I started the day with my boys in the museum - which is excellent btw and I'd urge everyone to go along and check it out - reminiscing about and absorbing the past of our great club before protesting for the future later at both the 2.30 and 5pm gatherings.
After the match I was relatively near the front and didn't realise just how many of us were there until I saw the photos on Twitter... and these numbers will surely grow. Was great to see such a mix of supporters and made me proud to be Charlton, especially reading the swell of support from the press and fans not able to be there on social media.
I thanked Rick on Twitter for leading the charge on the 5pm protest and had a few jump in and point out there had been other protests before (including today's 2.30 one of course), and that a lot of effort had been put into organising those too - and I agree that the effort by everyone these last few weeks has been immense and shown how much we all care. As Henry pointed out the other day, what a passionate and committed resource Katrien would have at her disposal if she hadn't alienated us all.
The reason I picked out the 5pm protest today as something special though is that it felt like a defining moment - the numbers, the cross section of fans, the accompanying media build up and subsequent coverage, etc. .... Walking away at 6pm it felt like we had reached the end of the beginning, and this represented the start of the next phase.
Whether that involves Roland picking up the phone and ringing Peter Varney, or more likely the next stage of protests both in and out the ground, who knows right now.... but whatever it is, our efforts to date have paid off. When we're all united we're unbeatable, and I suspect that behind the smirks and giggles Katrien is beginning to realise that.
If she's costing him money (her stupid quotes that help motivate protests and boycott's) and its serious pocket per every other week, then he may want a CEO that's going to still be a yes man but do a much more simple job of not complicating things, from his point of view.
It's now gone to Belgian press. He doesn't give a major toss about us fans but...
I honestly think she will get sacked now out of loss of income and no sign of that stopping, and more importantly, embarrassment.
He may have to re think having a nice young woman working under him. Which is the only reason she was here in the 1st place.
She's gone I think. Matter of time he will fire her.
Really glad I made the trip today. On the drive down I was worried that there wasn't going to be enough people and wondered if my 120 mile trip was going to be for nought. I was hugely impressed with the turn out and the fact it all went off peacefully and in a mature fashion. It's an immensely proud day to be a Charlton fan and well done for those that organised it and especially everyone who took part. It was a great atmosphere and a very special moment.
To boycott and get along to protests is the double whammy to the regime. Well done WCA. Many miles traveled. What KM and Co probably fear most of all is direct confrontation. More of that will also help put the squeeze on.
I don't know if you have been mentioned yet but top marks to the supporter dressed as Darth Vader, carrying the 'Force is with us' sign. We need some humour amid all this madness.
I was right at the front great response eventually. Was dissapointed to see a lot of West stand muppets just walk on bye. Assume big mouth Sid and Uboat were one of them. ...If they were there
t. Third row of the protest, singing my heart out.
brilliant protest this evening, my son said he was proud to support Charlton on the way home, nice to meet @LeaburnForEngland and his lads in the museum pre match and well done to all who drove this galvanisation among the support.
Big travelling support next week at Colchester means we can support the players for 90 minutes and the cause before/half time/after.
To me the interim one sums up everything that is currently wrong with the club, he deserves as much stick as KM and RD and the sooner he is gone the better, I cannot ever remember disliking a manager this much.
Is there a billboard outside RD office in Belgium? This might have a big impact
Just finding his office may be a pain in the ass; he has finger in multiple pies. Would be an incredibly embarrassing gesture if we could find out where he generally works from.
If I was 69 and a multi-millionaire I'd probably work from home though!
Went to the protest before and after the game with my 9,7 and 5 year old boys The two elder ones loved it and were buzzing after the second protest we were in front of main doors a few yards back Good natured they never felt worried and enjoyed it and are beginning to have a real feel for the club The 5 year old is a lazy fuck and was complaining his legs were hurting , so we left after about 40 mins The boys were impressed I started a "she ain't got a clue " chant lol Will be there for more protests if possible , my mollycoddled boys liked getting right amongst it with South Londons finest
Walked round from the East stand with my son to register our protest. Very impressed with numbers, noise and also the radio links posted by @West2003. Momentum is gathering.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think this had been brought up before and had to be discounted as an option because of flight paths and the proximity of LCY.
I was in one of the lounges but encountered KM twice. The first time was during the pre-match protest and as she walked past me (laughing as usual), I said that I hoped she had read the Guardian today.
At half time she walked past me and I asked her why she doesn't reply to emails, as I had sent three and hadn't got a reply. She didn't look very happy that I had dared to speak to her on her own patch and didn't answer me.
I completely agree with her. How dare you approach her majesty and expect her to lower herself to talking to a customer. When you say she didn't look happy, how does she manage this while still grinning inanely?
That's probably why there was no milk for a half time cuppa in the upper north, it was payback for the rest of us because somebody stepped out of line...
Could we find out who supplies the Valley with things like milk and persuade them not to? It would certainly make things difficult, running a hospitality lounge with no beer/food/wine etc.
Was proud to be a Charlton Athletic Fan yesterday. Did the 2.20 to 2.50 shift and 45 mins of the late shift.( too many Varney armies, My voice sounded like Lee Marvin when i arrived at the other half's Family party 90 minutes late) Sorry to the person who's eye i took out with my Black and white Golf umbrella, but as i said to them it was for a good cause and they will look back ( with their good eye ) in years to come and feel proud. The double whammy of the early and late protests was the dogs.
My old Dad, at 2.15, Who used to have a kick about with The great Sam (Not Me ) Bartram when he was a young lad and living in Charlton, Went up to the statue and polished his boots,
I said, give Charlton fans a cause and decent football to watch and they will prove what great fans they are. (we are still waiting for the Latter)
Let's hope this is the beginning of the End for KM and RM.; and not just the End of the beginning.
Comments
After the match I was relatively near the front and didn't realise just how many of us were there until I saw the photos on Twitter... and these numbers will surely grow. Was great to see such a mix of supporters and made me proud to be Charlton, especially reading the swell of support from the press and fans not able to be there on social media.
I thanked Rick on Twitter for leading the charge on the 5pm protest and had a few jump in and point out there had been other protests before (including today's 2.30 one of course), and that a lot of effort had been put into organising those too - and I agree that the effort by everyone these last few weeks has been immense and shown how much we all care. As Henry pointed out the other day, what a passionate and committed resource Katrien would have at her disposal if she hadn't alienated us all.
The reason I picked out the 5pm protest today as something special though is that it felt like a defining moment - the numbers, the cross section of fans, the accompanying media build up and subsequent coverage, etc. .... Walking away at 6pm it felt like we had reached the end of the beginning, and this represented the start of the next phase.
Whether that involves Roland picking up the phone and ringing Peter Varney, or more likely the next stage of protests both in and out the ground, who knows right now.... but whatever it is, our efforts to date have paid off. When we're all united we're unbeatable, and I suspect that behind the smirks and giggles Katrien is beginning to realise that.
What a day.
It's now gone to Belgian press. He doesn't give a major toss about us fans but...
I honestly think she will get sacked now out of loss of income and no sign of that stopping, and more importantly, embarrassment.
He may have to re think having a nice young woman working under him. Which is the only reason she was here in the 1st place.
She's gone I think. Matter of time he will fire her.
Big travelling support next week at Colchester means we can support the players for 90 minutes and the cause before/half time/after.
To me the interim one sums up everything that is currently wrong with the club, he deserves as much stick as KM and RD and the sooner he is gone the better, I cannot ever remember disliking a manager this much.
On a personal note, it felt really good singing, shouting, and (best of all) shaking a fist at the incompetent buggers on the first floor.
Now we need to up the anti.
If I was 69 and a multi-millionaire I'd probably work from home though!
You can also find them on Audioboom here:
https://audioboom.com/playlists/1304197
The two elder ones loved it and were buzzing after the second protest we were in front of main doors a few yards back
Good natured they never felt worried and enjoyed it and are beginning to have a real feel for the club
The 5 year old is a lazy fuck and was complaining his legs were hurting , so we left after about 40 mins
The boys were impressed I started a "she ain't got a clue " chant lol
Will be there for more protests if possible , my mollycoddled boys liked getting right amongst it with South Londons finest
Charlton till we die
I'll see what i can find out.
I just want to say to them 'and breathe'
Did the 2.20 to 2.50 shift and 45 mins of the late shift.( too many Varney armies,
My voice sounded like Lee Marvin when i arrived at the other half's Family party 90 minutes late)
Sorry to the person who's eye i took out with my Black and white Golf umbrella,
but as i said to them it was for a good cause and they
will look back ( with their good eye ) in years to come and feel proud.
The double whammy of the early and late protests was the dogs.
My old Dad, at 2.15, Who used to have a kick about with The
great Sam (Not Me ) Bartram when he was a young lad and living in Charlton,
Went up to the statue and polished his boots,
I said, give Charlton fans a cause and decent football to watch and they will prove what great fans they are. (we are still waiting for the Latter)
Let's hope this is the beginning of the End for KM and RM.;
and not just the End of the beginning.