Addick killed in America - RIP @USofAddick

I went to school with Peter (Chis and Sid), who had a season ticket at The Valley until he moved to the states. Between the ages of 12-16 we probably did circa 20 away games on the Junior Reds coach. Funny how your memories come flooding back. Remember they used to arrange games against the home team 'juniors' a couple of hours before kick off, and typically you would end up facing players of a similar age. Cant for the life of me remember which game it was, but one game we turned up and our 'opposition', were probably no older then 8 at a push. Whilst most of us bought our game down a level or two to take that into consideration (or at least pretended that's what we were doing), not Peter, think he ended up scoring eight that day with that trusty left peg of his! There is even a picture of him from the Mercury and the Voice of the Valley from 1995 doing the rounds.

When he moved to the states we did not really stay in touch apart from the odd happy birthday message. I had not heard from him over the past five years, and did not even realise he posted on here. I know he still followed Charlton religiously, you can tell that by his facebook account, and there were constantly new pictures of his little ones on there in Charlton shirts.

Its easy to say at this time what a great man/person people are at this time, but Peter was one of the most contentious, passionate, good natured guys there is. As we left our teenage years we all discovered drink, and other excesses. I think what stands out with Peter is that he sacrificed all of this and spent countless hours volunteering, and giving something back when he moved out there. The most telling thing from me is the amount of messages from parents of kids he coached saying how he taught them how to behave not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

Having a 2 year old boy myself, the most haunting part of this is that he will have left for work that day, said his normal goodbyes, not knowing that he would never return. My heart goes out to his wife, and of course his children. I know with the fantastic legacy he has left behind, and I am sure that Austin will have a strong support network out there to hopefully help her through this terrible pain.

Of course I now look back and bitterly regret not staying in touch more, the selfishness of not even a passing message to find out how things were. What I do know is that all of the lads that used to go, along with the bigger group of us now, will raise a glass in his honour at the first game of the season.

Unless anyone has any objections, I will post this link to the online book of condolences I have been passed by the funeral organisers which is taking place in the states. I will ask permission, as to whether I can make that link available here, not really sure what the protocol is with this type of thing.

RIP Pete. Austin, Lyla and Jude, forever in my prayers.

Mark