Met Paddy a couple of times years ago - the first time in the Valley Club in 1975, immediately after beating Bobby Charlton's Preston and celebrating promotion. Players and fans were mixing together; Paddy was happy to spend time with me discussing some of his techniques on the ball - he even bought me a drink! I was 19 at the time, and he made a brilliant evening just perfect.
A true Charlton legend. One of my all-time favourite players, from the exciting 70s forward line team of Killer, Flash, Peacock, Horsefield. Have met him many times, he is a top bloke. All the best for your retirement Paddy.
Really sad to hear that he's leaving. One of the things I enjoy most about coming back is to see Paddy out on the pitch often with his pitch fork in hand. My mind then automatically returns to those wonderful days in the seventies, standing beside my beloved dad in the North Stand watching Paddy glide majestically down the wing leaving quality full backs on their backside in his wake. What a winger he was, the finest I have ever seen. Often when one finally gets to meet their heroes, it can be disappointing. Not with Paddy, he's such a down to earth modest man who, when you get talking to him, you feel like you've known him all your life. Please stick around the Valley Paddy and enjoy you're retirement, you deserve it.
I met Paddy for the first and only time last year when I visited the club shop about a month before the season started. He showed me the pitch and the work that the ground staff had been doing. I have a photo with him stood on the pitch.
Too young to really remember seeing him play, and don't know enough about groundsmanship to truly appreciate his work on the pitch, but to me he'd be a Charlton Legend if only for the Play Off Final Commentary.
Best of luck with whatever you're planning next Paddy.
Fine player, fine person - saw him play for Bromley towards the end of his career, always exciting with the ball at his feet and looking for a run. Every best wish
I had my early Charlton heroes, Ray Treacy being the first, but after regularly watching our blonde winger in the 70's, Colin 'Paddy' Powell became and remains my all time CAFC hero.
As someone who used to try to ply his footballing trade down the left or right flank as a kid, I was in awe of his touch and crossing ability. His method of hugging the touchline waiting for, firstly the ball and then his opponent to get close, before collecting one and ghosting past the other was a joy to behold. I tried on many occassions to emulate Colin and to be fair managed to succeed in the 'waiting for the ball and opponent' bit. It was the 'ghosting past' section of the process that I couldn't quite grasp.
Messrs Hales and Flanagan to name but two, may not have had the success at Charlton had it not been for Paddy's abilitiies and I feel privileged to have been able to watch Colin and that trio in their pomp. It was never dull that's for sure!!!
Having been lucky enough to watch him live from the Covered End and various other stands across the country, I was luckier still to get to meet him later in life as I raised money for Steve Gritt's charity the BBSF, where he regularly assisted in fundraising events. Of course more recently as I have blagged my way into the backgorund at the Valley, I have met Colin more regularly and despite his retiscence even managed an interview or two.
I am sure we have all had times when you meet someone who you have held in lofty esteem but when you finally meet them in person, it is something of a let down as they don't quite match up to your earlier exhaulted opinion. Not in Colin's case. The man is a gentlemen, a great guy who always said hello and always had time to talk to me, even though I doubt he ever really knew who I was, other than being someone who he saw about quite a bit doing radio stuff.
The word legend is bandied about regularly and sometimes without foundation. But on this occasion, in my opinion it is completely justified and possibly doesn't even come close to describing the impact that Colin has had both on and off the Valley turf he has graced for so long.
Enjoy the rest Paddy, you richly deserve the plaudits that will rightly come your way.
Paddy you are a legend. There are hundreds of lifers on here who need their lawns mowing. Its got your name all over it son. Only joking! All the very best.
When I was kid Paddy was one my heroes. I loved watching him play. He was quick as well, as the clip in the vid shows. At the end of the games in the 70's us kids used to run onto the pitch at the end of every game, it was Ok then and no one got in a flap about it. Paddy must have signed about 15 autographs for me. Along with Killer and Mendonca, Paddy is one my fav Charlton players of all time. I wish him all the best for the future and just a ton of thanks for the entertainment and memories.
He was also my first real hero. Coming into League football in his mid 20's , I was surprised that he did not picked up to go higher but am grateful that he didn't.
As well as Flanagan and Hales era in the 70's. Lets not forget his role in Mike Bailey's promotion winning 1980/81 team during Hales's second spell and when he was partnered by Paul Walsh . Paddy may have slowed down by then but his distribution was still of the highest calibre. I remember an important goal he scored at Elm Park ,Reading during the run in . I was gutted when he left for Gillingham along with Dick Tydeman early the next season to join Keith Peacock.
I saw him play for them that season at Millwall when he helped the Gills to a 2-1 victory . I then saw him a couple of seasons later turn out for Dartford.
One of my favourites as a player and some great pitches. I will always remember him as a player though - he was a great player. I wish him a happy retirement.
Paddy top bloke , super player one of my heroes when i first started going to the valley in 1976 , still see him in new eltham now and he always stops for a chat , cafc through and through .
Paddy top bloke , super player one of my heroes when i first started going to the valley in 1976 , still see him in new eltham now and he always stops for a chat , cafc through and through .
It say's a lot about Paddy's wing play when you consider that virtually every centre forward that he played with was good for 20+ goals per season. Horsfield, Hales, Flanagan, Robinson, Walsh. Then we had to wait donkey's years until Mendonca came along.
Thanks Paddy. My second favourite player ever (1st is also called Powell). Particularly remember him taking Southampton apart in a 6-2 and a goal against Blackburn that the ref (Clive Thomas) applauded
Yes that screamer against Blackburn is one of my memories and him skinning defenders on a regular basis. A great player to watch and very best wishes to Colin Paddy Powell for the future.
I have lots of stories about Paddy - including him signing his autograph on my sister's arm in pink felt-tip pen; playing cricket against him; and him always smiling and waving in reply to me shouting "hello Paddy" to him before a game even though he had no idea who I was.
But the best thing I will remember about him is that it was such an irony that Charlton entrusted the care of the pitch at the Valley to the one player who rarely ever used it: surely anyone who saw him play would agree that he never touched the grass, he floated, gracefully, a few inches above it.
Remember well Paddy's winner against Brighton under the floodlights ........ Paddy making his run haring down the right wing close to the touchline; picked up the pass, dropped a shoulder dummying right then cut inside his man and hit one helluva piledriver from all of 25 yards.
I can still see it in my mind's eye.
Stunning goal, crowning a great fightback by Charlton - after chucking a 2-0 lead, losing 2-3, before finishing 4-3 winners.
Love that photo. Too blurred for me to make out, but that's where my dad and I used to stand. Me up on the railings with the othe kids, him halfway up the steps with friends & we were at that game.
Really am loving this thread and all the lovely words being said about Paddy. Not in any way a surprise, but just wonderful to read.
I put him down as my favourite player in one of Colin Camerons books and I'd still go with that - although we've had the good times at higher levels from time to time, football wise nothing beats the excitement of the Killer - Paddy -Flash days. The only game I've seen that rivals that Brighton 4-3 was an end of season kickabout at Wembley against Sunderland a few years back.
Comments
Never forgotten, Paddy.
Thank you.
You truly are a Charlton legend.
Always seemed to keep the pitch in good nick until he was let down but the powers that be in the last couple of seasons.
Wish him well for the future and hope he will enjoy his retirement.
Best of luck with whatever you're planning next Paddy.
Thank you for everything. We wish you every happiness in the future.
As someone who used to try to ply his footballing trade down the left or right flank as a kid, I was in awe of his touch and crossing ability. His method of hugging the touchline waiting for, firstly the ball and then his opponent to get close, before collecting one and ghosting past the other was a joy to behold. I tried on many occassions to emulate Colin and to be fair managed to succeed in the 'waiting for the ball and opponent' bit. It was the 'ghosting past' section of the process that I couldn't quite grasp.
Messrs Hales and Flanagan to name but two, may not have had the success at Charlton had it not been for Paddy's abilitiies and I feel privileged to have been able to watch Colin and that trio in their pomp. It was never dull that's for sure!!!
Having been lucky enough to watch him live from the Covered End and various other stands across the country, I was luckier still to get to meet him later in life as I raised money for Steve Gritt's charity the BBSF, where he regularly assisted in fundraising events.
Of course more recently as I have blagged my way into the backgorund at the Valley, I have met Colin more regularly and despite his retiscence even managed an interview or two.
I am sure we have all had times when you meet someone who you have held in lofty esteem but when you finally meet them in person, it is something of a let down as they don't quite match up to your earlier exhaulted opinion. Not in Colin's case. The man is a gentlemen, a great guy who always said hello and always had time to talk to me, even though I doubt he ever really knew who I was, other than being someone who he saw about quite a bit doing radio stuff.
The word legend is bandied about regularly and sometimes without foundation. But on this occasion, in my opinion it is completely justified and possibly doesn't even come close to describing the impact that Colin has had both on and off the Valley turf he has graced for so long.
Enjoy the rest Paddy, you richly deserve the plaudits that will rightly come your way.
More importantly, THANKYOU!
There are hundreds of lifers on here who need their lawns mowing.
Its got your name all over it son. Only joking!
All the very best.
At the end of the games in the 70's us kids used to run onto the pitch at the end of every game, it was Ok then and no one got in a flap about it. Paddy must have signed about 15 autographs for me.
Along with Killer and Mendonca, Paddy is one my fav Charlton players of all time. I wish him all the best for the future and just a ton of thanks for the entertainment and memories.
As well as Flanagan and Hales era in the 70's. Lets not forget his role in Mike Bailey's promotion winning 1980/81 team during Hales's second spell and when he was partnered by Paul Walsh . Paddy may have slowed down by then but his distribution was still of the highest calibre. I remember an important goal he scored at Elm Park ,Reading during the run in . I was gutted when he left for Gillingham along with Dick Tydeman early the next season to join Keith Peacock.
I saw him play for them that season at Millwall when he helped the Gills to a 2-1 victory . I then saw him a couple of seasons later turn out for Dartford.
But the best thing I will remember about him is that it was such an irony that Charlton entrusted the care of the pitch at the Valley to the one player who rarely ever used it: surely anyone who saw him play would agree that he never touched the grass, he floated, gracefully, a few inches above it.
Good luck, Paddy!
Tuesday 4th October 1977. Charlton Athletic 4 (2) (Tydeman 16, McAuley 31, Peacock 66, Powell 71) Brighton and Hove Albion 3 (1) (Ward 38 57 (pen), Winstanley 62)
The Valley. Att: 19,098.
Charlton: Wood, Penfold, Warman, Tydeman, Giles, Berry, Powell, Abrahams (Gritt 77), Flanagan, Peacock, McAuley.
Photo from Hull City I think?
Great memories of Paddy the player and huge respect for the fine work he did as our groundsman for many years.
All the very best Paddy, you will always be our hero.
I can still see it in my mind's eye.
Stunning goal, crowning a great fightback by Charlton - after chucking a 2-0 lead, losing 2-3, before finishing 4-3 winners.
Really am loving this thread and all the lovely words being said about Paddy. Not in any way a surprise, but just wonderful to read.