on. Still very grateful for those special photos.
Then of course there was the generosity of the Sunderland fans as we left the stadium.
Sunderland fans were great on the way home also, met a few who wernt bitter or nasty at all. My resounding memory is of their forth goal it was like muted applause as if they thought it was inevitable we would equalise.
I tell my son, who was born in 2001 that all the frustration and heartache associated with supporting our great club will be fixed when Charlton give you your day. I might not be around when it happens - I hope I am - but I hope he gets it. I still feel priviledged to have got 1998 and have pictures up on the wall of Superclive with teh trophy, the team celebrating and Richard Rufus - for me the greatest Charlton player in my supporting lifetime.