We have some truely wonderful people that follow out club home and away through thick and thin.
When i was a young herbert, you don't always see it that way. You see people different to you that aren't going to sing scream and drunkendly shout all game, that give you that look when you ball at them to 'f***ing sing up'.
But you learn over time that of course everyone is not the same, that these people supply an ongoing heartbeat of the club, and have been doing so consistently for 30, 40, 50, 60 years.
To all you long-servers, don't get too naffed off with the young oiks. We were all there once, and most of us eventually grow out of it.
Nice, thoughtful perspective AFKA. I love Charlton and have been a supporter for donkey's years, and I really admire Fanny and the others for making the kind of effort they do. But although I go to virtually every home game I very rarely go away - just twice so far this season. Two reasons: Firstly, my wife isn't into football and I reckon that me gong roughly every other week during the season keeps a nice balance between my home and "Charlton" life. Secondly, I've been to a few away games in the past where I have found myself amongst a bunch of very noisy (good) but over aggressive, mostly half-pissed yobs who spend most of their time screaming abuse. Not my idea of fun and I just don't see that at the Valley - maybe because I'm in the East stand. Tell me, FF and all you other regulars of a certain age (like me), is that a problem for you too or am I alone in this?
We have some truely wonderful people that follow out club home and away through thick and thin.
When i was a young herbert, you don't always see it that way. You see people different to you that aren't going to sing scream and drunkendly shout all game, that give you that look when you ball at them to 'f***ing sing up'.
But you learn over time that of course everyone is not the same, that these people supply an ongoing heartbeat of the club, and have been doing so consistently for 30, 40, 50, 60 years.
To all you long-servers, don't get too naffed off with the young oiks. We were all there once, and most of us eventually grow out of it.
Nice, thoughtful perspective AFKA. I love Charlton and have been a supporter for donkey's years, and I really admire Fanny and the others for making the kind of effort they do. But although I go to virtually every home game I very rarely go away - just twice so far this season. Two reasons: Firstly, my wife isn't into football and I reckon that me gong roughly every other week during the season keeps a nice balance between my home and "Charlton" life. Secondly, I've been to a few away games in the past where I have found myself amongst a bunch of very noisy (good) but over aggressive, mostly half-pissed yobs who spend most of their time screaming abuse. Not my idea of fun and I just don't see that at the Valley - maybe because I'm in the East stand. Tell me, FF and all you other regulars of a certain age (like me), is that a problem for you too or am I alone in this?
There are always idiots who can't control their beer intake. One at Sheffield fell over the front row of seats early in the second half and once he got himself sorted out, spent ten minutes calling a steward a "knob-head" for no reason other than he politely asked him to sit down. I think he was escorted out but am not sure. That in itself caused problems for other fans who got tarred with the same brush after they got excited and stood up briefly (around the time Marvin got his third) and nearly ended with more ejections. Only a lot of polite negotiation prevented this.
We have a loyal 150 or so that literally go everywhere, whether we are top or bottom. My unc is one, cant remember the last time he missed a game
We have quite a few candidates for fan of the year...
Headphones Norm must get to quite a few? Not digging him out, but he is at almost every away game i've been to over the last 4-5 years. Pretty sure he was at Hillsborough. Sorry Norm if you told your mrs you were doing an overtime shift on Bank Holiday to earn money for a weekend break for two................in Blackpool
Norm and the Cheesewright crew were definitely at Hillsborough, spoke to them on the train. Norm is a legend and I agree deserving of recognition. Thanks to FF for the mention in despatches!
And there is someone I refer to as 'Navy John' very unassuming man but always friendly and happy to chat.
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Would have been a great game to go to tho, and fair play those who did.
so the lesser away followings will have lesser drunken helms
and yes i used to be a drunken helm years ago but had a bit of respect for other people
Millwall, Palace, Brighton, QPR, Fulham etc.
The vast majority of our aways, when we only take 400- 1000, they are nowhere to be seen.
Apart from possibly a few, who can be easily avoided, as you can sit where you want.
No offence to the massive helms :-)
And there is someone I refer to as 'Navy John' very unassuming man but always friendly and happy to chat.