There will be so many pockets of similar friendships across the East Stand and in all corners of our home that will be broken, hopefully temporarily, tomorrow. If our absent clueless owner had regularly graced us with his presence he may just have understood this but I doubt it. Instead he relies on a video link (don't believe he ever watches it) and feedback from his toadies and concludes we are the problem. The man is a laughable idiot - how the hell did he ever make his money?
Rick, I don't know you but know of you and I guess our East Stand experiences are all too similar. Your article sums up perfectly the emotions that will be shared in Block E tomorrow. It promises to be a sad day.
Wow thanks for that, I couldn't have been more depressed, but it's reached a new low.
I am sitting in a bar in Dubai (not with KM) about to embark on a new life and career, but it's tinged with such sadness that I may never see MY Charlton again.
It will take a lot for me not to go when I pop over, but I can't with these people in charge.
I won't be there tomorrow but I will be in a bar drinking over priced beer in my charlton shirt ( case is full of them) knowing the real fans will do me proud.
Nicely written and what a sad sad day tomorrow will be for so many people, i've already seen a few around me stop coming this season, although it seems others have taken up those seats for next year (or maybe they have renewed and will give it one more go, I don't know).
That said, isn't there a part of you that thinks 'they aren't driving me out' and will still go for those very reasons you so eliquently have written down. Those so special moments, those games you will take to your grave, those players who wear the badge with real pride and know what it means (granted there aren't many left now, but there are still some). Leaping up to that last minute goal and hugging someone you don't really know or high five's, i've even been known to fall down the steps in front of me due to my over exuberant celebrations only to be picked up by an equally celebrating steward.
Do you remember that first game back, there may only have been a similar gate to most games this season and an empty east terrace, but all standing, clapping and singing in unison for the whole match still makes the hairs on my neck stand up at the thought of it. Bolder, Pitcher, Webster, Balmer, Minto, Gritt, Robinson, Power, Leaburn, Nelson, Walsh all did us proud that day, even Pitcher though Walshy had to point to him where to put the ball for the goal! Imagine if we could recreate that with the songs being against the regime, now that would be powerful.
Are we going to let them drive us out? I know it's a bit of a catch 22, you go means you give them funds, you don't and they don't get the income, but in reality I wonder if this whole sorry saga drags on for another season there are many who may never, ever, return.
Only time will tell what the next season and beyond may bring, more of the same, a change of plan or we hope, no we pray, new owners. It'd be nice to leave the ground again one day with my daughters singing Valley Floyd Road and not She's gonna lie in a minute.
We'll always be Charlton Supporters, where ever we may roam.
Brilliant article. Of course they will never understand about those bonds between fans. I was thinking earlier today, that tomorrow will be my last time sitting amongst people that I've known for years in the North Upper. Wondering if, or when, I might see them again (maybe at an away game somewhere or another). But then, as it happens - I won't. My eldest is having my seat, whilst I'm sitting downstairs on a friend's. So it turns out that the Brighton game was the end of an era for me, although I didn't know it at the time. I feel very sad about this, but I don't want them getting another penny off of me.
Sums up my own feelings perfectly. Will I ever return?
Course you will, just not with this lot pulling the strings.
After Roland's stranglewank incident (yes, some cross-referenced, multi sheet .xls files were involved), the heart and soul of the club will be restored and everything will be back to normal. The last couple of years will seem a surreal, disturbing interlude before the restoration of what should be
Very nice article. The last sentence sums it up for me. You can write with as much eloquence as you like and with as much flowery prose as possible but, sometimes, the blunt statement says it all. That last sentence did it for me and made me laugh. When it comes down to it, that's all that matters.
My worries on this began 2-3 years ago as inappropriate price hikes in the central blocks of the East hit not only adults but kids too in a bonkers policy which has been partially reversed. The damage was done however and many holes have appeared
The triple whammy of hikes for a family in that area ripped apart some of the communities (including my own) that Rick mentions rightly make up the backbone of this club, unlike the bizarre weird fickle image the management seem to have of its actual and potential customers. In those days a fan would buy as many season tickets as he could afford - hard to believe now. More damage is being done to that loyalty as the trickle becomes an avalanche.
It's difficult to see a way back, not just because the damage may or may not be irrevocable to those groups, but also that the special nature of the club will likely never return in the modern era even if better owners came back, due to commercialisation and a homogenising franchise apathy effect. Charlton has now been surgically separated from its fans and its past which we should also remember witnessed major success.
I have no doubt that the club will remain precious to many but it is a memory, and sadly no longer a reality that may never return unless fans can regain some form of ownership implied or actual.
You never know where this path may lead though. Perhaps something new will be reborn out of this impending disaster, that is my hope.
My worries on this began 2-3 years ago as inappropriate price hikes in the central blocks of the East hit not only adults but kids too in a bonkers policy which has been partially reversed. The damage was done however and many holes have appeared
The triple whammy of hikes for a family in that area ripped apart some of the communities (including my own) that Rick mentions rightly make up the backbone of this club, unlike the bizarre weird fickle image the management seem to have of its actual and potential customers. In those days a fan would buy as many season tickets as he could afford - hard to believe now. More damage is being done to that loyalty as the trickle becomes an avalanche.
It's difficult to see a way back, not just because the damage may or may not be irrevocable to those groups, but also that the special nature of the club will likely never return in the modern era even if better owners came back, due to commercialisation and a homogenising franchise apathy effect. Charlton has now been surgically separated from its fans and its past which we should also remember witnessed major success.
I have no doubt that the club will remain precious to many but it is a memory, and sadly no longer a reality that may never return unless fans can regain some form of ownership implied or actual.
You never know where this path may lead though. Perhaps something new will be reborn out of this impending disaster, that is my hope.
Deliberately ..........as Meire specifically outlined in her half-hidden ('I really shouldn't say this') .....but I don't care about the history of the Club.
I know its been said before but the regime are quite content to set about creating an alternative freshly created fanbase with no previous attachment which would welcome new customers but will callously discard older long-term supporters as collateral damage if they don't come on board.
They will today will see the depth of the rejection of their flawed thinking.
Deliberately ..........as Meire specifically outlined in her half-hidden ('I really shouldn't say this') .....but I don't care about the history of the Club.
I know its been said before but the regime are quite content to set about creating an alternative freshly created fanbase with no previous attachment which would welcome new customers but will callously discard older long-term supporters as collateral damage if they don't come on board.
They will today will see the depth of the rejection of their flawed thinking.
Superb and desperately sad article to end an appalling season. As for their freshly created fanbase ... not much sign of it, is there! All but the worst-run business know that you have to value your customers. Not to do so is to commit commercial suicide. Well done Roland and Katrien.
A well written piece @Airman Brown , the absent owner and his board (shame on you Murray) do not have an inkling of the special bond CAFC supporters have with the club. There are 91 other league clubs, but I doubt any of them have the bond we have, with their respective clubs. Yes, we aren't the biggest club (far from it in reality) but we are a community made up of many different ages, opinions, political views, gender and wealth. A community that fought to get our club, who were exiled from their spiritual home, back to The Valley, a fight we all took to a successful end. We now face a different challenge, and one that may take sometime to win, a long game if you like, but we must look for some small wins along the way. If RD is not for selling at the moment, then we have to encourage him (couldn't think of another word) to change tack and listen to experienced football people. A UK manager, a UK experienced team and to leave team matters to those that know best. I hope that during the closed season that some sense begins to descend onto this discredited board. We have to hope that small wins will lead to a successful 16/17, we cannot let our hope be killed!! However a warning to RD/KM/RM if you continue along your discredited and failed plan, the supporters- the community - the ones that took on the local council and won, will win and you will be long gone, but the group of friends that Rick so eloquently speaks about across all areas of The Valley, will be back, of that I promise you!!
Comments
I'm not there tomorrow - first home game I've missed in 5 seasons, but please give them hell.
http://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2015-16-blogs/6-5-a-poisonous-end-to-a-once-resiiient-community/
Thanks fella brilliant!
Rick, I don't know you but know of you and I guess our East Stand experiences are all too similar. Your article sums up perfectly the emotions that will be shared in Block E tomorrow. It promises to be a sad day.
I am sitting in a bar in Dubai (not with KM) about to embark on a new life and career, but it's tinged with such sadness that I may never see MY Charlton again.
It will take a lot for me not to go when I pop over, but I can't with these people in charge.
I won't be there tomorrow but I will be in a bar drinking over priced beer in my charlton shirt ( case is full of them) knowing the real fans will do me proud.
That said, isn't there a part of you that thinks 'they aren't driving me out' and will still go for those very reasons you so eliquently have written down. Those so special moments, those games you will take to your grave, those players who wear the badge with real pride and know what it means (granted there aren't many left now, but there are still some). Leaping up to that last minute goal and hugging someone you don't really know or high five's, i've even been known to fall down the steps in front of me due to my over exuberant celebrations only to be picked up by an equally celebrating steward.
Do you remember that first game back, there may only have been a similar gate to most games this season and an empty east terrace, but all standing, clapping and singing in unison for the whole match still makes the hairs on my neck stand up at the thought of it. Bolder, Pitcher, Webster, Balmer, Minto, Gritt, Robinson, Power, Leaburn, Nelson, Walsh all did us proud that day, even Pitcher though Walshy had to point to him where to put the ball for the goal! Imagine if we could recreate that with the songs being against the regime, now that would be powerful.
Are we going to let them drive us out? I know it's a bit of a catch 22, you go means you give them funds, you don't and they don't get the income, but in reality I wonder if this whole sorry saga drags on for another season there are many who may never, ever, return.
Only time will tell what the next season and beyond may bring, more of the same, a change of plan or we hope, no we pray, new owners. It'd be nice to leave the ground again one day with my daughters singing Valley Floyd Road and not She's gonna lie in a minute.
We'll always be Charlton Supporters, where ever we may roam.
Goodbye Horse, show me the way to go home.......
My worries on this began 2-3 years ago as inappropriate price hikes in the central blocks of the East hit not only adults but kids too in a bonkers policy which has been partially reversed. The damage was done however and many holes have appeared
The triple whammy of hikes for a family in that area ripped apart some of the communities (including my own) that Rick mentions rightly make up the backbone of this club, unlike the bizarre weird fickle image the management seem to have of its actual and potential customers. In those days a fan would buy as many season tickets as he could afford - hard to believe now.
More damage is being done to that loyalty as the trickle becomes an avalanche.
It's difficult to see a way back, not just because the damage may or may not be irrevocable to those groups, but also that the special nature of the club will likely never return in the modern era even if better owners came back, due to commercialisation and a homogenising franchise apathy effect. Charlton has now been surgically separated from its fans and its past which we should also remember witnessed major success.
I have no doubt that the club will remain precious to many but it is a memory, and sadly no longer a reality that may never return unless fans can regain some form of ownership implied or actual.
You never know where this path may lead though. Perhaps something new will be reborn out of this impending disaster, that is my hope.
.....but I don't care about the history of the Club.
I know its been said before but the regime are quite content to set about creating an alternative freshly created fanbase with no previous attachment which would welcome new customers but will callously discard older long-term supporters as collateral damage if they don't come on board.
They will today will see the depth of the rejection of their flawed thinking.
the ones that took on the local council and won, will win and you will be long gone, but the group of friends that Rick so eloquently speaks about across all areas of The Valley, will be back, of that I promise you!!