Paddy... You were my first CAFC Hero. The player I tried to imitate in playground kickabouts. Sad you have decided to leave after such a dreadful season (pitch wise) but the job you were handed was enough to make anyone want to pack it in. Good luck!
Great player - had the pleasure to meet him in "hospitality" away to Fulham a few years back, he would be great around The Valley in that role - we reminisced about mainly the Southampton 6 2 Friday night game and that era, really good bloke. Top groundsman too
One of my all time favourite Charlton players, thank you Paddy for being an inspiring footballer and a brilliant groundsman.Please keep up your connections with the club and the valley we need people like you to keep Charlton the club we love and cherish
Great bloke and Charlton through and through. A wonderful player and the mastermind of Hales goal of the season. I also had the great pleasure of meeting Colin when I was down the Valley a few years ago. It was the off season and Colin was working on the pitch. He invited me to take a stroll with him around the pitch. He chatted about when he played and about his stint in the States. A classic down to earth bloke.
I remember paddy charging down the wing and launching into the box for flash and killer.... Heady heady days... And the chorus from the covered end...... " Attack ... Attack... Attack attack attack " !!! Great exciting football... End to end stuff.... Ridiculous scores 5 - 2. 4-3 s. ... You'll live long in the memory Colin..... Have a great retirement.... Wishing you all the very best.... Thank you for everything
Thanks Paddy a true Charlton legend, he was in my uncles class at school and always took the time to say hello and have a chat, a true gentleman and I hope whatever you do in the next few years you have time to spend at the valley.
My all time favourite. Colin was a wonderful player. Whenever they say Flanagan and Hales, they should always add Powell because he laid on the goals for the others - and scored some crackers himself. Was it Malcom Alison who famously said leave Powell to cut inside, he can't shoot with his left foot... and Colin duly hit a screamer against the Nigels.A college friend from north London alerted me to Colin when he joined us from Barnet. "Watch him take the first touch"...I soon saw what he meant as Colin had that gift on knocking his first touch past the advancing full back and leaving him flat footed. Was delighted when he grew the grass on our return to the Valley and let's not forget that for years, we had one of the best playing surfaces in the Championship and top flight. My dad drank regulalry with him in Bexleyheath and said what a cracking bloke he is. Good luck Colin - a legend.
Liam Brady was allegedly the poet of the left foot, Colin Powell on the other hand went about the ball as it if were a philosophical problem that needed to be teased into sense. That's what his slightly bent body posture seemed to be saying anyway. So it appeared anyway until he raked that magnificent strike into the Holmesdale End goal in front of the ITN cameras. Even standing at the distant away end it was a wonderful goal to behold, and perhaps Colin's finest. It mattered not that Palace scored twice that day in 1976 (?), as Paddy's thunderbolt was worth a hat-trick in its own.
What a great example of someone we managed to Charltonise in all the right ways - came to us from the frozen wastes of North London, and we managed to convert him to our cause... One of my favourite players of the 70s, and a top man.
Was once at the Valley when some mates hired the pitch. Two of my kids came along, they'd have been about 9 at the time. At one point they were sitting in the home dugout, and started playing with the phone which connects up to (i guess) the directors' box. I yelled at them to stop mucking about, but they insisted Paddy had told them to go ahead & play with it.... don't think that would happen at the Emirates, somehow.
Really hope he is a presence at The Valley for many more years.... but keeping dry at half time now...
I was fortunate enough to meet Paddy when he was our guest at a Medway Addicks meeting. Charlton through and through, and a true salt of the earth gentleman. Good luck Paddy and thank you - legend.
Never saw him play for us but if you know your history it has been an honour and a privilege to have such a man as a loyal servant of the club that I love.
Thank you Paddy for everything you've done for Charlton as a player, groundsman and ambassador. Enjoy your future and never forget you're loved by many.
What a forward line that was! Paddy, Flash & Killer a nightmare for any defence, pity the defence those days were not unfortunately of the same quality. Met Paddy on a few occasions and found him to be a most courteous gentleman. It was such a pity he was let down by previous regimes not investing in his beloved pitch. Live long in retirement Paddy, a true Charlton legend.
I know people who grew up watching us in the 70s talk about what a great player he was, I wasn't party to that era. All I can say is that for a man to dedicate the best part of his life to the club as a player then groundsman, then he deserves a good round of appreciation and thanks. So thanks for the years you put into the club Paddy.
Paddy told me he was offered a package when he turned up to support my Dad at my sisters funeral last week. A class player and world class human being. Top bloke and always happy to chat. Will be sorely missed by all at CAFC.
Was so sad to see this news come through on the text today and really hoped that Paddy hadn't been forced out or somehow blamed for the state of the pitch last year.
I'm really pleased to see NWCorner's post that he took a package and I really hope that he gets to enjoy a long, happy and healthy retirement. If he becomes part of the match day as a host, then so much the better.
Colin "Paddy" Powell is my all-time favourite Charlton player and a true hero and legend of this club. I played (tried to anyway) right-wing because of Paddy. When I was making my confirmation, I asked for Colin as my Confirmation name. I was told that wasn't possible as it had to be a saint's name. Little did they know, he WAS a saint for us! I took Patrick as the best alternative :-)
Have been lucky to meet him on a few occasions, but I am always star struck. Have loved his Q&A sessions over the years, usually with Keith, Halesy and Theo. Always some brilliant stories from Paddy and all of them.
A warm, humble and friendly man. A brilliant footballer and groundsman and a true Charlton legend. It was a great honour to have seen him play and I still got a buzz of pride, knowing he was my favourite, watching him tend the pitch over the years.
Best of luck Paddy and thank you so much for so many very happy memories.
Great player for us and we were lucky other clubs failed to fully appreciate his considerable contribution to the successes of Hales and Flanagan.
I was lucky enough to meet him a few times through cricket and during his time at Margate as assistant manager.
He also served the Club well as groundsman and whoever tried to lay the blame for the Barnsley postponement at his door should be thoroughly ashamed.
I sincerely hope this is a "positive" redundancy in that an opportunity is being taken to reward a loyal servant financially as he approaches retirement.
When I was a kid, Paddy was my favourite Charlton player. I used to pretend I was him when kicking the ball around in the garden or up at Eltham Park South, wearing my very own red number 7 shirt.
Fortunately I've got to know him a little through cricket and he really is the most lovely, down-to-earth bloke. He loves Charlton and this is a sad end to his association with the club.
Comments
All the best for the future Paddy
Great player and servant to the club. All the best and see you back down the Valley in August.
https://chicagoaddick.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/roast-em-paddy/
Best wishes Colin :-)
Was once at the Valley when some mates hired the pitch. Two of my kids came along, they'd have been about 9 at the time. At one point they were sitting in the home dugout, and started playing with the phone which connects up to (i guess) the directors' box. I yelled at them to stop mucking about, but they insisted Paddy had told them to go ahead & play with it.... don't think that would happen at the Emirates, somehow.
Really hope he is a presence at The Valley for many more years.... but keeping dry at half time now...
I hope you get your wish to join the superb team of hosts in the hospitality lounges.
Thank you Paddy for everything you've done for Charlton as a player, groundsman and ambassador. Enjoy your future and never forget you're loved by many.
I know it's been on here before but I couldn't resist. Action from 2.43:
I'm really pleased to see NWCorner's post that he took a package and I really hope that he gets to enjoy a long, happy and healthy retirement. If he becomes part of the match day as a host, then so much the better.
Colin "Paddy" Powell is my all-time favourite Charlton player and a true hero and legend of this club. I played (tried to anyway) right-wing because of Paddy. When I was making my confirmation, I asked for Colin as my Confirmation name. I was told that wasn't possible as it had to be a saint's name. Little did they know, he WAS a saint for us! I took Patrick as the best alternative :-)
Have been lucky to meet him on a few occasions, but I am always star struck. Have loved his Q&A sessions over the years, usually with Keith, Halesy and Theo. Always some brilliant stories from Paddy and all of them.
A warm, humble and friendly man. A brilliant footballer and groundsman and a true Charlton legend. It was a great honour to have seen him play and I still got a buzz of pride, knowing he was my favourite, watching him tend the pitch over the years.
Best of luck Paddy and thank you so much for so many very happy memories.
The days of Killer, Flash, Keefy and Paddy - what a team.
All the very best mate!
I was lucky enough to meet him a few times through cricket and during his time at Margate as assistant manager.
He also served the Club well as groundsman and whoever tried to lay the blame for the Barnsley postponement at his door should be thoroughly ashamed.
I sincerely hope this is a "positive" redundancy in that an opportunity is being taken to reward a loyal servant financially as he approaches retirement.
Fortunately I've got to know him a little through cricket and he really is the most lovely, down-to-earth bloke.
He loves Charlton and this is a sad end to his association with the club.
Thank you Paddy and good luck.