Got home in the early hours after a few too many and stood over my boys cot just looking at him with a massive smile on my face and a tear it my eye. We did it son!! What this club does to you!
on plane about to take off from Gatwick to catch up with rest of family a couple of Addicks saw me and son in Charlton shirts( think it’s third time in ten years I’ve used the washing machine , had to message wife for instructions , pathetic I know) and came over for a chat A Geordie said Charlton are his second favourite team . buzzing our nuts off , I keep having a little well up thinking of it all .
Sunderland mate messaged a nice message after we’d won . i told him they’ll win Premiership and Champions League in next few years to make up for the shit they’ve gone through !
So I've slept on it, feel a little bit more human after that emotional rollar coaster yesterday afternoon so here goes
First things first it was a great day all round from the travel up there to the atmosphere at the Green Man
As for the game (seeing that this is the Post Match Comments thread) I felt we started really well, had a few attacking forays into their half with a handful of half chances created, Sunderland equally had the same but dont think either team really had the edge by this point - Of course we then come to the Sunderland goal, for me both players have to take responsibility for this error; Dillon has been so consistent at times this calendar year and was mortified for him (Shouldn't have taken his eye off the ball), as an outfield player though you NEVER pass back with the ball on target and thought that moment was equally criminal from Naby
As per Lyle's post match comment on Quest I thought that was it for us, honestly didnt expect to see us recovering from that mistake and thought it would finish 1-0... We certainly took a while to recover and looked as though we were playing the occasion rather than the game - We did regroup though and Lyle (despite having a quiet game) could have scored one of the best ever Play-Off Final goals, felt at the time though that he could easily have brought it down before shooting and that it was a wasted effort..
Up until the goal I felt we huffing and puffing without anything to seriously show for it (almost going through the motions) and my mate said to me that we needed half-time, I disagreed without a seconds thought as despite making token attacks I felt we were beginning to impose ourselves (Already Sunderland were being forced further and further back) and of course a few minutes later we saw Purrington pop up with his first ever goal
Rest of the game I thought was extremely even... Neither team seriously created anything - As already mentioned I thought that Darren Pratley was one of our best players with the way he was all over the pitch stopping their attacks, felt that his substitution could have been the wrong one (Was slightly surprised that Parker didnt come off despite having a good game) and for the last ten minutes it looked as though it would be a mistake as for me that was Sunderland's best period of the entire game, we looked tired and it seemed as though we were suffering after Extra Time and Penalties from last Friday night.
We all know what happened next, always said that Bauer would score before the end of the season and will be one of the best goals I've ever celebrated
Did we deserve to win in normal time? - I'd say Yes
When you look back its a surprise that a team like Sunderland so high in the League struggled to create anything today (Reason for so many draws?) but apart from a really good Phillips save just after it went 1-0 that was it from them, we cant talk ourselves as we didnt create much either but we scored when it mattered so is the sole thing that counts
Credit to their fans though, am delighted we won but really wish it hadnt been against Sunderland in a way - The decent side of me wouldn't have begrudged a Sunderland win today after their endless heart break @ Wembley, and with how the majority of their fans behave (all clubs have their own share of twats) they fully deserve to have some luck at the National Stadium, just not against us.. huh!
Final note... Was a pleasure to briefly meet @Sage after the game - Kinda ambushed the poor bloke standing in his seat, I think your voice had gone mate so apologies for that!!
Great to meet you too @ForeverAddickted - sorry for not speaking much but you were right, my voice had gone and is not in the best condition this morning. I also couldn’t describe the happiness or pride I felt at the time. My write up on here will come later. All the best.
It was always going to be Sunderland that we played in such dramatic circumstances. It was my first game in 1975, my son's in 2005, we saw the first game of the season up there, and of course 98 and all that. I was determined to enjoy this no matter what. I'd enjoyed this season more than any other, in terms of atmosphere and the bond with players and manager. Atmosphere in the Green Man before and after was superb. Atmosphere in the wembley bar with the drummer (massive kudos fella, you helped make my season) was fist class. Can't remember much about the game at all. I had a hangover by half time, and just wanted to sing from start to finish. In the last 10 mins it was a blur. Just kept singing Lee Bowyer's Red Army to keep everyone going,over and over and i was sort of in a zone. When we scored I froze for a second or two, not quite believing it. then that explosion of celebration. Got my shirt off which ain't a pretty sight, My son ended up on the floor as usual. Managed to balance standing on my seat, with a lot of difficulty, for the post match celebrations. We were pretty much the last ones out of the lower tier, as I didn't want it to end.
As for the game it seemed pretty poor as is normal in finals, I just can't remember much about it. I'm going sit down and watch it now. Successful teams manage to find a way of winning somehow.
I love the sentiment of the song "how do we get there, I don't know..." as you just can't quite see how you are ever going to do it, but you just believe you will. Summed up our season.
Memories of 1998, the last footy game I went to with my late dad.
The heartbreak of that own goal before the tens of thousands of Addicks rallied behind the team and cheered them back to life, setting up the equaliser.
Then as the team shot back at the Charlton end in the 2nd half, the fans cheering them on until finally Bauer's shot was sucked into the back of the net in the 94th minute.
The final whistle went, absolute jubilation. Not sure how many fellow fans I ended up hugging but the 5 minutes following that goal was brilliant and manic celebrating.
On the way home, no matter what bar, pub or train station you stopped at, you'd find dozens of fellow Addicks to carry on celebrating with and have a rousing bout of Allez Allez Allez.
Well done to Bowyer and the team; that's what this is all about.
Before I left yesterday morning, Mrs Fiiish wondered how much this was all costing me. When she saw the smile on my face when I rolled in just before midnight, she could tell it was worth every penny.
Cab picked us up at 10am...on the drive to Hastings station we went passed some Charlton fans....I said to the cabbie, I hope they have a good day....his reply....so do I as I support Charlton...I knew then we were going up.
What a day. From utter despair at the Valley just over a week ago following the Marquis goal, to the pure joy of a last minute winner at Wembley, it was a long journey, but worth every cent. Great to meet and chat with @The President on the train, then meet up with my mate from Melbourne who flew in on Saturday. We'd often discussed, back in Oz, one day attending a Charlton game together, what a game we chose for the first one! Flying back tomorrow, and I don't think I'll need an aeroplane to help me! Cullen MOM for me, he worked us back into the game. The own goal, if it had to happen, happened at the right time. I think it settled our nerves and made us push forward. Brilliantly worked equaliser, the flick from Dijksteel was sublime. Aribo had a quiet game, but a little bit of class along with Cullen right at the death, not only won us the game, but possibly the continued survival of our great club.
On the rammed steps to the tube station afterward, there were a few Mackems and when a chant of Super Clive went up, one of them said, ‘Now that’s just rubbing it in.’
Just unbelievable scenes at the end to score in such a dramatic way summed our season up
we just keep going and going until the end
I honestly thought we would win 3-0 I certainly didn’t fear Sunderland other than for the revenge or repeat element to the game and i always believe in repeat ,
Their fans It must be me because walking up Olympic way I had numerous ones giving it billy big bollox and saying remind me of a famous charlton player and your just a shit tin pot club from London
one saying where’s your valley gone ???
Then on the way out one saying any charlton fan here is an embarrassment well that worked with me and I challenged him on his comment and asked him to explain it
he said if Sunderland has won he would still be inside singing
I told him that I had seen the players on the pitch doing their bit and they had now gone off the pitch so why would I be in there
when I want to go and celebrate with friends and family in London now
and that you can’t get no more embarrassing than a fat northern bird shitting in the fountain at trafalgar sq
Reading that it’s about 50:50. Some fuming saying our winner should have been free kick to them and Pratley should have had red card earlier. The other half admitting they didn’t actually put Phillips under any pressure and didn’t manage to even score themselves.
Well, typical Charlton really , wasn't it? Never make it easy do we ? Brilliant day out and great result , just think some people will go their entire lives without seeing their team score a last minute winner at Wembley! Right up there for me , along with the birth of my 2 boys ! Happy days.
It's all been said on here so I won't drone on about it being THE BEST DAY as a Charlton supporter in my 51 years of watching them. No, this is a message to Roland rat. Today I watched the game again which I recorded from Sky. Your name was not mentioned once.That's right you Belgian twat, the owner who couldn't be arsed to come to Wembley, was accorded not one word. The reason? This great club is ours. Not yours. You are a brief footnote in history, a turd on the sole of a shoe that will be wiped away and forgotten. Now just do the decent thing you senile old git and sell the club.
A day like that demands drama. We will all have known that, despite hoping for an easy win. Those seconds of concern making way for elation. Have we really scored? Is it going to be given? Yes it is, we have bloody won it!!!!!!! Can you beat that? No you can't.
What a day! Getting up at 4am for a flight at 7:30 from malaga yesterday morning with my Dad and oldest son in tow. Two other groups of Charlton fans in the plane which brought home what the day was all about as we were struggling a bit after hardly any sleep. Got to London Bridge at 11am and whilst we awaited my uncle and cousin to arrive, saw escalators filled with red and white with every train that came in seeming to be filled with singing Addicks.
Got to the Boxpark at midday and had a lovely couple of hours in there catching up with friends, more family, old faces and ex players.
Other than about 20 minutes in the first half and the 93rd minute, the game was horrible and whilst I am happy to have been sober enough to fully absorb the game, I can’t help thinking that a couple more pints might’ve have loosened me up a bit! That second half after 65 minutes or so I found particularly hard to bear.
All worth it for Bauer’s winner though-those celebrations will stay with me forever and the unCharlton like behaviour this team has shown in the last few games really shows their quality and, although the play-off performances haven’t been vintage, I think we fully deserve our promotion. This squad of players is up there as my favourite with the previous play-off winners and league one champions.
Celebrations continues in the Boxpark afterwards before getting to our Gatwick hotel at about midnight via a very rowdy tube ride with lots of Alllez, Allez and Twist and Shouts and then the Wetherspoons at the airport for a very late dinner. Up again at 3:30 this morning for a 5:45 flight and back in the villa sipping San Miguel by the pool by midday. A whirlwind 24(ish) hours but wouldn’t change anything (other than the money i’ve spent!) and so happy to have shared it with lots of my favourite people especially my son. Lots of concerns about the summer but they’re well and truly parked for the time being whilst I just wallow in the glory of yesterday.
Not read the whole thread - and I am sure someone must have mentioned it, but big-up Lyle for his post match interview. Firmly nailed his colours to the mast!
What an incredible day, one I’ll treasure for ever. Got to spend it with top lads @Eaststandultra, @jamiebcool and his lovely missus.
Apologies to the bloke I jumped all over on the concourse when our equaliser went in! I’d popped to the bathroom and missed the goal, heard the roar and came pelting out of the ladies still doing up my jeans shouting “did we score?! Did we just score?!”
The winner went in and I ended up a row down on the bottom of a pile of jubilant Addicks (in future lads the 5 foot 3 woman is probably the one fan you should avoid putting at the bottom of your celebration pyramid).
Final whistle went and it was all tears - what a day.
Comments
a couple of Addicks saw me and son in Charlton shirts( think it’s third time in ten years I’ve used the washing machine , had to message wife for instructions , pathetic I know) and came over for a chat
A Geordie said Charlton are his second favourite team .
buzzing our nuts off , I keep having a little well up thinking of it all .
Sunderland mate messaged a nice message after we’d won .
i told him they’ll win Premiership and Champions League in next few years to make up for the shit they’ve gone through !
As for the game it seemed pretty poor as is normal in finals, I just can't remember much about it. I'm going sit down and watch it now. Successful teams manage to find a way of winning somehow.
I love the sentiment of the song "how do we get there, I don't know..." as you just can't quite see how you are ever going to do it, but you just believe you will. Summed up our season.
For me best day ever, in the best season ever.
The heartbreak of that own goal before the tens of thousands of Addicks rallied behind the team and cheered them back to life, setting up the equaliser.
Then as the team shot back at the Charlton end in the 2nd half, the fans cheering them on until finally Bauer's shot was sucked into the back of the net in the 94th minute.
The final whistle went, absolute jubilation. Not sure how many fellow fans I ended up hugging but the 5 minutes following that goal was brilliant and manic celebrating.
On the way home, no matter what bar, pub or train station you stopped at, you'd find dozens of fellow Addicks to carry on celebrating with and have a rousing bout of Allez Allez Allez.
Well done to Bowyer and the team; that's what this is all about.
Before I left yesterday morning, Mrs Fiiish wondered how much this was all costing me. When she saw the smile on my face when I rolled in just before midnight, she could tell it was worth every penny.
Bring on the Championship, COYR.
Great to meet and chat with @The President on the train, then meet up with my mate from Melbourne who flew in on Saturday. We'd often discussed, back in Oz, one day attending a Charlton game together, what a game we chose for the first one!
Flying back tomorrow, and I don't think I'll need an aeroplane to help me!
Cullen MOM for me, he worked us back into the game. The own goal, if it had to happen, happened at the right time. I think it settled our nerves and made us push forward.
Brilliantly worked equaliser, the flick from Dijksteel was sublime.
Aribo had a quiet game, but a little bit of class along with Cullen right at the death,
not only won us the game, but possibly the continued survival of our great club.
No, seriously, I can’t hear you. I think I forgot to charge my hearing aids.
we just keep going and going until the end
I honestly thought we would win 3-0 I certainly didn’t fear Sunderland other than for the revenge or repeat element to the game and i always believe in repeat ,
Their fans
It must be me because walking up Olympic way I had numerous ones giving it billy big bollox and saying remind me of a famous charlton player and your just a shit tin pot club from London
one saying where’s your valley gone ???
Then on the way out one saying any charlton fan here is an embarrassment well that worked with me and I challenged him on his comment and asked him to explain it
he said if Sunderland has won he would still be inside singing
I told him that I had seen the players on the pitch doing their bit and they had now gone off the pitch so why would I be in there
when I want to go and celebrate with friends and family in London now
and that you can’t get no more embarrassing than a fat northern bird shitting in the fountain at trafalgar sq
i am putting mackams on the list of muggy fans
Newcastle
Sunderland
coventry
nobby fans
No, this is a message to Roland rat. Today I watched the game again which I recorded from Sky. Your name was not mentioned once.That's right you Belgian twat, the owner who couldn't be arsed to come to Wembley, was accorded not one word. The reason? This great club is ours. Not yours. You are a brief footnote in history, a turd on the sole of a shoe that will be wiped away and forgotten. Now just do the decent thing you senile old git and sell the club.
Got to the Boxpark at midday and had a lovely couple of hours in there catching up with friends, more family, old faces and ex players.
Other than about 20 minutes in the first half and the 93rd minute, the game was horrible and whilst I am happy to have been sober enough to fully absorb the game, I can’t help thinking that a couple more pints might’ve have loosened me up a bit! That second half after 65 minutes or so I found particularly hard to bear.
All worth it for Bauer’s winner though-those celebrations will stay with me forever and the unCharlton like behaviour this team has shown in the last few games really shows their quality and, although the play-off performances haven’t been vintage, I think we fully deserve our promotion. This squad of players is up there as my favourite with the previous play-off winners and league one champions.
Celebrations continues in the Boxpark afterwards before getting to our Gatwick hotel at about midnight via a very rowdy tube ride with lots of Alllez, Allez and Twist and Shouts and then the Wetherspoons at the airport for a very late dinner. Up again at 3:30 this morning for a 5:45 flight and back in the villa sipping San Miguel by the pool by midday.
A whirlwind 24(ish) hours but wouldn’t change anything (other than the money i’ve spent!) and so happy to have shared it with lots of my favourite people especially my son.
Lots of concerns about the summer but they’re well and truly parked for the time being whilst I just wallow in the glory of yesterday.
Cherish these memories people!
Up the Addicks!
Apologies to the bloke I jumped all over on the concourse when our equaliser went in! I’d popped to the bathroom and missed the goal, heard the roar and came pelting out of the ladies still doing up my jeans shouting “did we score?! Did we just score?!”
The winner went in and I ended up a row down on the bottom of a pile of jubilant Addicks (in future lads the 5 foot 3 woman is probably the one fan you should avoid putting at the bottom of your celebration pyramid).
Final whistle went and it was all tears - what a day.
Can't do better than single words , or maybe 2 to describe yesterday....
CHARACTER
PASSION
BELIEF
TOGETHERNESS
12th "MAN"
PRIDE
LOVE
BOWYER
OUR CLUB
and last but not least...
YELLOW SWEATER.