Think I missed 3 games that season and none after the 0-0 at Barnsley on 1 October. Thought Hales got sent off for the assault on Tartt, or maybe it was a suspension thereafter for accumulated bookings? Stood on the side under cover.
The song at the time was actually:-
"Hark now wherever you may be We are the famous CAFC We'll follow you wherever you may be For we are top of Division 3"
Loved that season. Plymouth and Ipswich in the cup, night away games at Swindon, Walsall, Burnley and Blackpool.
There should be some footage somewhere of our 3-2 defeat at Sheff Utd as most of the matches were called off because of the snow so was featured on The Big Match.
Yes, I was there with a couple of chums from work. One was a Canadian guy who hadn't seen much live football before. He had his eyes opened that day even though we were seated in the main stand. We got the train to Chesterfield and we found a friendly pub in the town. As I recall, Killer was having an ongoing spat with one of Chesterfield's defenders, Colin Tartt (yes, that was his name). He had got Killer sent off in the earlier game at the Valley and it hadn't been forgotten. I think Tartt might have been stretchered off after an off the ball incident which none of the officials seemed to spot!
What a great start to the day (seeing that goal) went to quite a few aways that season but not that one....great touch by Robinson.
Martin Robinson was a very skilful and effective player, always buzzing just behind the strikers, setting up goals and scoring a good few himself: 13 in all competitions that joyous season. Walshy scored 18, and Killer 23. We were a tough team, playing with great flair and panache.
Several Charlton records were broken in 1980-81: most wins (32), most away wins (15), most clean sheets (22), and longest unbeaten run (17).
As an aside the difference between Killer's strike in the away game is remarkably different to that of Phil Walker's winner in the 1-0 home victory the previous November. A tap in on the line from a delicious right wing cross from Paddy.
It was one of those where we all knew it was going to be a goal before it happened. The Covered end went into raptures as this was a real top of the table game and Chie- ester-field had over a 1000 in attendance, big numbers for them.
That covered end. I loved it and miss it so much. The noise, the surges after every goal. When it was packed for the big game it had no equal in my eyes. It is why I keep going today, but it is not the same and I fully understand why the Charlton experience today is putting off the younger pups on CL.
Did just about all of them that season. Carlisle away in the league cup was great. After the game we went to a night club and the bloke on the door apologised to us and told us it was 25p to get in as they had a live band on. Got a train back to Euston at about half one in the morning.
I was there that day, a mate of mine lived in an old pit village a few miles away, out on the pop in Chesterfield both Fri & Sat night - great WE. I remember the idiotic Derby fans and one laying prostate on the cold terracing with a Doctor Martin boot print on his face - he took quite a beating!!!
As an aside the difference between Killer's strike in the away game is remarkably different to that of Phil Walker's winner in the 1-0 home victory the previous November. A tap in on the line from a delicious right wing cross from Paddy.
It was one of those where we all knew it was going to be a goal before it happened. The Covered end went into raptures as this was a real top of the table game and Chie- ester-field had over a 1000 in attendance, big numbers for them.
That covered end. I loved it and miss it so much. The noise, the surges after every goal. When it was packed for the big game it had no equal in my eyes. It is why I keep going today, but it is not the same and I fully understand why the Charlton experience today is putting off the younger pups on CL.
I agree with you entirely, bolloxbolder: despite the smaller crowds, the fire and passion both on and off the pitch was marvellous; that team had bags of skill, too. In contrast, our football today is utterly joyless.
Yes, that great Cup run of 80-81 that began at Harlow in the first round - Hales's shot-cum-cross was recently posted here on CL - and ended in the fifth round at Ipswich, who were top of the First Division. I can still picture Killer's goal in the fourth round at Fulham. He received the ball with his back to goal on the corner of the 18-yard-box and sent a gloriously weighted arc over his shoulder that evaded the keeper, rooted and dumb-struck. Cue: delirium on the open terrace. Killer was later sent off, which just added to the fever, the drama, the fire.
Yes I was there. A very, very memorable game. Derby's match that day was postponed so and many of their fans helped swell the crowd. One of Killer's finest goals but in the event was overshadowed by a breathtaking display between the sticks from Nicky Johns. During the second half Nicky made countless spectacular saves without which it could have been a heavy defeat for us. Happy days!
I well remember that day at Saltergate and Killer's strike - but I can't recall ever seeing it on video before. Good find, AFKA.
And a fortnight later on the coach going up to Chester, reckoning that we'd win easily - yet getting caned by a lower table side who really wanted it that day. Sealand Road was one of those typically lower League grounds that you couldn't quite believe was where you were actually watching Charlton play - let alone get stuffed 4-0.
After the disaster of the last Andy Nelson team the season before and relegated out of sight, that Mike Bailey promotion winning team was a breath of fresh air - and it was built mainly around the relegated side plus the teenaged Paul Walsh.
Saw most of the away games that season and the Cup run, promotion finally being clinched at Carlisle after an almighty wobble towards the end of the season that threatened to cost us dearly. Coming back on the train all the way from Carlisle with the players on board, everyone singing themselves hoarse, "Mike Bailey, Mike Bailey, Mike Bailey .....".
There was one more game to play, Gillingham at The Valley, and if I remember we won that 2-1.......... so in the end, promotion was clinched with a bit to spare.
Funny, I remeber that season like it was yesterday. Even that quote about the "penned in hordes from the Surrey Docks" at Ipswich, proving once again don't believe all you read in the papers. There were indeed about 8,000 penned in there, however there were probably weren't very many from Rotherhithe. I suppose we could have blamed them if it got pwoper norty of course :-)
Remember more about this season than pretty much every other since. Attended every match home and away. You always had a chance with Killer. The less he did in a match, the more surer it became that he would score. Kill-er! Kill-er! Oh for him today.
Yep, I was there at the old Saltergate ground: 17 January 1981. We were running away with the Third Division, had won 14 of the previous 17 games, but a fortnight after Chesterfield we got hammered 4-0 at Chester (I was there too) and won only six of the remaining 18. We squeaked over the line, promoted in third place behind Rotherham and Barnsley. We had great players, full of character: Steve Gritt, Les Berry, Paddy Powell, Martin Robinson, Paul Walsh and of course the incomparable Killer. Very happy days.
I think the Chester game at Sealand Road was our first away defeat of the season.
I got 'removed' from the ground by the local constabulary and whilst outside came face to face with half a dozen locals who decided they needed to have a pop at a cockney on his own. Being a bit light on my feet in those days -yeh, I know - I had it on my toes with them chasing after me. It was like the keystone cops and they got nowhere near me.
A couple on these fine boards will remember 'The Bags'
If you are who I think you are, then you also were involved in a 'brick through the car window' incident at Oxford on Boxing Day that season
That must have been goal of the season although we did score a few more crackers that year.
My favourite was Killer's diving header at Preistfield. There was a great photo of this in the following home programme but obviously not captured on TV
I was there. They had a striker called Ernie Moss who was a real handful.
I remember when Kettering came to Selhurst in the FA Cup and Ernie Moss gave us a bit of a hard time. Him and his strike partner Robbie Cooke, were a bit too good to be classed as non-league strikers.
Regarding the Hales goal, he always said that shooting from outside the box was a waste of time. Maybe he just forgot himself that day!
I was there. They had a striker called Ernie Moss who was a real handful.
I remember when Kettering came to Selhurst in the FA Cup and Ernie Moss gave us a bit of a hard time. Him and his strike partner Robbie Cooke, were a bit too good to be classed as non-league strikers.
Ernie Moss is a club legend at Chesterfield and played League football for about 20 years, before rocking up at Kettering - no wonder he looked useful!
He must have been best part of 40 years old when he played for Kettering v Charlton, in that Cup game.
I was there that day....stood down the side and was behind the line of the shot when he it, it was always going in....he missed a sitter soon after that would have made the game safe, we witheld some hairy moments towards the end...my lasting memory of that match was Halesey 5 minutes from the end doing Colin Tartt there centre back as the same player did him at the valley a few months erarlie...trouble was Hales was booked and missed the ipswich match in the cup as a result.
We had Plymouth and Carlisle (in the League Cup) away on Tuesday nights that season. I did them both.
I was a fecking idiot even then, though we did win them both 2-1
Plus Blackpool on a wednesday night FFS....
That night me and Bollox bolder got the coach, we detoured back via somewhere near the Oval (Kennington not Blackfen), to drop off one old dear who was totally pissed. I think I got home about 430, up for work about 3 hours later. Couldn't do it now!
That Chesterfield game was another epic, Halesey caught up with a bloke called Colin Tartt who had done him at The Valley, and nearly decapitated him. I honestly think the ref couldn't believe what he saw and only issued a booking. Mind you, given todays disciplinary code I doubt killer or a lot of the blokes who marked him would make it to half time very often.
LOl Blackpool away was a tuesday night far from me being pedantic but i remeber it so well as i met my best friend that night a blackpool fan and we have been great friends ever since.
I was there. They had a striker called Ernie Moss who was a real handful.
I remember when Kettering came to Selhurst in the FA Cup and Ernie Moss gave us a bit of a hard time. Him and his strike partner Robbie Cooke, were a bit too good to be classed as non-league strikers.
Ernie Moss is a club legend at Chesterfield and played League football for about 20 years, before rocking up at Kettering - no wonder he looked useful!
He must have been best part of 40 years old when he played for Kettering v Charlton, in that Cup game.
Poor Ernie these days is not at all well he is suffering with Alzheimer's he still gets to Chesterfields games though. He is a legend in these parts.
I was there that day....stood down the side and was behind the line of the shot when he it, it was always going in....he missed a sitter soon after that would have made the game safe, we witheld some hairy moments towards the end...my lasting memory of that match was Halesey 5 minutes from the end doing Colin Tartt there centre back as the same player did him at the valley a few months erarlie...trouble was Hales was booked and missed the ipswich match in the cup as a result.
@sussex_pete this is how I recall the goal/game. Glad someone else has similar recollection. This still show the semi-covered terrace.
Comments
The song at the time was actually:-
"Hark now wherever you may be
We are the famous CAFC
We'll follow you wherever you may be
For we are top of Division 3"
Loved that season. Plymouth and Ipswich in the cup, night away games at Swindon, Walsall, Burnley and Blackpool.
There should be some footage somewhere of our 3-2 defeat at Sheff Utd as most of the matches were called off because of the snow so was featured on The Big Match.
Several Charlton records were broken in 1980-81: most wins (32), most away wins (15), most clean sheets (22), and longest unbeaten run (17).
It was one of those where we all knew it was going to be a goal before it happened. The Covered end went into raptures as this was a real top of the table game and Chie- ester-field had over a 1000 in attendance, big numbers for them.
That covered end. I loved it and miss it so much. The noise, the surges after every goal. When it was packed for the big game it had no equal in my eyes. It is why I keep going today, but it is not the same and I fully understand why the Charlton experience today is putting off the younger pups on CL.
Yes, that great Cup run of 80-81 that began at Harlow in the first round - Hales's shot-cum-cross was recently posted here on CL - and ended in the fifth round at Ipswich, who were top of the First Division. I can still picture Killer's goal in the fourth round at Fulham. He received the ball with his back to goal on the corner of the 18-yard-box and sent a gloriously weighted arc over his shoulder that evaded the keeper, rooted and dumb-struck. Cue: delirium on the open terrace. Killer was later sent off, which just added to the fever, the drama, the fire.
Those really were the days.
Good find, AFKA.
And a fortnight later on the coach going up to Chester, reckoning that we'd win easily - yet getting caned by a lower table side who really wanted it that day. Sealand Road was one of those typically lower League grounds that you couldn't quite believe was where you were actually watching Charlton play - let alone get stuffed 4-0.
After the disaster of the last Andy Nelson team the season before and relegated out of sight, that Mike Bailey promotion winning team was a breath of fresh air - and it was built mainly around the relegated side plus the teenaged Paul Walsh.
Saw most of the away games that season and the Cup run, promotion finally being clinched at Carlisle after an almighty wobble towards the end of the season that threatened to cost us dearly. Coming back on the train all the way from Carlisle with the players on board, everyone singing themselves hoarse, "Mike Bailey, Mike Bailey, Mike Bailey .....".
There was one more game to play, Gillingham at The Valley, and if I remember we won that 2-1.......... so in the end, promotion was clinched with a bit to spare.
Sad I know, but this is still one of my all time favourite threads.
Regarding the Hales goal, he always said that shooting from outside the box was a waste of time. Maybe he just forgot himself that day!
He must have been best part of 40 years old when he played for Kettering v Charlton, in that Cup game.