Congratulations on producing such a brilliant and heartfelt movie. Great for anyone (not just Addicks) who has any interest in the history of football, and indeed the history of our country.
A truly moving film, my dad went to the Valley with his dad at the same time as the character in this film did. It made me well up, so goodness knows how it will make him feel, can't wait to show him it. Can you please tell me how I get a copy of the dvd when it comes out, am a school teacher in gloucester and teach about WW2. Any excuse to educate a few about the mighty Addicks!
It's so nice to hear that the story reminded you of your dad. I based a lot of the story on my own dad's tales of wartime Bexleyheath. He didn't really like football but still took me to my first game. the only player he could tell me about growing up in Crayford in the 1970s was Sam Bartram and listening to the 1946 and 1947 FA Cup finals on the radio. its strange but true to say that Sam was the first footballer I ever heard of despite having retired over 20 years before I was born. it makes you think of the massive impact he had if he could make an impression on somebody like my dad who ordinarily had no real interest in the game. I am actually an ex primary school teacher myself and the film is based on the text of the story book that I wrote for KS2 children and activity pack. the pack has a lot more in it than the film and was illustrated through out by my friend Michael Foreman-a well known children's author. If you would like to e-mail me on peterjohn1967@googlemail.com I can send you a pdf of the story and teaching pack. Already the Bartram pack has been used by 4 schools in Norfolk who linked up to schools in Bexley through an exchange programme that involved Norwich City. I would dearly love the project to get more publicity as it has been so successful. I have asked Matt Wright at Charlton to mention the resources in the programme but I'm not sure they will cover it as I think the club thinks it isof limited interest. Hopefully if enough people see the film this might change.
'I have asked Matt Wright at Charlton to mention the resources in the programme but I'm not sure they will cover it as I think the club thinks it isof limited interest. Hopefully if enough people see the film this might change.'
Crap decision making at the club not changed yet then! One of the most innovative ideas in quite a few years, one that has the potential to draw in and involve young people, and Matt Wright decides it's of limited interest. Unbelievable. I started watching and then realised that it was going to be a real treasure, and as I'm somewhat bored by crying at 'The Snowman' on Xmas Day, I have decided to save this new one for my weepy special. I am really looking forward to it.
[cite]Posted By: stilladdicted[/cite]'I have asked Matt Wright at Charlton to mention the resources in the programme but I'm not sure they will cover it as I think the club thinks it isof limited interest. Hopefully if enough people see the film this might change.'
Crap decision making at the club not changed yet then! One of the most innovative ideas in quite a few years, one that has the potential to draw in and involve young people, and Matt Wright decides it's of limited interest. Unbelievable. I started watching and then realised that it was going to be a real treasure, and as I'm somewhat bored by crying at 'The Snowman' on Xmas Day, I have decided to save this new one for my weepy special. I am really looking forward to it.
Amazing angle to take!!
My 7 year old daughter has always been a Charlton fan but this film underlined to her why Charlton are such a special club and what made players like Sam Bartram legendary, she also learned more about wartime London in that film than in a whole term at school! She and I loved watching it together and she asked many Charlton/war time Britain questions after watching it. I would see this as something of more than just minority interest but something that has potential to spark more interest in Charlton Athletic and history in general in most children with the gift of imagination.
If you know your history..........................
Charlton have supported the project through allowing the Bartram archive to go to Bexley Archives and allowing us to use it for the story book and teaching pack and the animated film. We are also producing a book of memories of Sam through Legends publishing that will be available in the New Year. Matt Wright put a link on the club e-mail newsletter too so I don't want to be too critical. I just think that everything worked so well including the play we toured in schools that it would be good to get the resources known amongst schools in Charlton's catchment area. I think it would have been nice for it to have featured in the club programme so the largest number of fans knew about what was out there. I think that is unlikely to happen now so the best way of doing that is getting fans such as on this site to pass this link around to raise awareness. Bexley Archives have the story book available as a free download on http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10768 This has a lot more detailed information than could be put in the film.
Buzzed off that video. Makes you realise that even in 30, 40, 50 years, those days watching Charlton, that game against Sunderland at Wembley, they will be the bit that sticks out in your mind of your childhood and your relationship growing up with your Dad. And that's why we haveto stick with it through these times. One day, we will have a day like Sunderland again and you will deserve it and appreciate and enjoy it all the more for having gone and watched this shit in the meantime!
I've been looking at the teaching pack available from Bexley archives. This whole project just got a whole lot more impressive, I really do think that the club needs to wake up on this one, although I appreciate that they may have other things to cope with at the moment. Hopefully its attention can be caught when things settle down. In the meantime, I can't help but feel that this is ideal Ken Loach film material - have you approached him? I really think its worth a go.
The one avenue I did think of was trying to e-mail a link to Michael Grade.-As a media savvy director I thought he might think it worth promoting to lots more schools. However I tried everywhere on the net to find a contact e-mail and only came up with redundatn BBc and Itv ones. Anyone who does know a contact for him please let me know
[cite]Posted By: stilladdicted[/cite]I've been looking at the teaching pack available from Bexley archives. This whole project just got a whole lot more impressive, I really do think that the club needs to wake up on this one.
Also been looking at that ... it's bloody good ... would have loved that when I was at school.
Your best bet is to contact :BBC Vision's Knowledge commissioning operation, either Ayesha Mohideen head of knowledge multiplatform commissioning. BBC controller, knowledge commissioning George Entwistle BBC Controller, portfolio and multiplatform Simon Nelson You could email them at bbc.co.uk. I used to work there till last April, so if you cannot find a contact give me a whisper I will try and assist you. Hope you get a favourable response. They did a big tie up with the imperial war museum that I covered for the bbc newspaper ariel that I used to work on.
Absolutely superb and brought a tear to my eye. I was too young to see Bartram play but he was that hero to my Dads generation. Every time as a boy I would meet up with Uncles and Cousins, talk would be of Charlton - and all harked back to that era.
I went to the Sunderland Play Off Final with my Dad. This was the most magical memorable footballing day of my life. This has brought it all back. Wipes away another tear!
Dear Ken thank you for your helpful advice. I am not sure that the BBC will be that interested as I sent the link to Claire Timms who covers history for BBC London and didn't get a reply. My main aim is that all the schools in at least Bexley will be made aware of it as a resource for teaching the unit they have to do on WW2: What was it like for a child in WW2? Nevertheless I will email the contacts you gave me as it wont do any ham. we are very proud of the film and don't want it to disappear without trace.
Great piece of history, should be compulsory for every youngster at school in the area to watch this, just to bring it home to them how things used to be.
Got to echo all of the comments. Watched it again on Christmas day and must say it is a great piece of work. If you haven't taken the time to view it, you need to!
The video is the best thing I've seen for a long time...feel pretty much the same as 'Bingaddick' a few tears and lots of emotion. Thank you so much. It makes me feel proud to be a fan and will always have Charlton in my blood irrespective of what happens with the takeover..........
MAGNIFICENT. I posted recently that if Charlton cannot make you cry, then you ain't a real supporter. This has bought tears to my eyes. My father has been a regular since 1933 and I think this will bring back a lot of memories for him. Made wonderful viewing.
My dad tells me Sam once saved a shot and then out of sympathy for the striker, threw it back and allowed him to have another go. Apparently saving again. Anyone know if this is myth or truth? Sounds a bit far fetched to me. I think Sam ended up as a NOTW reporter.
[cite]Posted By: masicat[/cite]My dad tells me Sam once saved a shot and then out of sympathy for the striker, threw it back and allowed him to have another go. Apparently saving again.
LOL! That's gotta be a legend mate, but a great one.
Comments
It's so nice to hear that the story reminded you of your dad. I based a lot of the story on my own dad's tales of wartime Bexleyheath. He didn't really like football but still took me to my first game. the only player he could tell me about growing up in Crayford in the 1970s was Sam Bartram and listening to the 1946 and 1947 FA Cup finals on the radio. its strange but true to say that Sam was the first footballer I ever heard of despite having retired over 20 years before I was born. it makes you think of the massive impact he had if he could make an impression on somebody like my dad who ordinarily had no real interest in the game. I am actually an ex primary school teacher myself and the film is based on the text of the story book that I wrote for KS2 children and activity pack. the pack has a lot more in it than the film and was illustrated through out by my friend Michael Foreman-a well known children's author. If you would like to e-mail me on peterjohn1967@googlemail.com I can send you a pdf of the story and teaching pack. Already the Bartram pack has been used by 4 schools in Norfolk who linked up to schools in Bexley through an exchange programme that involved Norwich City. I would dearly love the project to get more publicity as it has been so successful. I have asked Matt Wright at Charlton to mention the resources in the programme but I'm not sure they will cover it as I think the club thinks it isof limited interest. Hopefully if enough people see the film this might change.
Crap decision making at the club not changed yet then! One of the most innovative ideas in quite a few years, one that has the potential to draw in and involve young people, and Matt Wright decides it's of limited interest. Unbelievable. I started watching and then realised that it was going to be a real treasure, and as I'm somewhat bored by crying at 'The Snowman' on Xmas Day, I have decided to save this new one for my weepy special. I am really looking forward to it.
Amazing angle to take!!
My 7 year old daughter has always been a Charlton fan but this film underlined to her why Charlton are such a special club and what made players like Sam Bartram legendary, she also learned more about wartime London in that film than in a whole term at school! She and I loved watching it together and she asked many Charlton/war time Britain questions after watching it. I would see this as something of more than just minority interest but something that has potential to spark more interest in Charlton Athletic and history in general in most children with the gift of imagination.
If you know your history..........................
My little brother works in Hollywood in film publicity, I wonder if he's got an actor in mind to play Sam in the blockbuster adaptation!?!
Well done.
This film portrays community identity with the local club ...... and a story that so many of us supporters can personally identify with.
And if the club has rejected it, then tell us WHY?
She always laughs when she talks about Sam calling her "ginge" when she was a kid and he used to come round for dinner
Really wish I could have met him :-(
I think that is unlikely to happen now so the best way of doing that is getting fans such as on this site to pass this link around to raise awareness. Bexley Archives have the story book available as a free download on http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10768 This has a lot more detailed information than could be put in the film.
A really excellent piece - very much enjoyed watching it.
Also been looking at that ... it's bloody good ... would have loved that when I was at school.
You could email them at bbc.co.uk.
I used to work there till last April, so if you cannot find a contact give me a whisper I will try and assist you.
Hope you get a favourable response. They did a big tie up with the imperial war museum that I covered for the bbc newspaper ariel that I used to work on.
I went to the Sunderland Play Off Final with my Dad. This was the most magical memorable footballing day of my life. This has brought it all back. Wipes away another tear!
a few tears and lots of emotion. Thank you so much. It makes me feel proud to be a fan and
will always have Charlton in my blood irrespective of what happens with the takeover..........
My dad tells me Sam once saved a shot and then out of sympathy for the striker, threw it back and allowed him to have another go. Apparently saving again. Anyone know if this is myth or truth? Sounds a bit far fetched to me. I think Sam ended up as a NOTW reporter.
LOL! That's gotta be a legend mate, but a great one.
Much as I love football as a game/spectacle, I now believe it is the shared memories, friendships and histories that make it special.