Bumping into Bob Bolder and blaming him for that fact that explaining that I played in goal for years as a kid because of his performance in a draw with Liverpool, despite being far too short. He gave me a hug. What a guy.
Jim Melrose 9 second goal against West Ham (and w/h kicked off)
and his hatrick against Everton whilst (Kevin Sheedy scored 2 quality freekicks as well)
Watched those two videos more than any other in my lifetime I reckon. Tragically, we've lost the West Ham one. If anybody ever sees the footage anywhere, please, please tell me!
Got the 86/87 away win to West Ham on VHS. The most one sided commentary ever but to be fair it was a video produced by West Ham.
As a kid bumping into Big Bad Bobby Bolder the morning after the win against Leeds in the playoffs at St Andrews getting the morning papers for my dad and telling him I was there !
my first game, away to plymouth in late 60's which we won 4 or 5-1?, listening live from the u.s. on the phone to the 4-4 playoff unfolding, listening on a tiny/crackly radio on a train to the shirtliff savers, a 3-3 home draw to oxford in the mid-70's?, paul walsh crafting magic, chris powell's rousing/emotional end of promotion season speech...hopefully many more now from the bp years?!?!....
Moving slightly away from the obvious thrillers, comebacks and playoffs, one game that has always stuck in my mind for different reasons was the Div 3 promotion clincher against Preston in the '74 / '75 season I think.
The match was a night game and there was a half decent crowd inside the Valley, I'd guess at 22/23k. We had to win but Preston scored and went 1-0 up and it was the incredible silence that fell over the ground following their goal that has stayed with me. There was nothing, not as much as a single hand clap, just a haunting, eerie silence that fell over Valleys vast terraces.
I can honestly say that I have never experienced such a silence (albeit for probably 10 seconds) at a match again. However, it did not take long for the Valley to get rocking as we won 3-1 in the end
David Whyte's late free-kick winner, Feb 96, FA Cup fourth round. Travelled down for this midweek game and turned out to be worth it to be in the Covered End when the ball smacked into the net. Still makes me smile thinking of the resulting jubilation.
I haven't been going to Charlton that long actually, so for me its... First Game at the Valley, v Wednesday in our L1 winning season 5-4 against Cardiff 3-2 v Bolton 3-1 v Watford
Whenever I go I either see loads of goals or a 0-1 loss!
Seeing as I live in the States now all my Charlton memories are special.
2 that do stand out though are the return to the Valley game against Portsmouth and, of course, the 1998 playoff game. That was especially special for me. So many emotions which were capped off by British Airways upgrading me to First Class when I returned to California the following day.
It must have been the jesters hat that gave the game away :-)
Definitely Boxing Day/Chelsea, but also the return of Eddie Firmani, and watching him smash in a goal that seemed to go through the Keeper. Play off final makes three for me.
Jim Melrose 9 second goal against West Ham (and w/h kicked off)
and his hatrick against Everton whilst (Kevin Sheedy scored 2 quality freekicks as well)
Watched those two videos more than any other in my lifetime I reckon. Tragically, we've lost the West Ham one. If anybody ever sees the footage anywhere, please, please tell me!
Got the 86/87 away win to West Ham on VHS. The most one sided commentary ever but to be fair it was a video produced by West Ham.
*melrose scores. 2 minutes of silence. "So what happened there, Alvin?"*
Are you interested in encoding it for online? I need this video so badly it hurts.
Does anyone remember us playing China at the old Valley around 1982/1983? I don't think many came to see this friendly, but I'm sure we won 5 - 0. Don't ask me who scored though! A kind of favourite memory for its uniqueness.
the shock and disbelief - a bit soppy but proof fairytale endings do happen
This is mine too, Jonjo's first home game for Charlton. Took 2 coach loads of supporters from Harold Hill and was in the lower north.... Powell came on for Jonjo and scored. Fantastic day
Comments
The match was a night game and there was a half decent crowd inside the Valley, I'd guess at 22/23k. We had to win but Preston scored and went 1-0 up and it was the incredible silence that fell over the ground following their goal that has stayed with me. There was nothing, not as much as a single hand clap, just a haunting, eerie silence that fell over Valleys vast terraces.
I can honestly say that I have never experienced such a silence (albeit for probably 10 seconds) at a match again. However, it did not take long for the Valley to get rocking as we won 3-1 in the end
First Game at the Valley, v Wednesday in our L1 winning season
5-4 against Cardiff
3-2 v Bolton
3-1 v Watford
Whenever I go I either see loads of goals or a 0-1 loss!
so many great times
2 that do stand out though are the return to the Valley game against Portsmouth and, of course, the 1998 playoff game. That was especially special for me. So many emotions which were capped off by British Airways upgrading me to First Class when I returned to California the following day.
It must have been the jesters hat that gave the game away :-)
Bartletts Volley - Unreal view I had of that,
Relegating Palace in the 2-2 draw
Are you interested in encoding it for online? I need this video so badly it hurts.
FA Cup Third Round in 1985 and Charlton drew 1-1 at the Lane with Garth Crooks scoring for Spurs - think Ronnie Moore scored for us
Plough lane in 85 ish - think we won 3-1
3-3 with Man Utd - Robbo going mental
Away at Middlesbrough - first big away game with my eldest son
Chelski 4-2 Boxing day ...4th I think we ended the year