I work on the edge of the market research industry. Until a few years ago, loyalty to brands was gauged by how quickly you recalled the brand and its advertising campaign. It was a bit more complex than that, but you get the gist. Nowadays, it’s about which brands stir your emotions and which advertising campaigns make you laugh, cry, get angry, surprise you etc. Of course, the more recent new way is more accurate.
So, I wondered on a dog walk this weekend in rural Sussex – how do I feel about the brand called Charlton Athletic. Yes, yes, I know we are supporters not customers and Charlton is a football club not a brand, but please bear with me. What emotions do you feel when you think of Charlton Athletic? Has it always been the same? Or, does it change over time?
Two things prompted this thought in my head. Specifically, the post @ entitled “New season nostalgia” and the general feeling (of course, I may be wrong) that Lifers generally feel less passionate about all things CAFC than a while ago. Whether it is threads about not renewing season tickets or various regular posters giving the impression that things ain’t what they used to be, I am not sure.
So, first, I must ask myself “Has my passion changed?” Certainly, since I started supporting Charlton over 50 years ago, I feel differently, but that’s true about most things in life. There’s a deep rooted love of Charlton that will never go away. Every time, I see a latest score, there’s a sinking feeling almost like nothing else when I see a goal conceded or a player sent off. So, there’s still plenty of feeling.
And then, I was thinking about particular teams over the years. There were certain teams that I felt close to, although I knew none of the players personally. They were not necessarily in the highest division or the most successful, but something felt right. For me, it was the Charlie Wright era of the late 60s/early 70s, the latter Curbs years when Di Canio and Parker excelled and the Powell team that lifted from us League 1 and into the Championship. Don’t get me wrong – the individuals I’ve named are just one of several that I could have mentioned. These teams span nearly 50 years, so it’s not an age thing.
Of course, some of it may be opportunity. In the busy years of having young children, Charlton was relegated in my priorities and I’ve also spent a lot of my life living or travelling in Asia.
So, where do I stand now? A bit nonplussed, if I’m honest. I miss the Kermorgant and Morrison days and I can’t explain why. It was some connection with the team – an emotion of all sorts. Before anyone posts ‘move on’ (and, of course, they are entitled to), I think I have to accept that like any relationship, my relationship with Charlton goes up and down. It’s still pretty stable, we’re never thinking of breaking up (even when we lose to Millwall), but it’s not filling with me with too much emotion right now.
Someone posted a week or so ago about whether we had too many foreigners. With my politically correct hat on, perhaps, I replied something like that I didn’t care where they were born as long as they gave their all for Charlton. But I meant it and that is arguably what I ask. A bunch of players that give their all – and, of course, management and staff. Because, perhaps, that’s what I do in my professional life.
Am I excited about this season? Well, sort of. I feel as though I am on a knife edge. If the new recruits ‘do the business’ – and, by that, I mean give their all not, necessarily win every game – I am ready to be at as many games as I possibly can. If not, I will get to some games, but find good excuses not to make others. I travel a lot and in the League One season, I freely admit that I would carefully schedule flights and meetings so that I could get to some games.
So, what’s your emotional connection with Charlton Athletic right now? How’s your marriage with Charlton Athletic? Stable? On the rocks? I have to say I admire the
@Fanny Fanackapan’s of this world, who seem to head to the likes of Huddersfield on a Tuesday night come what may. Am I the odd one out or is anyone else as uncertain as me right now yet equally ready to throw all their emotions into this great club?
Comments
That said I have nothing like the enthusiasm I used to have for any of it but then I am an old git who seems to get knackered very easily these days and can just about manage to continue to hold a job down but has little inclination or energy to do anything that does not absolutely HAVE to be done.
I'm flattered that you took the time to respond this post - you obviously felt that it absolutely had to be done!
I guess as loyal as you are to BMW you'd buy a Mercedes if it came to it.
Would you go to Millwall or Gillingham if Charlton closed up ? I wouldn't - in emotional and often ingrained family / society situations like football it goes beyond brand and into tradition and that isn't replicated or compromised.
I don't go to games that often but it's nice to know I can. Ownership and nationality of players is a secondary issue.
To be honest, I'm 25, and weekends just seem to be taken up with other social occasions and playing sport. When I get a bit older I'm sure i'll become more regular at The Valley again
In answer to your question, yes the marriage is still very much on.
this ownership experiment feels a bit weird and has drained some of my love from the club (something I would have believed impossible)
keeping my boys interested in us will be a lot easier with promotion to the Premiership but brainwashing them is prolly one of the main reasons I'll be going to games this season
Zero interest in watching any other team live , except my kids playing
"Basics" for me is a beer, game of football, laugh, mates / family - a modicum of success is a bonus
Play sport yourself while you can and enjoy it.
It's the memories of my Dad first taking me in the mid 90s, watching my first heroes in Kinsella, Brown, Robinson, Mendonca and all the other personal favourites over the years.
I am one of those fans who is still struggling little by little with the RD era to get my emotions back to the level of the Murray & Varney era, that was kept alive during the last ownership thanks to not only having a man i could respect in general but who also happened to be one of my childhood heroes in the dugout.
I am sure i will, as im still here but it still takes some getting used to, as for better or worse, things like the marketing style shift just don't make me feel like its fully the Charlton that started my love of the club, possibly due to my generation being spoiled by always feeling more a part of the club then just customers.
My love for CAFC keeps me motivated not only to watch football but to take an interest in lots more besides .. all in all .. I am Charlton 'til I die
I loved the fact that I could walk into a pub, talk about football, and I could go on endlessly about what a great bunch of lads played for us and they would all agree that Chris Powell was an absolute gem. It made me feel proud.
Nowadays I don't have that connection with the team/management at all, minus the likes of Jackson/Solly. I want to see them do well, and will still be there every week, but thats because I don't know any different.
I don't know whether it's because it seems as though players move on too often and there's a huge turnover of players every year, it seems. There have always been players coming and going but it seems as though it's an inevitability now.
Being part of 'the network' may have taken away some of our individuality in some people's eyes, but I don't really think about the network other than what good signings we may get from it.
It might be because the characters seem to be ones that I can't relate to as much. I don't know why this is either, maybe because of online presence and that sort of thing, although with these dares per 100 season tickets the club look to be trying to bridge this gap.
But, it may just be because that season was so entertaining, nothing we've experienced since has come close. We absolutely smashed that league 1 season. Not many teams get 100 points. Of course that same team struggled since, but they could be remembered for that season that was so entertaining it seems as though the only thing that went wrong was conceding a hatful of goals to Notts County in the first half at home before a spirited fight back. It's much more difficult in this division to produce that kind of excitement, and maybe, even considering the underlying affection we all hold for Charlton, so many people remember that time as the best simply because it was the most entertaining for 8 or so years.
But then I think, would it have felt the same with different people at the club? I don't think so.
Like others, I'm still frustrated by the treatment of certain individuals and the poor decisions since. I know there have also been some good ones but I guess I'm not the forgiving type.
Therefore for at least a while longer, I'll be spending 3-5pm each Saturday checking the score on Twitter. There are other reasons but it's a come down from someone who was doing 30+ games a season.
What I miss most is the drunken away days and bumping into people. I am doing my liver and wallet a lot of good, though.
1. I now have 3 children, and although I still have a season ticket (since 1999) I think it is mainly because I love my seat and always want to be able to go when I can (still around 18-20 games a season). But if their is a family occasion or we're looking at holiday dates, missing a home game isn't the big deal it was.
2. I think my lack of world football knowledge takes away some of my enjoyment. I have no issue with Charlton or any club signing foreign players, my issue is that 95% of the time I have never heard of them so I honestly haven't a clue if they are any good. I thought Polish Pete was the saviour as that's how he was sold to us as fans, turns out he wasn't! I remember the excitement of seeing players playing for others and thinking "they'd" do a good job for us, or scanning Div 2/3 and thinking "that Mark Kinsella looks quality at Colchester, I hope Curbs signs him. I think that kind of thought process added to the affinity we hold for players, but much less so now.
3. Linked to above it seems that lower league football seems so much more changeable these days, with so many short term contracts. Gone are the days that a player stays for 5 years it seems, it's one year then released and you end up playing against them next season!
4. The same counts for managers, having stability I think breeds reassurance and makes it all seem less like the business we all know it is. Luzon may not be SCP but please don't sack him after the first 6 games as they look really tricky, let's try and build a relationship with him.
I still love this club, if we lose it hurts, if we win i'm a in a good mood and . It just isn't as intense as it used to be, so a lot like marriage then!!
I think it was this great community spirit that I loved so much. I am not so proud as to the way the club has been run through the years to be honest.
After reading Richard Reddens book re the involvement of the Glikstens, I shook my head in dismay. If things had gone the way that they should we probably would not have been able to afford a season ticket! All said it is a wonderful club and I get the right hump when we lose.
The only thing I ask for is effort, ability is a bonus
My point, I guess, in my original post was that I am not sure where I am right now. I feel ready to throw myself into it all, but can feel some caution as I haven't the faintest idea how this year will go in terms of decent football and commitment. I suspect it will unravel slowly as the weeks pass.
when I first started supporting in 64 I think, around the age of 10. I used to go with mates and so the experience was more fun and enjoyable despite the many defeats witnessed.
today my charlton mates live far and wide and therefore I tend to go alone and so the highs and lows aren't shared and therefore not such an enjoyable experience.
it's also fair to say, apart from the prem years, the football has been poor with a few exceptions.
the expense of going to games has increased and so I'm more selective and expect more for my £
but I'd be devastated if anything happened to the club.