I didn't go to the final match. The reason - it was my 21st birthday and I reluctantly went to a big bash already planned by my friends. I arrived home after midnight - no mobiles or internet then - and was greeted by my mum. She opened the front door and I immediately heard her say, 'Leeds won' and then she started to cry at the look on my face. After a moment or two she gathered herself and said with a shaky voice, 'Leeds one, Charlton two.' I then woke the neighbours up!!
I was thinking about this whilst out in the garden earlier. I think that I do so every year but this year is a Friday like it was in '87. I was at school so I've no idea how I managed to go, perhaps it was half term.
My standout memory of that match was when we equalised and and with tears streaming down my face I grabbed the policeman near to us and started dancing with him. I suppose now that I only got away with this because I was only 14 and he must have seen the look of sheer joy on my face. It was desperation stuff. I remember thinking how we had to-just had to win this match otherwise the club could easily have gone out of business I remember thent thinking- great we have a chance of penalties - there is still a chance. Prior to that we had had to stand in shocked silence as Sheridan scored and the Leeds fans dancing and singing. I remember them even dancing on the roof part of the lower tier of the stand to our right. Their celebrations were load and agonizing. When Shirtliff got the second I just remember disbelief. I couldn't believe that we had done it. Lastly I remember us running across this kind of wasteland to get away from the chasing Leeds fans and get on the coach
The match that turned me into a Charlton supporter
My nearest league club, so had been taken to the Valley to watch a few games but was never a supporter. Lennie somehow getting promotion certainly ramped up my interest, but it was listening to the playoff replay on the radio that converted me. I hope Peter Shirtliff is feeling guilty about it
Dream time , dirty farking norverners , great result . I always think of those 3 ridiculous play off final wins and that last game of the season against Chelsea when everyone’s crying about how unlucky a club we are , i mean we’ve had the rub of it as well , with miracle wins in important matches
I am so pleased you mentioned thje "staying up until daylight watching the highlights".I went to the leeds game in a car with vince and the trigg family who lived in hornchurch at the time.After the game we stopped at a pub somewhere safe [as it was very scary near the ground after the game].but my abiding memory was watching the highlights over and over before going to bed at 7.30am.
"That could be the goal that might well preserve first division football for Charlton, and it's Peter Shirtliff again!"
My most-ever listened to piece of commentary. Amazing that it STILL gets to me as much as back then.
I see your Peter and raise you a Colin.
“Walsh...a shot, and a goal, and it becomes the perfect start.”
It was the evening of the Greenwich Festival fireworks and I was watching them from near to where the Gypsy Moth was sited. There was dancing, singing, and merriment aplenty when the result of the game was announced on Radio 2's Sports Report. Then back home on the 286 bus, in time to watch the highlights on TV. Lennie Lawrence's battlers had stayed cool when it counted. What a splendid time to follow the Addicks.
I’ve always wondered what I was doing that evening and now I know. I was at the fireworks.
Great memories of the game up at St Andrews. Our football was far superior to that of Leeds - both in this game and at Elland Road - and Lennie’s team had immense character. Shirtliff’s second goal was one of the greatest moments of my life.
It was pretty hostile afterwards and we just hopped on a passing bus. I asked the driver to let us off at the first pub and the four of us ordered 12 pints, which were consumed in very short order.
I think we got a cab back to the station, by which time it was very quiet and the boneheads from Leeds had dissipated. What a great night.
Just remembered me and my dad couldn't find our car for an hour and met several other Charlton fans in disguise who were as also lost but thanks to some lovely old bill who hated the Leeds fans we managed to get an Escort back to the where we parked! Leeds fans were out for blood and I have to say it was a scary hour trying to avoid getting jumped on. Good Times though! 🤣
Garth Crooks was outstanding . Both him and Paul Miller were integral to Charlton that season and the one after . I only wish he could have stayed fit more often because he was only 29 when he joined us .
Garth Crooks was outstanding . Both him and Paul Miller were integral to Charlton that season and the one after . I only wish he could have stayed fit more often because he was only 29 when he joined us .
I didn’t realise he was only 29 when he joined us, he did a great job for us. I think that we were looking into trying to sign Steve Archibald as well at the time.
Done all 5 finals. Elland Road was the scariest. Pure relief at half time when we saw the old bill had brought our coaches into the ground.
Me and Bollox were queuing for a burger, and you could see over the fence into the car park outside. A noted "face" in the queue turned round and said his van was bang in the middle of the car park, and as far as he was concerned they could keep us in till midnight. Remember thinking that if he didn't fancy it, things were indeed er, heavy. If I'd picked up all the coins thrown at us that night, I'd be giving Golfie financial advice, and ringing Roly with an offer.
Two dreadful errors in that. We’re called The Robins but even worse is the use of it’s when it should have been its.
The vote on our nickname was taken after that, so calling us The Robins was quite normal and accepted back then. It's certainly not a 'dreadful' error.
Done all 5 finals. Elland Road was the scariest. Pure relief at half time when we saw the old bill had brought our coaches into the ground.
Me and Bollox were queuing for a burger, and you could see over the fence into the car park outside. A noted "face" in the queue turned round and said his van was bang in the middle of the car park, and as far as he was concerned they could keep us in till midnight. Remember thinking that if he didn't fancy it, things were indeed er, heavy. If I'd picked up all the coins thrown at us that night, I'd be giving Golfie financial advice, and ringing Roly with an offer.
I don't think they knew we was there until a pissed up sing song started just behind their lot. Then the sea of coins started & it seemed like every fkr was trying to get to our seats from the terrace. We parked opposite & they got my dads bonnet up & wrapped a black bag round the engine. Love to know how many we had up there that night.
Great day and night, and yup I went to all 3 Leeds games & our 2 Wembley play-off games, so can claim the hat-trick, shame I didn’t go to Carlisle the last time we were promoted with CP as I did the other 2 & claim another hat-trick.
Good old fashioned refereeing helped us no end. These days, Peter Shirtliff wouldn't have been on the field to score those goals, after his knee in the head on Baird.
Best night ever for me and capped the end of a very long season. I went to 52 out of 57 games that season, missing 3 Full Members and 2 home League games. For such a crap cup team, we actually played 10 cup ties (including getting knocked out first time by Walsall in the FA Cup!)
Comments
My standout memory of that match was when we equalised and and with tears streaming down my face I grabbed the policeman near to us and started dancing with him. I suppose now that I only got away with this because I was only 14 and he must have seen the look of sheer joy on my face.
It was desperation stuff. I remember thinking how we had to-just had to win this match otherwise the club could easily have gone out of business
I remember thent thinking- great we have a chance of penalties - there is still a chance. Prior to that we had had to stand in shocked silence as Sheridan scored and the Leeds fans dancing and singing. I remember them even dancing on the roof part of the lower tier of the stand to our right. Their celebrations were load and agonizing.
When Shirtliff got the second I just remember disbelief. I couldn't believe that we had done it.
Lastly I remember us running across this kind of wasteland to get away from the chasing Leeds fans and get on the coach
My nearest league club, so had been taken to the Valley to watch a few games but was never a supporter. Lennie somehow getting promotion certainly ramped up my interest, but it was listening to the playoff replay on the radio that converted me. I hope Peter Shirtliff is feeling guilty about it
I always think of those 3 ridiculous play off final wins and that last game of the season against Chelsea when everyone’s crying about how unlucky a club we are , i mean we’ve had the rub of it as well , with miracle wins in important matches
RIP The Boat.
Jesus.
I remember getting home off the coach (Catford pickup!) at God knows what time and then staying up watching the highlights until daylight.
Garth Crooks was outstanding . Both him and Paul Miller were integral to Charlton that season and the one after . I only wish he could have stayed fit more often because he was only 29 when he joined us .
This could be a good read
Best night ever for me and capped the end of a very long season. I went to 52 out of 57 games that season, missing 3 Full Members and 2 home League games. For such a crap cup team, we actually played 10 cup ties (including getting knocked out first time by Walsall in the FA Cup!)