Still a good read IMO
From 11.30 this morning a group of Charlton supporters will gather in Market Street, opposite Woolwich Town Hall, to repeat the symbolic "River of Red" walk undertaken 10 years ago in celebration of the first game back at The Valley.
On Dec 5, 1992, more than 750 fans embarked on one of the most emotional walks of their lives, singing and chanting over the one-hour pilgrimage that meandered up Wellington Place, towards Charlton Church Lane and Floyd Road - pointedly trekking along the reverse route of the many protest marches against Greenwich Borough Council that had taken place during the club's seven-year exile from their home.
Charlton were back at The Valley, and Colin Walsh, who scored the only goal in that historic First Division victory over Portsmouth - an "indescribably brilliant" left-foot shot bang into the bottom corner - became a hero in club folklore.
After a nomadic existence ground-sharing at Selhurst Park and Upton Park, that first game back in SE7 - after 2,632 days away - prompted a party atmosphere that to this day every supporter wants to commemorate.
It represented supporter power and unquashable community spirit, and it launched an era of exultant financial realism that has enabled the South London club to flourish on and off the pitch and become a timely blueprint for clubs struggling on minimal resources.
Ten years ago Charlton returned to a Portakabin park and a ground sculpted from scaffolding and planks. Now they have a still-evolving state-of-the-art stadium. When Alan Curbishley took over as joint manager with Steve Gritt just before the return, he recalls a squad of "about 14 players".
In the run-up to the 2002 World Cup finals, almost the same number of players (from Chris Powell and Mark Kinsella to Claus Jensen and Jorge Costa) represented their countries.
The subtitle of a book by Mick Collins called The Rise and Rise of Charlton Athletic - "From Portakabins to Porto captains" - says it all. Today's fixture against Liverpool is a marker for extraordinary progress made.
Richard Rufus, the former England Under-21 captain who signed as a schoolboy 14 years ago, vouches for the longevity of the Back to The Valley buzz. "It is something that will always be special. Supporters still can't believe we're where we are. We've gone from sharing grounds to being in the Premiership with a great stadium. We feel quite privileged, quite blessed."
Brought up in Lewisham, Rufus was steeped in Charlton culture. "I remember scouts took me to a home game at Crystal Palace. They showed me around and said, how would you like to play for Charlton? It was a big moment, but it was a bit weird because obviously it wasn't The Valley, it was nothing to do with Charlton," he recalled.
"As an apprentice I cleaned the changing rooms at West Ham's training ground. It was a low time. There was this feeling that we didn't belong anywhere, that we needed to go home."
The Portakabin count at The Valley has decreased year by year as Premiership status has been won, lost, regained and consolidated. Annual innovations at the ground provide psychological momentum that suggests the club are still building towards greater things.
Loyalty suffuses the club. "It struck me when we played at Crystal Palace, miles away, that it was always sold out. Our fans are so loyal, they all played their part in chipping in, financing us to get back to The Valley, clearing the derelict stadium, cutting the grass, whatever needed doing," he said.
While Rufus, a fans' favourite, admitted he could not envisage going to another club, chairman Richard Murray yesterday made the rarest of pledges in the modern game - never to sack the manager.
"We've had an unbelievable 10 years but if you're talking about taking this club forward from here, Alan Curbishley is fundamental to our future," Murray said.
"He's come from nothing and built this club to what it is today - we never had two pennies to rub together. He knows the value of the pound and won't sell out the club for his own personal short-term gain - you can't say that about all managers. He's brought stability to the club. While virtually everything else has changed, he has been the one constant."
The ease with which modest players like Powell and Rufus accept the club's genuine Premier League class is perhaps the strongest indicator of progress made. The return to The Valley was once the sum of expectations. No longer. Charlton are a team who have come to terms with their status.
"Today we want to get three points and continue from where we left off after our last three wins," said Rufus. "We've got a nice little run going, and we aim to carry that into the game against Liverpool. Once we take the foot off, that's when we'll start slipping down."
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"...it launched an era of exultant financial realism that has enabled the South London club to flourish on and off the pitch and become a timely blueprint for clubs struggling on minimal resources."
Alas, a summer of madness in 2006 and all down the pan.
I CANNOT believe that is all the comment you made when you have some lines like:
"We've had an unbelievable 10 years but if you're talking about taking this club forward from here, Alan Curbishley is fundamental to our future," Murray said.
"He's come from nothing and built this club to what it is today - we never had two pennies to rub together. He knows the value of the pound and won't sell out the club for his own personal short-term gain - you can't say that about all managers. He's brought stability to the club. While virtually everything else has changed, he has been the one constant."
Staggered.
I don't want to bore people by repeating them :-)
Charlton Til I Die!!