Next year will be my 35th year as a Charlton fan. I started attending matches at Selhurst when I was seven.
In that time I have:
- Watched us play at Wembley three times (1987, 1998 and 2019)
- Seen us play 'home' games at three different stadiums
- Seen us relegated and promoted (too many times to remember)
- Watched us play in Europe (FC Utrecht and Valencia in pre-season friendlies)
- Protested on the pitch
- Protested off the pitch
- Watched a game (and been entertained) in the Directors Box at The Valley
- Had two seasons not missing a single game (home and away in all competitions)
- Travelled over 250 miles to an evening away game only for it to be called off at kick-off time because of fog
- Witnessed countless injury time goals (mainly against us, but some for us)
- Missed an away game after being involved in a car crash on the M6
- Watch us play in another teams away kit because the colours clashed
- Arrived at a game at half time
- Seen us lose to a Non-League side
- Met some amazing people over the years that I am happy to call proper good mates
There are some things I regret, like not going to China when we played a couple of games out there a few years ago and booking an away trip to Preston rather than Carlisle when we won the league there in 2012 (I was convinced we would claim the title at Preston, I thought the Carlisle game would be too early).
What else makes up your Charlton 'career' and what regrets do you have about supporting our famous football club?
Comments
Too much to put here career wise.
No regrets at all.
Thankful that I've never seen a home game away from the Valley (may yet change)
Cried when we got relegated in 1998, have sung in the rain @ Yeovil and celebrated on the pitch against Doncaster
Dont regret choosing Charlton as my club in the slightest!!
I had to look it up (see attached link) as I know Chelsea had just come down from the old first division and were on course to go straight back up. All I can remember is that we were thumped, it was a dark Saturday afternoon and my dad and I were standing three quarters of the way up the old East terrace. Interesting to see that Bobby Tambling got all four of Chelsea's goals and that he was captain. I would have assumed Terry Venables would have been captain but I guess he was still pretty young then.
http://www.stamford-bridge.com/match.php?mid=2481&opp=Charlton Athletic&comp_id=99&sid=63&season=1962/63
'There are some things I regret, like not going to China when we played a couple of games out there a few years ago and booking an away trip to Preston rather than Carlisle when we won the league there in 2012 (I was convinced we would claim the title at Preston, I thought the Carlisle game would be too early)'
I persuaded @GolfAddick and his son likewise and they still haven't forgiven me. I was convinced Chef Wendy would win at Colchester ….
Seen us win at Wembley twice.
Seen us lose to Millwall several times.
Missed the entire first half of the League 1 Play off against Swindon thanks to @PL54 forgetting to pass on the ticket.
Sadly didn't miss this:
Frequented your views until I found CL.
Have been CAFC through:
Curbishley's reign (well 10 years of it)
Dowie's reign
Les Reed's reign
Pardew's reign
Parkinson's reign
Peacock's reign
Powell's reign
Riga's first reign
Peeter's reign
Luzon's reign
Fraeye's reign
Riga's second reign
Slade's reign
Nugent's reign
Robinson's reign
and unless something positive happens soon, Bowyer's reign.
Interesting fact, we've had more managers in 20 years than in all the years prior.
Been hooked and a supporter ever since, seen all of the above what others have said and some.
Stood on all the terraces in the early days, including the South end as in those days you could walk around the ground. When dad stopped taking me I was a "herbert" standing in the Covered End, when we returned to The Valley I had seats in the Covered End with my 2 x kids, when the kids stopped coming I have have sat in the East, West and NW Corner with various mates.
Season ticket holder for most of those years, only stopped when RD starting taking the piss. Have been boycotting for most of the last 4 x years with the exception of a few games.
I have slowly been falling out of love with football due to The Premiership, Sky and dodgy owners and what is going on in SE7 at the moment is only accelerating my loss of apitite for the game.
I am extremely grateful for the fact that I have seen Hales, Flanagan, Treacy, Tees, Glover, Curtis, Powell, etc etc grace the pitch and play some special football. What happens on the pitch nowadays is a shadow of those days gone bye.
I handed my hard earned cash over to the Glicksteins every week and thought they were crooks but nothing could have prepared me for the wave of conmen that have been allowed to infitrate the game I love.
- seen us promoted and relegated on numerous occasions.
- seen us play at 3 “home”’ grounds.
- went to 130 consecutive home and away games.
- Arrived at Sunderland 2 mins before kick off because the exhaust fell off the coach.
- been slung out of the away end at Sunderland (not the above game) in a 4-0 defeat and walked straight in the Sunderland end for the remainder of the game.
- seen us a Wembley 3 times.
- fell asleep for the duration of the first half of a Millwall home game because I was still intoxicated from the night before.
- “broke in” to The Valley the night before an FA Cup game against Newcastle for a kick about.
- ended up in a lap dancing bar in Manchester with Kevin Campbell and got him to sing songs about Eddie Youds.
- Played at The Valley 3 times and scored a goal at The Covered End.
- Got my 3 boys to support Charlton. Just the Daughter to go.
Only regret is that my Dad forced me to Support Charlton and meeting elfsborg addict.
Started going regularly in 67 and have been going ever since.
My uncle was responsible for introducing myself and two brothers to Charlton.
Since then my 2 kids and 4 grandkids along with numerous nephews are all Addicks.
Long may it continue.
Highlight being at St Andrews in '87
Massive low point being at the Hull 6-0
Very upset to find @ricky_otto was White. I had my autograph book with me at Bury.
The best of times started (5.12.92) just before I moved to Prague, but I still managed to see some epic games live in that golden time, including both Wembley play offs.
I spent 3k taking family and Czech buddy to Wembley for the full lounge thing last season. Could have been a massive regret, but the feeling in the end was worth 3 times that.
It was wonderful to go with my Dad on 5.12.92 and to some games back after that. I regret that he didn't live long enough to see the fruits of that as he passed away in late August 1996.
I regret not being at St Andrews in 1987, and also not at the Valley for the Doncaster play off. But very glad to have been at the Battle of the Bridge in 1989. I regret not being at the Valley when we stuffed Abramovic's Chelsea with that gilded midfield of Parker-Jensen-di Canio. But I at least was glad I could watch it live on TV. I regret what happened next with Parker. And I regret that my country was so spineless that it welcomed Abramovic with open arms in the first place.
I regret roaring like a bull from the sofa as Conor Gallagher scored at Fulham as our dog was sleeping next to me and I frightened her senseless. Our relationship has still not quite recovered.
The whole Valley Party thing was one of the most epic, exhilarating experiences of my whole life, not just in football.
I regret that as of now I have no clear idea how we can get these ****s out and save our club all over again.
But I am glad that we have moulded ourselves into one of the most resourceful, multi-talented and co-operative fanbases in the whole league. I am proud to have been part of that since the moment someone stuffed a piece of paper called Voice of the Valley into my hands at Selhurst. I believe, in even in our darkest hour, that we will prevail.
Season ticket holder at The Valley, Selhurst and Upton Park since 1978. We lost 2-1 in my first match. Had 2 cars broken into and 1 stolen/written-off when parked at the ground. Originally stood with my dad at the very top North/East corner of the old East Terrace and eventually migrated to the small corner standing areas on the West side, much nearer the pitch. I have fond memories of the Hales/Flanagan era, Tuesday evening home matches in the 1970/80's with the infamous peanut salesman and the smell of the old dog food factory that was just down by Blackwall Tunnel. I was there for Danny Mills' pile-driver that gave us hope of staying up in the 4-3 amazing win at Villa and also there for Simonsen's reserve team debut, the first game back against Pompey (I had no ticket but luckily managed to cadge a spare by hanging around the ground on the day) and the Hales/Flanagan fisticuffs. Anyone else share my broken down Ebdon's coach experience when returning from the meaningless, end of season 0-0 away match at Barnsley when we had to wait for a replacement coach to come up all the way from Bexleyheath to save us?
I've cleared trees from the East Terrace, stood in the pouring rain awaiting a decision outside Woolwich Town Hall as well as protesting and participating in fan meetings with the Board as best I could to play my part.
I remember the excitement of seeing (albeit rarely) The Big Match cameras at our matches and watching back the game on the Sunday afternoon. Killer winning Goal of the Season felt very special at the time. Walking round the entire ground during the match, swapping ends with the opposition fans at half time to go behind the goal we were attacking is something totally impossible in the modern footballing world.
I can't begin to think of how many hours of my life I have spent 'refreshing' teletext and listening to 'Afternoon Delight' on Capital Radio, excitedly hoping to see/hear that we have scored. A vivid memory is the 5-5 draw with Bristol Rovers after which manager Andy Nelson famously blamed Dave Shipperley for all 5 goals. Bit harsh I reckon.
Dad and I used to go to Erith & Belvedere, Dartford, Gravesend & Northfleet and Welling when Charlton were away and on weekday evenings. Nowadays, I don't watch any football other than Charlton and the Cup Final - not even Match of the Day. It's hard for me to grasp the concept that, potentially, the subject of my desire may no longer exist. 42 years of my life caring and sharing about Charlton, through childhood, adolescence, higher education, girlfriends, 2 wives, 2 careers & several, sadly departed mates.....and yet Charlton may not even exist in less than 42 days from now!
First match 1950 when I was 5, my cousin took me, think best player I have seen for Charlton Stuart Leary, 7-6 against Huddersfield yes I was there, best game I have seen at the Valley, probably the high spot for me as a Charlton supporter, was being asked to stand for the Valley party that was a great honour then when we came back to the Valley,, first game against Portsmouth I had tears in my eyes, loved that period on through the premier years and then Chris Powell took over and done so well for us, when Roland took over and sacked Chris,, that was the end for me, I threw my season ticket away and have not been back since.
I feel so sad and depressed about the scum who have taken over our wonderful club now, Iwould like to see them locked up for years.
Played on the Pitch 1970, Woolwich Schools vs Medway, (Won 3-1, Mark Penfold skippered the Woolwich Team).
Never missed a home game, from 68-73,
Sometimes sat with my Dad in the West stand, next to Peter Reeves Mum and Dad
Went to Palace away in a Cup game, was about 12, got offered out by a couple of yobs coming out of West Norwood station, lucky that a couple of lads from Springfield Grove saw what was happening got me out of it.
Saw us loose to Blackburn at Wembley, was working for Sunderland 4-4,
Saw my son play for the Academy partnered Sean McGinty at Right back, against West Ham (won 5-3)
Later against Leyton O won , can't remember the score.
Remember the team of the late 60s , beating Clough Derby .Eddie Firmani as manager, then Theo Foley, then Andy Nelson.
Saw Keith Peacock turn Keith Newton an England full back inside out, the best i ever saw him play.
But best of all was 2019 play-off
Fantastic memories, lets hope their are more to come!