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Some fantastic pictures of The Valley in the 1980s

EpsomAddickEpsomAddick
edited February 2012 in General Charlton
http://torquayfansforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=groundreviews&action=display&thread=2839

I randomly stumbled across this, shows the derelict stadium and the clean-up effort, plus some Voice of the Valley issues.

Also alerted to me to something which I hadn't twigged before: that the end which became the Jimmy Seed stand was pretty much as big as the East Terrace, before the flats were built.
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Comments

  • paulbaconsarniepaulbaconsarnie
    really enjoyed that.
  • Bermuda_redBermuda_red
    Thanks for sharing that Epsom! Great photos/memories...loved the floodlight shot!

    The big clean up was a fantastic PR move by the club. Wonderful day, despite the weather! I remember the guy lighting the fire using gasoline!! Between him, folk hurling seats from the old"grandstand" and novice gardeners with machetes etc I was surprised nobody got hurt!

    Used to jump over the wall and explore alot during the Selhurst years.....
  • EastStandEastStand
    Bought a tear to my eye that. Well done that man.
  • southamptonaddicksouthamptonaddick
    I read all that and reminised(sp) at the pictures.

    I have to say to think that was written by a Torquay supporter is fantastic.

    I expect myself and many others would have problems re-counting that period with such passion and enthusiasm.
  • Oggy RedOggy Red
    What a terrific thread!

    In one picture of the Sunday the supporters began to clear The Valley, just one of the 1st team turned up - the legendary Steve Gritt, holding his little daughter's hand.

    Brought a tear to my eye. I think some of you know what I mean.
  • bc_addickbc_addick
    Yes we know Oggy. I felt just the same. Great pictures and memories here and thoroughly enjoyable especially when you consider the last 20 years.
  • shine166shine166
    great find
  • tonyupnorthtonyupnorth
    Great Photo`s
  • AddicktedAddickted
    Great thread.

    RIP Hayleigh
  • Oggy RedOggy Red
    Loved the reference to Exeter City's ground as "Sid James Park".
    What a carry-on.

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  • cafckevcafckev
    We need reminders like this to keep us driving forward!
  • EastTerraceEastTerrace
    Never seen the aerial shot at the bottom before, amazing.

    Good to remember what we've been through.
  • nth_london_addicknth_london_addick
    what a fantastic thread i now support his team not because i want to bang helen chamberlin but beacuse this dude has mde my night
  • Bermuda_redBermuda_red
    Never seen the aerial shot at the bottom before, amazing.

    Same here. Wonder when that was taken? Mid 60s? The floodlights went up in 1963 but the high rise block (valiant house??) behind the south terrace isn't there. Not sure when that went up.
  • Oggy RedOggy Red
    what a fantastic thread i now support his team not because i want to bang helen chamberlin
    I bet you do really


  • THEMCATHEMCA
    Brilliant enjoyed that, as I am laying in bed with the squirts! Nearly started crying at one point, god I love our club. Great find That man!!!
  • JohnnyH2JohnnyH2
    That is the best link this site has ever had
  • guinnessaddickguinnessaddick
    Never seen the aerial shot at the bottom before, amazing.

    Same here. Wonder when that was taken? Mid 60s? The floodlights went up in 1963 but the high rise block (valiant house??) behind the south terrace isn't there. Not sure when that went up.
    They went up in 75, 76. My dad worked on them and it was him who introduced me to Charlton & The Valley. Spent almost two seasons watching from the building site on top of the canteen roof during the warm weather and inside the flats during the winter.
  • SheffieldRedSheffieldRed

    Great read. Will cheer on Torquay this weekend.
  • 1StevieG1StevieG
    Brilliant pics. Brings back memories of running around the east terrace during a game because there was so much space ( too young to know what was going on in the game! )
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  • C.Walsh'sLoveChildC.Walsh'sLoveChild
    That was bloody great
  • C.Walsh'sLoveChildC.Walsh'sLoveChild
    Anyone got the back page of the SLP when they had the report of the clean up day?
  • falconwood_1falconwood_1
    Recognise the young fella in a brown coat at the front of the 'Chairmans message' photo....has always gone with a few fellas out of Thamesmead.

    Looks a little bit different now!
  • LenGloverLenGlover
    Never seen the aerial shot at the bottom before, amazing.

    Same here. Wonder when that was taken? Mid 60s? The floodlights went up in 1963 but the high rise block (valiant house??) behind the south terrace isn't there. Not sure when that went up.
    Valiant House went up c1975.
  • LenGloverLenGlover
    Great thread Epsom thanks for the link.
  • ShootersHillGuruShootersHillGuru
    What a find. Really enjoyed that so Thankyou very much.
  • The Prince-e-PaulThe Prince-e-Paul
    Bump.

    I was recalling to my 10 year old daughter who has started to watch The Addicks this season (5 games), how Charlton had nearly gone out of existence in 1984 and how in 1985 we lost our home. She's not gone to The Valley yet, but she will when the time is right.

    I can recall listening to a portable radio in my bedroom aged 13 one night, when the announcement was due at 11pm, that Charlton Athletic, were due to be wound up and would be no more! Then literally at the 11th hour it was announced a deal had been done to save the club. At the time it felt like my dog had been taken to the vets to be put down, but it had been sent home, with a clean bill of health. Clearly there was much to be done, but my club was safe and that is all that matters.

    Reading that 'Patrick Collins article, 'The Real Identity', made me go all misty eyed. It brought all the emotions back. The pictures are fantastic, but for me it's these stories, like those told by aging soldiers, that really bring the lump to the back of the throat.

  • Glass half emptyGlass half empty
    Brilliant stuff
  • TELTEL
    edited February 2012
    http://torquayfansforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=groundreviews&action=display&thread=2839

    I randomly stumbled across this, shows the derelict stadium and the clean-up effort, plus some Voice of the Valley issues.

    Also alerted to me to something which I hadn't twigged before: that the end which became the Jimmy Seed stand was pretty much as big as the East Terrace, before the flats were built.
    The South Terrace was practically the same height as the East when I was a kid in the late sixties, I seem to remember the club selling off some of the ground when the flats were built, which then bought the terrace down quite a way, pretty much to the level we all know now. For some time there was a big flat area behind the terace with a set of goal posts, and we'd sometimes have a kick about after matches in autumn and spring....it may have been a crumbling monstrosity with open air toilets, but it was a home filled with history and even then you felt a sense of being part of something bigger, yet undefinable.
  • TELTEL
    It bought a lump to my throat and more than a tear to my eye reading the Patrick Collins newspaper cutting when the Chairman announced "We're going home" 24 years later, I can still remember the evening with clarity.

    Im proud to say I was there, at the Town hall meetings and the clean up day, the last and first games back at the Valley....buying a season ticket at Shithurst and Trumpton parks, even though I was practically skint at the time....I wouldnt have missed it for anything. Im now 10,000 miles away, but I know where my heart is, and always will be....SE7.
    God I miss it.
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