Seems strange no football (or at least no Charlton) over the Easter weekend. In the light of that, can't help but cast my mind back to 1977 when the team played 3 times in 4 days over the Easter break - and I saw them all! Sadly, 40 years later (I really am getting old!) don't remember too much about the games.
Started on Good Friday with one of our all too rare victories over Millwall (an Easter miracle?). Remember being 3-1 up and coasting to victory when Millwall scored a latish goal and we ended up hanging on for a 3-2 victory. Remember Millwall took the Covered End as normal but no real trouble from them.
On the Saturday, an away trip to Orient ended in a 0-0 draw. Vague recollection it was a blooming awful game and one where Jeff Wood (who I always thought was a very underrated keeper) made a few good saves to earn us a point.
On then on Easter Monday. an amazing 4-0 victory over Chelsea. Now that game does stand out in the memory! A brilliant hat-trick from Mike Flanagan and the Chelsea fans then trying to burn down the Covered End before wrecking the turnstiles and the Valley Club. Remember it made the front page of the London evening papers next day! Crowd was reported as 25,000 but just remember the whole place being rammed and the old East Terrace absolutely packed. Can only think it was one of those games where the real attendance wasn't published and it would certainly be fascinating to know what the real attendance actually was.
Anyone else do all 3 games and any other memories?
(PS Imagine our current lot being asked to play 3 times in 4 days - we'd be lining up the youth team up in the 3rd game as our injury prone, poor darlings fall by the wayside with exhaustion!)
13
Comments
Another one that stands out in the momory!
But that was the year I started supporting Charlton. I made a strange vow with a mate that if Liverpool won the European cup (I like most young kids at the time followed them) I would turn my attention to my local club.
It's interesting to get insights into these matches though. Some of you have great memories!
I wonder if he is still around.
I ruined my leather jacket climbing the Sam Bartram gates to escape, got caught on the barbed wire at the top. A good mate of mine was attacked outside the Woolwich Covered market on the way home. Good result though, shame I missed a lot of it.
Mike Flannagan was starting to come into his own as a great striker. Derek Hales also scored Big Match goal of the season in a hatrick against Hull City 3-1. Hales moved to Derby midway through the season (edit thanks @AshBurton). Derek Hales leaving did give a chance for Mike Flannagan to shine set up by superb wing play from Colin Powell.
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/charlton-athletic/1976-1977
It was an enjoyable season, despite the occassional trouble in the ground. As a kid, I was not really affected by it, though I do remember the Chelsea supporters threatening to get onto the pitch to get the match abandoned. A big line of police game out and lined the pitch (with the strongest line at the Covered 'Shed' end as Chelsea had taken the end- that slowed the momentum and they set a fire and decided to smash the ground and outside up after).
Charlton had a great home record that season with some crackers of games. Some excellent Night games - 5-2 Burnley, 6-2 Southampton, 4-3 Luton. Only 1 home defeat all season. Charlton finished finished 7th. From the statto table, too many drawn away games.