We were the Robins certainly in the late 30's onwards as far Im lead to believe. My Great Grandmother worked in the bar beneath the Covered end....the Robins Tavern in the late 30's and 40's and my great Aunt too through the 50's.
Just to let you all know I checked the details and I was correct in that we finished 8th from bottom in the 61/2 season after our amazing turnaround under Frank Hill. The following season we finished 3rd from bottom followed by a fourth from top the following season.
The name was given to the club in the early sixties. Frankie Valli was performing at the Woolwich coronet and the four seasons got delayed by the Woolwich ferry breaking down, so a few of the first team stood in for them, Keith Peacock proving to be an excellent tenor. From that moment on, the team became known affectionately as THE VALLIANTS.
I'd heard a different story Tango. In the 1962-63 season the club were very close to being relegated from the second division. We needed to take four points from our last two games to guarantee survival. In our last home game against Southampton, we scored a vital goal in the 89th minute that would give us a 2-1 victory and two of the points we needed. From the kick-off the Southampton players raced up the pitch and had a shot that beat goalkeeper Wakeham, hit the post and rolled along the goal line. Spending on the ground was not very great in those days and the part time groundsman had failed to remove a small ants mound that had developed on the line. The slope of it was just enough to prevent the ball trickling in and gave Wakeham a chance to dive on it. Charlton won the match, and the last away fixture at Wallsall and were safe from relegation. From that time onwards they were known as the Valley Ants in celebration of our formicid heros.
I'd heard a different story Tango. In the 1962-63 season the club were very close to being relegated from the second division. We needed to take four points from our last two games to guarantee survival. In our last home game against Southampton, we scored a vital goal in the 89th minute that would give us a 2-1 victory and two of the points we needed. From the kick-off the Southampton players raced up the pitch and had a shot that beat goalkeeper Wakeham, hit the post and rolled along the goal line. Spending on the ground was not very great in those days and the part time groundsman had failed to remove a small ants mound that had developed on the line. The slope of it was just enough to prevent the ball trickling in and gave Wakeham a chance to dive on it. Charlton won the match, and the last away fixture at Wallsall and were safe from relegation. From that time onwards they were known as the Valley Ants in celebration of our formicid heros.
Scored by Cliff Durandt recently transferred in from Wolves but...............I missed it and was down by the level crossing gate because my dad stormed out 5 mins to go and couldn't bear to watch them go down.
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But away programmes insisted in still referring to us as the Robins for some years after.
My Great Nan & aunt are going to come and haunt you now Gooner....lmao
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True story, that......................