Hard times undoubtedly and, as gates dwindle, and expectations become diminished, I thought it might be interesting to ask why it is that many of us actually go to the games.
For me, at least, I could not even contemplate NOT being there. I'll go to Dagenham, and to Bournemouth ... and beyond ... hopeful of victory, yes. Hopeful of a decent performance, yes. But really, just because I love the notion of being in love with the Club.
I hate the horrible mess that we have got into in recent years. It breaks my heart, in truth. But not to go to matches? To break off the love affair because we are losing? I can't imagine that way of thinking. For me, it's the opposite. It hardens my resolve not to let the Club down when I'm needed most.
Win, lose or draw ... I get the same buzz out of every game. To feel that I was part of it. To be able to replay it in my mind years later and to share 'golden moments' with others. It will all come good one day - trust me. And imagine not being at the game when the good times officially begin.
That's why I go.
How about you?
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I do not support Charlton because we are playing in a certain league, have a certain manager or have signed a special player, its in the blood, if the lads are playing at home I feel I need to be there.
I also stay to the bitter end of every game, you will never see me creeping out with 10 mins to go, even if we are getting hammered, win, lose or draw, rain or shine, I have to be there.
COYR
Top man!
Spot on. Love the club, dislike the team.
Can't say that I get any buzz about going to matches anymore - I leave home at the last possible minute and get back there as quick as I can after. Used to get angry and frustrated by what was being served up in front of me, although the last couple of games it's changed to total indifference. Brentford game in particular, it was very noticable that most of those around me spent the bulk of the game talking about work, what they're doing on Saturday night, where to buy a new washing machine, etc, not really paying attention to the game. Disappointment is inevitable at the moment, why waste the energy and emotion getting worked up about it?
God, I sound miserable - pretty depressing though isn't it, that my hobby provides me with the lowest point of my week.
Looking forward to a good day out at Bournemouth, but don't think I'll be going to Saints away, Bristol Rovers or Walsall. Will be at all the home games but can't wait til the season's finished. I'll be back again next season though, with the same gullible sense of optimism that gets gradually driven out of me every season.
but in all honesty if the weather gets better and my little girl fancies doing something different on a saturday home game for the rest of this season, then it really won't bother me to give it a miss..
still got our season tickets for next season and will be full of optimism come july / august, but at the moment I can barely muster the enthuiasm to go.
guess being a charlton supporter is in our blood and hope it stays in my family for many generations to come .
Hats off/respect etc to all of you.
I'm not enjoying it particularly at the moment. The on pitch stuff is disappointing but I've seen an awful lot of cr** over 48 years so that is not as big a factor to me as it might be to others. It's more facts that I'm increasingly going on my own and not with my daughter (s), the 70 mile round trip is becoming both more costly and tiring given that I drive a lot in the working week, perhaps I'm beginning to feel my age, the crowd banter, which once seemed funny and witty, is often synchronised hate and venom etc, etc.
I'm pretty sure I will end up renewing, if only out of habit, but, to plagiarise AFKA and others, it will be like a charitable donation and I may end up cutting back on my visits. Then again, come August, I might be full of enthusiasm again!
things aint good at the moment but we have been in worse situations so hopefully we will see some good times coming back in the next few years.
Sorry for my flippant post! Ever since my Dad took me to Charlton i have been hooked.Nothing that has happened since, even moving to Selhurst Park, has put me off going. But this season i have felt as low as at any other time in fifty years as a fan, even when we were a few minutes away from oblivion. Ever since Curbs left there seems to be a curse on the place. We seem to stumble from one problem to another without any sign of things getting better. I have said that i will not be getting a Season ticket for next season the first time since getting back to the Valley. But i know that a couple of weeks into the close season an application form with a cheque will be winging its way to the ticket office.
And finally, a chance meeting with the great Mike Flanagan before the match last Saturday. What a top, top bloke who had some very interesting observations about football generally and Charlton in particular, most of which I found myself agreeing with. He had one regret though, that there are no known recordings of the hat tricks he scored against Chelsea and Spurs in 1977.
I'm kinda on the same boat, i find myself looking up more and more news on the team as often as i can and I found this place because of it! I seem to be willing on the team and supporting them more during these bad times.
I wish i could go to games, I live in Ireland. I would go to as many as possible if I lived over there. I really want to go to a few games next year!! Cant wait!!!!
I go to most aways.
If you cut me,I bleed red & white.
I am Charlton, that is me.