Peter Reeves, Phil Warman and Bob Curtis. Moving across the East Terrace with my old man late in the second half do that we could get a quick getaway to the car, parked up near Charlton Park and then, once we were back home, rushing to the local newsagent to queue for the evening paper.
Sliding down the heights, making your way to the laundry over the wall into the karzy while trying not to get covered in slow drying paint or caught by the stewards. Plan B, through the players houses into their gardens and in that way. Convincing someone in one of the kiosks I was 18 and buying a light ale, looking the rows of rosettes up on wooden boards along with silk scarves later in the 70s with the players faces on them. Talking to Charlie Wright as he kept goal, talking the talk after it had all gone off in the Covered End and deep down knowing I was off like a robbers dog when the first punch was thrown.
As a kid, catching two buses from Blackfen then walking to the ground down Charlton Church Lane and rounding the corner into Floyd Road, mingling with the crowd and the sense of belonging really belonging..................
Just remembered. In the early days, using that homemade wooden rattle. What a bloody racket it made. Just as well nobody got in the way of it, as it would have brained them!
Stuart Leary, Sam Lawrie, John Hewie ( he lived next to the ground) Then Len Glover total class winger. Matt Tees, Ray Tracey, Bob Curtis, paul Went, Peter Reeves and Harry Gregory all crowd pleasers.
My very first game, Easter 1962 Bristol Rovers. A special treat from my Uncle (Harry Lennon's grandad!). Standing outside the Horse and Groom with my brother drinking lemonade and eating crisps whilst my uncle had a pint with his pal. Scarves and rattles, programme sellers and rosettes; roasted chestnuts and hot dogs, the first time you turn into Harvey Gardens or Floyd Road; the buzz of pre-match talk, walking round the back of the covered end and seeing that vast east terrace for the first time; being passed down to the front railing by the adults; the smell of liniment; peanut sellers; the noise of the crowd. Stuart Leary scored that day - the one and only time I saw him play, but I was too young to appreciate. But I was hooked for life.
Just before Christmas 1957 was my first game (I just missed the 7-6 Huddersfield match by a couple of weeks). Watching, who I consider to be our greatest ever player, Stuart Leary clowning with the match officials by hiding the ball up his shirt....doing hand stands with the ball between his feet and running the whole show. John Hewie called him 'the governor.' From the first moment walking into that vast stadium through the turnstiles at the Sam Bartram entrance (at the top of that huge east terrace), I just knew I'd be back again.....and again and again and again.............and forever. For a nine year old, it was a truly wonderous place, which I eventually got to know and love every inch of....."my" beloved Valley "my" theatre of dreams.
Just remembered. In the early days, using that homemade wooden rattle. What a bloody racket it made. Just as well nobody got in the way of it, as it would have brained them!
I believe I have still got mine somewhere. Buying bag of monkey nuts, and buying pink classified after 6pm at the top of Victoria way
Being 'allowed' on the 96 (I think?) from Dartford for the first time on my own (without Dad & Grandad) along with a couple of mates!!!!...................LADS!..................Brilliant, Happy times, even though we were shit then as well it didn't seem half as bad! COYR.......
The same eleven or so turning out each week and most being there the next season. You associated the players with the club. This doesn't happen so much these days but both Curbs and Powell succeeded in building teams that looked as though they belonged together. We are far from that these days. We all know most of this team won't be here next year.
Starting to go to away games, and what a season to start, it was the 68-69 season. I can remember a win at Fulham, bouncing in their covered end, but the big one was the epic Palace away cup tie with Ray Treacy's goals, one of which like many I missed because we could not get in for ages. Sadly I was sick for the huge Arsenal away turnout that followed this win.
Wow, I remember "peanuts tanna a bag" would never have remembered that. Shortest tubby bloke selling them.
His name was Adam.......but you're mistaken if you think he was short.....I'd put him around 5'10-5'11. He was a bit on the tubby side and had a bull neck like an American linebacker. He wore a long white coat(like a doctors) so you could spot him more easily.....over the years he must have walked thousands of miles up and down those enormous terraces.
Wow, I remember "peanuts tanna a bag" would never have remembered that. Shortest tubby bloke selling them.
His name was Adam.......but you're mistaken if you think he was short.....I'd put him around 5'10-5'11. He was a bit on the tubby side and had a bull neck like an American linebacker. He wore a long white coat(like a doctors) so you could spot him more easily.....over the years he must have walked thousands of miles up and down those enormous terraces.
A tanner was of course slang for sixpence (old pence!). As well as "Peanuts, tanner a bag" he also used to vary it occasionally with "Six, a bag of nuts", hence my user name. He had quite a distinctive nasal delivery as I recall.
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And once the Valley pub shut, Bugle Horn or White Swan in Charlton Village.
Then Len Glover total class winger. Matt Tees, Ray Tracey, Bob Curtis, paul Went, Peter Reeves and Harry Gregory all crowd pleasers.
A special treat from my Uncle (Harry Lennon's grandad!).
Standing outside the Horse and Groom with my brother drinking lemonade and eating crisps whilst my uncle had a pint with his pal.
Scarves and rattles, programme sellers and rosettes; roasted chestnuts and hot dogs, the first time you turn into Harvey Gardens or Floyd Road; the buzz of pre-match talk, walking round the back of the covered end and seeing that vast east terrace for the first time; being passed down to the front railing by the adults; the smell of liniment; peanut sellers; the noise of the crowd.
Stuart Leary scored that day - the one and only time I saw him play, but I was too young to appreciate.
But I was hooked for life.
Never thought we'd be classed as oldies all those years ago.
Watching, who I consider to be our greatest ever player, Stuart Leary clowning with the match officials by hiding the ball up his shirt....doing hand stands with the ball between his feet and running the whole show. John Hewie called him 'the governor.'
From the first moment walking into that vast stadium through the turnstiles at the Sam Bartram entrance (at the top of that huge east terrace), I just knew I'd be back again.....and again and again and again.............and forever.
For a nine year old, it was a truly wonderous place, which I eventually got to know and love every inch of....."my" beloved Valley "my" theatre of dreams.
COYR.......
Golden Goal result on a chalk board carried around the pitch at half time.
The sight of the steam rising from the men's bog at the Sam Bartram entrance as it glistened through the floodlights at night games. Oh Happy Days.
As well as "Peanuts, tanner a bag" he also used to vary it occasionally with "Six, a bag of nuts", hence my user name.
He had quite a distinctive nasal delivery as I recall.