I was looking at some programmes from the 1960s. It was like stepping back in time, everything seemed so quaint. The following extracts are best read in the voice of Mr Cholmondley-Warner:
FROM SETH PLUM who was Charlton's left-half during the amazing F.A. Cup run of 1923, we have received a tattered old Charlton F.C. official programme dated 1924. Seth, now working at a garage in the Tottenham district, had treasured the programme for 40 years and as we opened it out, it almost fell to pieces.
READERS TELL US that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish Roy Matthews and Lenny Glover on the field when their numbers are not visible. True, they are about the same height and build, but we can usually identify Roy Matthews because he prefers the longer hair style. In practice games there is no difficulty because Roy has a distinctive bright red track-suit.
BEFORE THE GAME today (weather permitting) patrons will have the pleasure of watching “Youth in Rythum” presented by the Butlin Young Ladies, a spectacular display which has delighted the Charlton crowd on previous visits.
JIMMY ROBB, Charlton's new wing-half from Third Lanark, was a full-back at rugby as a schoolboy. Rugby only was encouraged at the Glasgow school where Jimmy was a pupil, but it is usually the way that if a laddie has a fancy for soccer there is not much the authorities can do about it.
IN OUR POSTBAG the other day was a request from Mr. N. O'Neill of Carlton Street, Venterspost West, Transvaal, South Africa. He wanted to know not only the year and month, but the DAY upon which Charlton Athletic Football Club was founded. It shows the interest in Charlton abroad and the meticulous care taken by soccer-crazy fans in the compilation of facts about their favourite club. [But do they answer his question? No.]
LENNY Glover, Charlton's 19 year-old forward, was only eleven years of age when he was first “spotted” by club representative Mr. Joe Guymer playing on an asphalte pitch in Kennington Park.
FREE AUTOGRAPHS of the players in Charlton's first team squad for every purchaser of a “John Hewie” necktie.
TRUST THE GIRLS to read a double meaning into the innocent enough heading in the Charlton F.C. Programme Last week we received a letter bearing an Orpington postmark. It read: “With reference to your advertisement in the Charlton programme 'Goal Scorers To Date', Carol would like to date Len Glover on Wednesday and Thursday; Jackie would like Keith Peacock on Tuesdays, and Angela would like David Stocks on Sundays and Mondays. If they are not available on the days mentioned we do not mind a switch round.”
The ages of the girls were not set out. Needless to add, the letter caused considerable merriment.
PUTTING THE SHOT was Ron Saunders' favourite athletic event as a schoolboy, a fact that's not surprising when one takes a look at his massive shoulders.
THERE'S A SHORTAGE of referees. Ex-players and fit men who fancy taking up the whistle can be trained for the job in the close season, ready to begin as referees next season.
JOHN HEWIE was seen on the television screen in an interview on Wednesday last week. Apparently quite a number of his Charlton team-mates were among the viewers for at match practice the following morning John was the subject of quite a bit of humorous banter.
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Comments
Perhaps that was that the glow from his tracksuit?
Surely that was Incorruptible Addick's first job, writing that column in the Charlton programme?
From there it was only a short step to a career writing about musicians, morality and obituaries.
;o)
Are you one of the chaps wearing his cap in the photo of the crowd on the South Terrace Oggy?
:-)
Yo frm RICHARD RUFUS hu wuz Charlton's centre-half durin da amazn Play Off final o' 1998, we's gots rcvd uh tattered old Charlton F.C. oficial prog d8d 1998. Ricky, now wurkn @ uh Gspel chrch n Tottering, had treasurd da prog fo' 13 yrs bt as we's openD it ot we's tore it n 2.
LOOKEELIKIES – fans tel us dat it iz sumtyms diFicult ta distinguish Alan McCormack an' Gary Dohery on da field wen dey #s aint visible. tru, dey S 'boutthe same hyt an' bild, bt we's cn usu identify Gary cuz he prefers da longA fro style. + he iz uh footballer.
B4 da gme dis dy (if tiz nt rainin) Addicks fans wl gots da joy o' wotchN sum populA opera per4mD by da Bjorn ag'in, uh spectaculer shO wich hs dElited da Charlton crwd on prev visits.
PAUL BENSON, Charlton's nu centA fwd frm Dagenham an' Redbridge, wuz uh schoolboy chmpN @ tiddlywinks. Tiddlywinks wuz da 1ly sport ncouragd @ da Essex skoo whr Paul wuz uh pUpl, bt it iz usu da wa dat f uh laddie hs uh fanC fo' plastic discs dere iz n/m da authorities cn do 'boutit.
n r INBOX da oder dy wuz uh RQ frm Mr. S. Burlusconi o' Carlton Strada, Milan, Italy. He wtd ta knw w@ hapnd wif da link ^ btw Charlton an' Inter uh few yrs bac. It shows da lvl intrst n takN da wee ot o' Charlton abroad by dodgy soccer-mad politicos.
Tama Tuna, Charlton's 19 yo fwd, wuz 1ly eleven yrs o' age wen he wuz 1st “spotted” by clb Representativ Mr. John West playN n Crook Log swiming p%l.
fre AUTOGRAPHS o' da playAs n Charlton's 1st team squad fo' evry fan prepd ta delve dwn da bins @ da bac o' da “Superstore”.
TRUST da bichez ta read uh 2x meanN N2 da innocent nuf headin n da Charlton F.C. prog lst wk we's rcvd uh letta bearing an Thamesmead postmark. It read: “Wif ref. ta yo' advert n da Charlton prog 'Sack muh motha fckin Cook', Carol wnts ta...… Needless ta +, da letta cauzd considerable merriment.
smoke BOXING wuz Xtian Dailly's favourite athletic event as uh schoolboy, uh fact dat's nt surprising wen 1 tAkz uh peep @ hs recent disciplinary record.
dere'S uh SHORTAGE o' referees. Ex-players an' fit kiddies hu fanC hogging da limelight cn B traind fo' da motha fckin job n 1/2 an hour, ReD ta taK Mr D'Urso's motha fckin job nxt wk.
Chris Powell wuz seen on da tv screen n an intRvw on Wednesday lst wk. apprntly quite uh * o' hs Charlton s quad wuz among da viewers fo' @ match prctic da foLowN AM Chris wuz da topic o' quite uh bit o' humorous banter fo' suggesting da Addicks myt win dey nxt match - sho 'nuff!
In this instance it was an unbelievably patronising feature on a disabled fan opening with the line "John is a Spastic".
How times change!
Harold was before my time, but is spoken of with great affection and reverence by Messrs Cordwell and Burrowes, who succeeded him.
His picture did adorn Airman Brown's Diary in VOTV for many years, so you could indeed make a connection, albeit unwitting on his part.
Just join the queue beside the Sam Bartram statue.