I was fortunate to be invited to sit alongside John Rooke for todays game against Carlisle, for those of you who dont know of him John had been involved as the kit man at charlton since 1971. In 2005 he suffered a stroke on the team coach on route to a reserve match against Southampton. Ultimately he was made redundant but has since been looked after by the club and he still gets to the games including saturdays win at mk. Prior to his working for the club he began supporting the team in 1950 and today I asked him about his memories and listened with great interest as he described how sam bartram carried him out from behind the covered end to get treatment after being hit in the face by the match ball, how half the crowd walked out as charlton trailed 4-0 to huddersfield in the 7-6 match and how lennie missed the opportunity to sign ian wright in the 80s from greenwich borough. he described pringle and svennson as being charltons most genuinely kindest players on the team coach and how curbishley had a dossier on every player he signed dating back to the players childhood.
it was a pleasure to sit and listen to him and he is a lovely mannered fella, he is often about in crossbars so if you ever get the opportunity to meet him he has some very interesting stories. john talks about his stories on todays commentary which will be edited later over the next few days however he is quiet softly spoken and its unclear at the moment how much of the audio will be able to be used but after 3000 matches over the past 60 years i though i would share a few of his stories on here.
Since Johns stroke in 2005 theres obviously been a decline in our league status but lets hope charlton can ensure he and the rest of us are watching championship football next season.
All the best for the future John
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I don't know John, but he sounds like a legendary Charlton character and unsung hero.
Good luck John, would love to buy you a drink one day and thanks for all your work!
he played in our golf society up until his stroke, and still attends all the society days.
top top bloke.