Tuesday 19th Sept 1972. Charlton Athletic 6 (3) (Flanagan 9, 61, 64, 70, R Hunt 38, Horsfield 41) Notts County 1 (0) (Bradd 86). The Valley. Att: 6,156.
Charlton: Dunn, Jones, Warman, Reeves, Shipperley, O'Kane, Curtis, Flanagan, P Davies, Horsfiled, R Hunt (P Hunt 72).
Notts County: Brown, Brindley, Mann, Cozens, Needham, Jones, Nixon, Randell, Bradd, Masson, Carter. Unused sub: Worthington.
Referee: G Kew (Amersham)
Memorable: Flanagan's perforformance was as fine a piece of finishing as you would wish to see. The young Charlton striker had four chances, three on his left foot and one on his right and scored four tremendous goals. In addition, he played a played a part in both the other Charlton goals.
County's come back plan was put into opperation a little late.
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Comments
This was a bit of a false dawn for Flanagan. I think we all sat up when he got these four goals. He was playing as a wide player at this time. It wasn't until another two or three seasons before he switched to centre forward and his career really took off.
This was a strange game and the score really flattered Charlton. If I remember, Notts County were top of the league and we were trying to find our feet in the real Division 3 straight after relegation - and were very inconsistant.
Notts County started the game as if they were going to anhilate us but we broke away after about 10 minutes with our first attack of the game - and Flanagan scored a belter. Again County took the game to us and how they didn't score a hatful of goals, I don't know, but it was another lightning Charlton breakaway that saw us score again.
Flanagan was on fire, County couldn't contain him, and it was just one of those days that everything he tried came off.
Make no mistake, County were a good side and largely dominated the match despite the scoreline.
It was all down to Flash but at the end County must have come off the Park wondering what they had to do to win let alone how they got hit for six!
But we weren't complaining - how many times have we seen Charlton play teams off the park and not get a result?
Bing is right about a false dawn for Flanagan. But he had back then just joined us from Spurs reserves
and was only 19 - so perhaps people expected a bit too much too soon from a clearly talented young lad.
Sound familiar?
Weegie, up in Haggisland, has been saying as much for weeks.........
was at the game.
O'kane turns out for the Charlton vets from time to time.
http://www.addicks.biz/showPlayer.php?id=175
He was a talented and skilfull wide man, but following the above and his conversion to centre forward he aquired a self belief and arrogance about him and a charisma.
It was the start of a purple patch' during which he was a joy to watch.
The hat tricks against Spurs and Chelsea live long in the memory.
Ironically the worst thing that could happen was the return of the prodigal son, Hales.
Flanagan had become top dog in his absence, and having taken the Kings crown, was in no mood to give it back.
I remember after the transfer back of Killer was announced, Flanagan was quoted in the press as saying "If he thinks I'm going to spend my time teeing up his chances, he's got another think coming".
The punch-up in the Maidstone game later that season was inevitable.
Killer is my all time favourite Charlton player for lots of reasons; but I confess at the time I didn't want hime to come back.After reading Flans quote, I didn't want Halesy upsetting the applecart, and I thought at the time that we had in Flanagan, a better player.
There was something almost magical about watching Charlton at home at night at that age.
Brighton (was it 4-3?) is another one that comes to mind. Happy days!
Havingsaid that we would also score five away from home - and still not win! Crap defences but did we really care? Did we heck! We absolutely loved it!
Ironic that really, seeing as we were in the 3rd division at the time.
But I do know what you mean.
We had some real heroes to worship in those days; Killer being the obvious one, Arthur Horsfield, Flash; and in our second stint in tier 3 later in the 70's we had Paul Walsh breaking through.
Doesn't seem so much fun this time around and I am presently, as it were, holding out for a hero;-)