Mike Bailey played 151 games for the Club, and managed the club in 1980/81, Mike is coming in to record an interview on Saturday, any questions for Mike on this thread or to our email address studio@charltonlive.co.uk
You got capped for England as a Charlton player when we were a second division club.
Do you think being "a big fish in a small pool" helped you get noticed or do you think you might have played more internationals had you left for a first division team earlier?
Is it true Mike used to cut the grass at the covered end when he ran the Social club which stayed open when we left in 1985. What does Mike remember of the early 1960's team he played in which included greats like Eddie Firmani, John Hewie, Frank Haydock and Len Glover.
How difficult was it in the closing days of Andy Nelson's reign when, to the fans, it looked like you were quasi manager and then Andy Nelson would intervene once more?
Did the uncertainty unsettle the players and contribute to our relegation in 1979/80?
Having transformed a dead on it's feet relegation squad into an instant promotion winning side in his first full season as manager in 1981, he was then poached by top tier Brighton.
Did he feel that he had taken the promoted Charlton side as far as he could, or just that he couldn't turn down the chance to manage in the top tier?
And what was his opinion of Alan Mullery, who took over 'his' team?
Remembering the 5-0 Brentford League Cup game at the Valley with Paul Walsh scoring 3 goals and Derek Hales just the 2, I will never forget Killer tearing about like a mad man (yes I know) trying to get his own hat trick. That game set the tone for the season so were there any problems between our esteemed goal scorer's during that wonderful season.
Having been top or second for much of the season, the team rather stagered over the line, losing four consecutive games and drawing a fifth in the last seven matches, with the side eventually going up in third place. Does Mike think that a wobble like that is something that Chris Powell should look out for?
What the hell was it like? 3 or 4 thousand rattling around a huge decrepit ground that had seen minimal changes since the 1930s, football in a terrible state.
What was it like playing in a 10-0 victory for England? Will England ever win by such a margin again? How does the current Charlton squad compare to the one that was promoted under him? What does he think the chances are of us getting promoted at Carlisle again?
I was in Mike's fan club at the time before he left Charlton and for a while after he had left us for Wolves.
Please thank him for the pleasure he gave me as a very young lad to receive regular letters and photos in the days before computers and word processors.
Comments
Do you think being "a big fish in a small pool" helped you get noticed or do you think you might have played more internationals had you left for a first division team earlier?
What does Mike remember of the early 1960's team he played in which included greats like Eddie Firmani, John Hewie, Frank Haydock and Len Glover.
Did the uncertainty unsettle the players and contribute to our relegation in 1979/80?
WHY?
Did he feel that he had taken the promoted Charlton side as far as he could, or just that he couldn't turn down the chance to manage in the top tier?
And what was his opinion of Alan Mullery, who took over 'his' team?
That game set the tone for the season so were there any problems between our esteemed goal scorer's during that wonderful season.
What the hell was it like? 3 or 4 thousand rattling around a huge decrepit ground that had seen minimal changes since the 1930s, football in a terrible state.
Will England ever win by such a margin again?
How does the current Charlton squad compare to the one that was promoted under him?
What does he think the chances are of us getting promoted at Carlisle again?
Please thank him for the pleasure he gave me as a very young lad to receive regular letters and photos in the days before computers and word processors.