A confession. Though I am a third generation Charlton fan who saw his first game in 1973 and will always consider Charlton my first club, such is my disillusionment that I now watch more Tonbridge Angels games than Charlton. It helps that I live down here. I have probably seen 100 or so Tonbridge games and never seen a moment's trouble although there are certain clubs like Maidstone, Welling, Dover and Basingstoke where it has come close. I would say the atmosphere now is far superior to Charlton and it gives me a football fix.
I still love Charlton and I always will but the heart has been ripped out of the club and I feel alienated and detached from proceedings so it's Longmead stadium rather than The Valley for me these days.
Chelsea have always had an element from the Tunbridge area, who would of course go to the big Tunbridge games - was always fun and games vs Maidstone.
I wouldn't say they're renowned for an element now though Len, for the odd game maybe but they're not in the Wealdstone/Nunenton etc league as far as I'm aware.
Quite simply there is no 'element' - it really is a decent place to watch football though there is a passionate and vocal following. There are lots of fans who support other league clubs and from time to time I see a Charlton scarf or hat down there. I've also seen colours for Chelsea, Arsenal. Spurs, Gillingham and, I hate to say it, Palace. You'd be surprised how many people are thoroughly pissed off with the fully pro game and just prefer to watch this level.
As for me, I'll be back when Duchatelet and Meire have slung their hook and not before,
Chelsea have always had an element from the Tunbridge area, who would of course go to the big Tunbridge games - was always fun and games vs Maidstone.
I wouldn't say they're renowned for an element now though Len, for the odd game maybe but they're not in the Wealdstone/Nunenton etc league as far as I'm aware.
Quite simply there is no 'element' - it really is a decent place to watch football though there is a passionate and vocal following. There are lots of fans who support other league clubs and from time to time I see a Charlton scarf or hat down there. I've also seen colours for Chelsea, Arsenal. Spurs, Gillingham and, I hate to say it, Palace. You'd be surprised how many people are thoroughly pissed off with the fully pro game and just prefer to watch this level.
As for me, I'll be back when Duchatelet and Meire have slung their hook and not before,
No surprise mate - I am and it is the same down Maidstone. When ever I'm there I see mates who used to regularly follow Millwall/West Ham/Spurs etc etc.
Remember the ground had a pavilion in the corner. As a 8 year old I remember the scary teenagers seemingly with knives, but can't remember if this was in or outside the ground just remember the air of menace of the first time at a game as only my 2nd away game. I was sitting so near the pitch at the front Mike Flanagan stood on my paper when he went to take a corner. When the pictures were in the next home programme there I was. From memory the programme had a bizarre Charlton line up consisting of some payers that hadn't played for months.
Remember the ground had a pavilion in the corner. As a 8 year old I remember the scary teenagers seemingly with knives, but can't remember if this was in or outside the ground just remember the air of menace of the first time at a game as only my 2nd away game. I was sitting so near the pitch at the front Mike Flanagan stood on my paper when he went to take a corner. When the pictures were in the next home programme there I was. From memory the programme had a bizarre Charlton line up consisting of some payers that hadn't played for months.
I was there. We got the coach from Greenwich thinking it would be a very quick journey and looking back it was probably that it was A and B roads that went through towns that I remember that it seemed to drag on just getting there.
I was there. Took some mates from uni who supported big clubs (Liverpool, Everton) and also a Palace fan. They thought it was hilarious we were reduced to playing the likes of Tonbridge. I was greatly relieved we didn't screw it up, as it would have been deeply embarrassing.
Oh yeah, my friends were amused by a local lad near us who would occasionally chant "Tonbridge" on his own in a mournful, flat voice. To be fair to my friends, I think they were bored.
I woz there.....and my recollection of the trouble came from Chelsea fans. I also collected enamel badges of clubs I had been to but couldn't seem to find their club shop. I then wrote to the club and they kindly sent me one of their badges at no cost. I've always had a soft spot for them since.
I woz there. Dad took me. I remember the trouble, lack of stands and the rope around the pitch. We were held back and had to make way for the players to run onto the pitch at the start. Probably the worst ground I've seen us play at.
well must have been dual personalities then because the lumps that wanted it with us behind the "stand" built of railway sleepers were Gillingham---as in " come on then we are Gillingham"
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I still love Charlton and I always will but the heart has been ripped out of the club and I feel alienated and detached from proceedings so it's Longmead stadium rather than The Valley for me these days.
As for me, I'll be back when Duchatelet and Meire have slung their hook and not before,
From memory the programme had a bizarre Charlton line up consisting of some payers that hadn't played for months.
Oh yeah, my friends were amused by a local lad near us who would occasionally chant "Tonbridge" on his own in a mournful, flat voice. To be fair to my friends, I think they were bored.
still maybe they were confused
Doesn't come across as being 80 odd