(cont'd) - I began following the team in 2001 and would join the Group to watch Scott Parker, Paulo, Kish, etc every televised Saturday morning match and have a great breakfast/pint at a wonderful restaurant in Hamilton....I have now seen the team play once at Highbury (4-0 loss) and this past April 21 at the Valley - when they clinched the Championship..Now its listening to CAFC Player while following the "dots" on ESPN Gamecasts....!
Grew up in Northampton and always enjoyed football but came from a background where none of my immediate family followed the game at all. When I was about 7 a mate of mine from primary school mentioned that his Great Grandad once played in goal for Charlton Athletic and bought in some old photos etc. He lost interest in football altogether within a couple of years but that chance conversation had me hooked and for my sins I have been clogging back and forth to pretty much every home game from Northampton ever since!!
No family connections, no one in my immediate family was really into football. My cousin 'supported' Man United, so as I was close to him, followed his and every other child's lead. First game I actually went to was at The Valley, and from that moment I was hooked, unfortunately.
Moved to London in Dec2002 from Scotland. We came to the Valley to watch Newcastle/Arsenal and other premiership teams. The club sucked me in ended up buying a season ticket, relegated 2 yrs in a row still got season ticket and go to some away games. Brighton last night , stayed overnight up at 6am for train back to Lindon and work.
Was born in Hammersmith so Dad and older brother no 1 are QPR fans. Next brother is Liverpool(!). Moved to Catford when I was 2, and primary school was either Liverpool because they used to win everything or Millwall because they were 'Lewisham'. And because little kids can be stupid. Didn't fancy those options so I started following Charlton as they were near-ish, but Dad wouldn't let me go to matches on my own until we were playing at Selhurst - we were living in Croydon by then. That worked for me as I was a little guy and apart from that Liverpool game where we lost 2-0 and 28,000 showed up, I was guaranteed my own little bit of terracing in the Arthur Wait and could see everything. Like the Jasper Carrott joke, I used to have to shout 'Oi' to speak to the guy next to me. I was even one of the 817 who turned up for the Full Members Cup game in that ridiculous year. But every win meant so much then, because to be frank, we weren't very good and I was hooked.
Wherever I've been - school, college, uni, work, mates etc - I've pretty much been the only Charlton fan. Of the literally hundreds of games I've been to, 80% have been on my own, which has always suited me and now I have kids is truly a blessing in itself. But for all my Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal etc-supporting (though rarely in person) mates who have laughed at me for years (apart from the Prem times), I'm willing to bet that none of them will ever get close to the feeling I had when I took my boy to the Valley for the first time earlier this season or, more important, when Sasa saved Gray's penalty at Wembley. And that is why this is my club.
Grew up in Northampton and always enjoyed football but came from a background where none of my immediate family followed the game at all. When I was about 7 a mate of mine from primary school mentioned that his Great Grandad once played in goal for Charlton Athletic and bought in some old photos etc. He lost interest in football altogether within a couple of years but that chance conversation had me hooked and for my sins I have been clogging back and forth to pretty much every home game from Northampton ever since!!
Wherever I've been - school, college, uni, work, mates etc - I've pretty much been the only Charlton fan. Of the literally hundreds of games I've been to, 80% have been on my own, which has always suited me and now I have kids is truly a blessing in itself. But for all my Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal etc-supporting (though rarely in person) mates who have laughed at me for years (apart from the Prem times), I'm willing to bet that none of them will ever get close to the feeling I had when I took my boy to the Valley for the first time earlier this season or, more important, when Sasa saved Gray's penalty at Wembley. And that is why this is my club.
I live and work in London and Im pretty much the only Charlton fan I know. The upside is when ppl ask me who I support and I say Charlton, I get a barrage of questions about us. Probably because they haven't met an Addick before!!
Born near Southampton. Moved to Australia when 5, came back aged 10. When I came back I supported Spurs, my brother, Chelsea, my old man was an avid Saints fan. One day our next door neighbour in Orpington (Charlton was his all abiding passion/life) took us to see a game. Old valley was in a right mess, Think Arthur Horefield was just finishing his career. Just before Hales, Flanagan, Powell era, Oh dear.... helplessly hooked from then on. There's just something about Charlton. Always used to go to the Valley pub on the hill before and after game.(Shame it's gone). Dad and brother massive fans too
This will be me. 1986 I was working at Bethlem Royal Hospital just down road from Selhurst. Lack of stewards got me involved and I was situated at front of the directors box. Worked then at Upton Park and then at the return to valley. By this time I had been overtaken by charlton bug and remain a season ticket holder in N Upper. @leaburn
Wherever I've been - school, college, uni, work, mates etc - I've pretty much been the only Charlton fan. Of the literally hundreds of games I've been to, 80% have been on my own, which has always suited me and now I have kids is truly a blessing in itself. But for all my Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal etc-supporting (though rarely in person) mates who have laughed at me for years (apart from the Prem times), I'm willing to bet that none of them will ever get close to the feeling I had when I took my boy to the Valley for the first time earlier this season or, more important, when Sasa saved Gray's penalty at Wembley. And that is why this is my club.
I live and work in London and Im pretty much the only Charlton fan I know. The upside is when ppl ask me who I support and I say Charlton, I get a barrage of questions about us. Probably because they haven't met an Addick before!!
I know what you mean - and it's interesting that quite a few are keen to come with me to the Valley for a game and end up coming back because generally it's an enjoyable, hassle-free footballing experience. The main exception was when I brought a load to the Bury game a few years ago when it was £5 a ticket - ground was packed so we ended up in the home half of the Jimmy Seed, the only time I've ever sat there. That game was so dire, easily in the top 3 of terrible matches I've personally witnessed, that none of them have come back since!
Wherever I've been - school, college, uni, work, mates etc - I've pretty much been the only Charlton fan. Of the literally hundreds of games I've been to, 80% have been on my own, which has always suited me and now I have kids is truly a blessing in itself. But for all my Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal etc-supporting (though rarely in person) mates who have laughed at me for years (apart from the Prem times), I'm willing to bet that none of them will ever get close to the feeling I had when I took my boy to the Valley for the first time earlier this season or, more important, when Sasa saved Gray's penalty at Wembley. And that is why this is my club.
I live and work in London and Im pretty much the only Charlton fan I know. The upside is when ppl ask me who I support and I say Charlton, I get a barrage of questions about us. Probably because they haven't met an Addick before!!
I know what you mean - and it's interesting that quite a few are keen to come with me to the Valley for a game and end up coming back because generally it's an enjoyable, hassle-free footballing experience. The main exception was when I brought a load to the Bury game a few years ago when it was £5 a ticket - ground was packed so we ended up in the home half of the Jimmy Seed, the only time I've ever sat there. That game was so dire, easily in the top 3 of terrible matches I've personally witnessed, that none of them have come back since!
During my 20+ years of business travel across Canada, whenever the subject came up as to which team I supported and when I said Charlton Athletic invariably, the questions I got were: 1) Who...????; 2) Why...??? I would then launch into a dialogue about how Charlton was a small budget team with a rich history of punching well above its weight, had a legend for a manager and team that played for the shirt, etc.....then I would proudly show them my Charlton Red Card.....just trying to "spread the Charlton gospel" wherever I go...!!!!
Was born in Lewisham, but all family and football supporting ties led to Merseyside, so as kids I supported Liverpool, my brother Everton. Then aged 16, moved to Lee Green, met a couple of my new neighbours who remain best of friends and they took me over to Selhurst to watch Charlton play. Half a dozen or so games later I could distinguish a Humphrey from a Reid, a Peake from a Gritt and had fallen head over heals for the team and bunch of fans that had been through a shocking time in their history. Loved doing my supportive bit for the Valley Party, which (if needed) drew me a lot closer to the club and what it stood for. 25 years later, still here and as committed as ever. Very proud to feel part of such a very special community and club.
Born in Forest Hill disliked Palace and Millwall and ended up a Liverpool fan. Moved to Sydenham and ended up at Selhurst in about 86, got hooked and never looked back. Been in Cape Town for the last 15 years, but still love the team as much as ever and get to see the odd game when I've been infrequently back, I do miss the Valley though.
I grew up in Harpenden in Hertfordshire and started out a Liverpool fan. My dad was a rugby man so didn't care who I supported. I'd had enough of winning European Cups and League titles by the late 80s and wanted to watch live football. We played at Selhurst in those days and I could take the Thameslink from Harpenden direct to Norwood Junction in under an hour. I'm now a veteran of over 700 games and 105 league grounds and cringe at the armchair Kop fans down the pub in south London. I'm so glad that's not me.
Simar story to others. Moved down from Scotland for work after graduation in 1986. Did the rounds of all the games back in the day when you checked out the games on a Saturday morning in the paper and went along to the best looking fixture and paid a fiver to get in. Moved to Kent in the late 80s. Had a neighbour who was/still is a ST holder who brought me along. Fell for the romance of the valley story and been coming ever since.
A mate got me a job on match days in 2003 cooking for the boxes. I remember cooking for Mr Davidson!! I loved football but coming from Leighton Buzzard and no one in my family were into football, there were no obvious choices. The great thing about this job was that come 3 o'clock I was done, so I'd watch the match. Before I knew it, I knew more, and seemed to care more about Charlton than any of my mates and their so called beloved teams! I kept this up well into the next season untill some jobs worth grassed me up. So I started buying a ticket straight after work. I'm a season ticket holder now. And my daughters team is Charlton.
Some great stories here and surprised how many followed Liverpool! I nearly went the other way born in Greenwich lived and schooled in Charlton then at 10 moved to Crawley and wasn't allowed to London on my own so me and a schoolmate who was west ham started following brighton and was nearly hooked until the full members cup final and my uncle took me and never looked back since!
Interesting that so many on this thread starting supporting us at Selhurst.
There had to be some good come out of the Selhurst years, plus we had a great manager and that never say die attitude, it just sucked you in
100% correct. One of the blokes I sit with now, started coming regularly to the Selhurst matches and he's had a season ticket ever since. The football was pretty good around that time and Charlton had some excellent players to watch...Bolder, Walsh, Humphrey, Crooks, Melrose, Lee, Mackenzie, Pates, Shirtliff, Mortimer, Bennett, Reid etc. The fans were a very loyal band who didn't expect too much and supported the team through thick or thin. In many ways it was a classic period in the club's modern history.
As someone who had the Charlton roundel stamped on his arse as he exited the womb and was led kicking and screaming to the Valley by relatives that would nowadays be had up for child abuse, I salute you all.
Some great stories here and surprised how many followed Liverpool! I nearly went the other way born in Greenwich lived and schooled in Charlton then at 10 moved to Crawley and wasn't allowed to London on my own so me and a schoolmate who was west ham started following brighton and was nearly hooked until the full members cup final and my uncle took me and never looked back since!
I am not surprised at all CA. That is the reason I "hate" Liverpool more than any other club. In the seventies and eighties when they only showed the highlights of four or five games on Match of the Day or The Big Match over the weekend, almost no week went by without Liverpool being one of thoses matches. So the glory hunters were all over them. Still bump into 100s of Liverpool followers of a certain age with no connection to the place whatsoever...
Comments
Wherever I've been - school, college, uni, work, mates etc - I've pretty much been the only Charlton fan. Of the literally hundreds of games I've been to, 80% have been on my own, which has always suited me and now I have kids is truly a blessing in itself. But for all my Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal etc-supporting (though rarely in person) mates who have laughed at me for years (apart from the Prem times), I'm willing to bet that none of them will ever get close to the feeling I had when I took my boy to the Valley for the first time earlier this season or, more important, when Sasa saved Gray's penalty at Wembley. And that is why this is my club.
I loved football but coming from Leighton Buzzard and no one in my family were into football, there were no obvious choices.
The great thing about this job was that come 3 o'clock I was done, so I'd watch the match.
Before I knew it, I knew more, and seemed to care more about Charlton than any of my mates and their so called beloved teams!
I kept this up well into the next season untill some jobs worth grassed me up. So I started buying a ticket straight after work.
I'm a season ticket holder now. And my daughters team is Charlton.
I nearly went the other way born in Greenwich lived and schooled in Charlton then at 10 moved to Crawley and wasn't allowed to London on my own so me and a schoolmate who was west ham started following brighton and was nearly hooked until the full members cup final and my uncle took me and never looked back since!
As someone who had the Charlton roundel stamped on his arse as he exited the womb and was led kicking and screaming to the Valley by relatives that would nowadays be had up for child abuse, I salute you all.