You will never understand what it means to be a Charlton fan and whilst it is gutting to have been relegated its just another step in what it is to be an Addick.
This is a little emotive and written in a rush before I go for a meeting but let me attempt to go someway to try to explain to why we differ
We've seen our club decimated by previous Chairmen.
Lost our home and forced to ground share; one club, which acted, from the ticket office to oppo fans, like some sort of smug young upstart and took every opportunity to gloat at their temporary elevation and ultimately show their complete lack of class. And then a second club that didn't have the same self-esteem issues therefore had nothing to try and prove and treated us well and with open arms.
We've physically helped to rebuild our club; how many other clubs can say that if it wasn't for their fans they wouldn't be where they are now?
As a group of fans we went to the polls to get the club back to achieve what we wanted, to come home, and offer the club we love a genuine future.
We've seen the good times; Wembley Playoff win and following that with winning the Championship 2 years later.
We've experienced the Promised Land; 8 out of the past 10 seasons have been spent in the top flight, with the other two being trophy winning, making it around 30% of the past 100yrs spent in the top league in the country. Something than the Millwall, Palace and Gills fans on here cant boast of, EVEN if they were to combine their entire history.
But with every journey you expect a little pain. This is that pain!
However like with every other set-back I've experienced over the 27 years I've been supporting CAFC their is hope; We will have money to spend next season, we have strong ST sales, own or own ground and have a passionate and loyal fan base, that thanks to this past 10 years of success, has been increased and reborn due to the excellent stewardship and marketing initiatives, well regarded as some of the most innovative in the industry and subsequently copied.
And even if we don't bounce back at the 1st time of asking it doesn't really matter cos I'm proud of my club, what it has achieved and the way it has conducted itself!!! Can all of you say you've experienced the same sort of roller coaster ride over the past 15/20 years following your club with a feeling that everyone connected with the club, from Supporter to Chairman, has the same end goal? Unless you follow the Big 4, I doubt there is any other club in the country that has had the levels of success we’ve had considering the nadir we had come from. Can you all say you feel a sense of value for money and community from your club or are you a times left with a feeling of having been fleeced and just a “customer”?
I can and that's why I'm proud to say that I'M CHARLTON TILL I DIE!!!!
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Comments
next season could also be the best chance we've got of playing at Wembley for a while (obviously I'd prefer automatic promotion but I wouldn't mind another day out!)
Agree 100%. Having looked at all the pros and cons of next season in the Championship and realising it's not all bad, that one sent a shiver up the spine!
Only if we make the league cup final too. Our record at Wembley is
Won (play off)
Lost (Full members cup)
Won (FA Cup not sponsored by anyone)
Lost (FA Cup not sponsored by anyone
Won (Wartime FA Cup)
Lost (FA Wartime cup)
So, to win the play off final we should lose the League Cup final first
I'd add (and I have already posted this elsewhere), that we have more togtherness, both club and fans, than I can ever remember. I think we have moved on further than the "back to the Valley" days. Then there was a small but fantastic nucleus of active support with latent support elsewhere. Now there is a large and growing passionate support. I have never been prouder as a fan than the day out at Blackburn last week or the muti-renditions of Valley Floyd Road last night, sung from all home areas. We have grown up as a club in these eight years and most of us want to continue to share in the experience whatever division we play in.
CHARLTON 'TIL I DIE
It takes time to replace or reinvigorate that support.... Its something we've managed to do now and hopefully this will just spur us on
Whilst not trying to take anything away from you chaps & chapettes, I reckon 90% of clubs fans think they're a cut above the rest for one reason or another. Its just seeing things with rose tinted glasses.
We'll never fully understand what makes your club so special to you, in the same way you'll never understand what makes our clubs so special, thats the beauty of being a football fan.
And what a great sense of value you'll get next season with more games...
Exactly mate! You might not fancy my missus but I think shes stunning.......