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POSTMATCH THREAD: League 1 Play-off Final - Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient | Sunday 25th May 2025
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I'm about to go to bed. I woke up at 3AM buzzing. I'm going to bed buzzing.
Happy promotion day Addicks.9 -
Awesome experience to add to the other three play off victories, starting with the very first ever at St Andrews. First clean sheet one though, the resolve shown in shutting out the opposition having been key to our success this season. So pleased to have been amongst it all again as whatever happens next season, we have some more great memories to treasure that no one can ever take away. Some club this isn't it!
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A performance that epitomised the second half season - no frills , togetherness , last ditch blocks , terrific attitude . Well done, Nathan.
Great to see Curbs, Bow and Chrissy there at the end - hopefully NJ will be backed better than they were , having taken up a less strong team on paper . COYR.
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What a day, all through the build up from the semis to the Final I couldn't see beyond a victory. There is nothing like a Wembley final, it didn't have the drama of 1998 or 2019 final but we were in control throughout and Lloyd was immense, he is the general who marshalls our defence, as Nathan says its the basics and clean sheets which win matches and the players bought into Nathan. He is a different beast to Lennie and Curbs, its bit more about him but I love his passion, which is there for everyone to see. I'm sure he partied late into the night & is already onto the chairman and the board demanding what players he wants for The Championship. I'm so looking forward to next season and some special away days, its good to be back !We arrived early for breakfast in the Moulin cafe & saw the team come out of the Hilton hotel. Tracey Leaburn is such a legend, she was quietly talking to players and back room staff and waving to fans in the front seat as the coach set off, loved the atmosphere on Wembley way and the bar by 528,529 was rocking.The one person missing was dad who died 3 weeks ago, an Addick for 80 yrs, he will be carried into his funeral to the red red robin with red and white roses at the alter...how he would have loved yesterday.66
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As its 606 AM when I start this post my phone in views are we achieved the result on the day and it was amazing to witness around 40k with Charlton Athletic allegiance enjoy the successful outcome.
Stop to have tea and toast !
In the past we have lost generations of youngsters who decided not to support Cafc like their Dad's, Mum's, Uncle's etc because of the lack of ambition, lack of success and the going nowhere feels to supporting Charlton.
The test will be can the thousand or so under 10's that were at the game support Charlton like three relations of mine yesterday or will they end up supporting Arsenal and Chelsea etc because of other family or peer group pressure ?
Stop to emulate Oohaah in the small thinking room !
Hat trick of playoff wins at Wembley, though it was so different on the field to the last two; the attacking prowess of Clive Mendonca in 98 and the loanee effect of Bielik and Cullen helped CAFC just get over the line.
With the better strikers in the Championship I have my doubts we can just be defensive as over the 100 minutes of most games now they will take at least one chance if not more. Brilliant to see the whole squad celebrating was great but at least 50% of the players won't be up to Championship football; that's for another day and that will be from tomorrow as we plan for the upgrade.
I'm tea-total now so no hangover for me and next season has to be when we move forward on and off the pitch.
Stop to listen to my wife as she bends my ear before heading West for the half term week.
Keep the happy memories going for now as football, like life is a rollercoaster.
1 hour and 14 minutes 🤦🏻♂️
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Supporting this club can, at times, be a trudge - something we occasionally must endure rather than enjoy. More than most, Charlton fans have had to sometimes fight, and fight hard, to ensure that there will still be a club to even support.
But, while the lows and periods or purgatory sometimes have us questioning if it’s really still worth the time, money, and energy, once in a while we are rewarded with a dizzying high that we’ll remember forever and will sustain us through the next period of hardship.When it comes to playoffs, we truly have been blessed with some amazing days. The heavily outnumbered at St Andrew’s celebrating the late drama and then fleeing with their lives intact, the fabulous ebb and flow of one of the best matches to ever grace the old Wembley, the elation of a last minute winner in 2019, and, then, that atmosphere yesterday. It may not have been the most exciting match in comparison to the other 3, but what a noise we made and so so special, for me personally, to have my daughter there to embrace when the final whistle blew.And that is really what this fantastic game is about. The history, the traditions, the fan culture, and the passing it down through the generations through shared experiences. I wouldn’t swap this club for any other. What a day.Football. Imagine not being into it.44 -
When we scored you sort of knew we would play to our strengths and defend it. Our record shows that we can over and over again. Not great for the heart but absolutely no team at this level have gone behind to us and won. It wasn't about being a great game, it was about winning. A word for Orient. I'm sure we all wish them the best for next season. What a great job Wellens has done there.8
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Thierry Small is embracing the gaffer in the picture above; if only he could sign a contract to have at least one more season at CAFC as he has embraced the club on and off the pitch. Money talks and if I was involved with another Championship club I would want Small in my 18 man squad. It will be gutting to see him walk away with no financial benefit to Charlton.
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Hope you soon recover fully, Raythickandthin63 said:Stuck in doors due to knee replacement op,gutted,but we did it and what a day for all who went,at last next year some decent football at the valley.0 -
Friedman was basking in it boxpark, looks like he's got the bug for it. Would be surprised if he doesn't spend some cash this summer.
No voice left, lost my phone, keys and jacket, but it was worth it, what a day.
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A fantastic day from start to finish. Another great day out with Junior to remember forever. Fantastic result and to all those moaning about day trippers we met a family in the pub after the game who were lapsed supporters who said they would be buying season tickets. Onwards and upwards. COYRs10
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I think Small will sign now. He will have had Championship offers but he is at a championship club already.4
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What a day. Went in 2019 with mates and was a proper final day in a sense of beers, pubs, post match celebrations.This year just me and my 6 year old and couldn’t have gone any better, pre match fan zone, lower tier atmosphere, final result and him buzzing meeting Cov and Small walking down Wembley way post match.In terms of the game and the way we won I wouldn’t expect anything else. Was nice to win that way in a sense. Been desperate for us to play simple football tactics (educated route one) to get out of this league, as many successful teams have done before us rather than possession based, Garner, Holden etc. We can do that the further up the pyramid we go. We’ve got a lot of work to do to stay up next year as we look light in Championship quality straight away, but looking forward to the summer and next season already! COYR4
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Not The Top Twenty Review
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0M89es9bGe6Tpu2h4oTW9Z?si=obT0RimfTu6ukujm6LMQiA0 -
Loving the smoke flares during the game. Anyone know what what chemicals and dyes are used in them as might need to plan ahead with some life insurance?9
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Got to say my early bird season ticket purchase for next season is now looking like a sound investment.9
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If it’s any help, your phone and keys are probably in your jacket 👍🏻CAFCsayer said:Friedman was basking in it boxpark, looks like he's got the bug for it. Would be surprised if he doesn't spend some cash this summer.
No voice left, lost my phone, keys and jacket, but it was worth it, what a day.40 -
Almost made me cry again. I love this stupid club. Up the redsCallumcafc said:6 -
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Downside: I'm pretty sure we now have to pay a promotion fee for Ahadme30
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https://x.com/cafcofficial/status/1926903630709526941?s=46&t=ynww82GMl7VKBjthBflU0gHappy Monday, Addicks 🤩#cafc
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O ye of little faith. COYR1
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKFQ7e8IXUC/?igsh=MWxqbXZjc3VoeHVmag==Lloyd stops himself just in time4
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Exactly right.cafcnick1992 said:Pretty legendary performances from Lloydy and Macca today. A superb defensive play from them that won us the game.
Not on board with the people who say that was a poor performance - we were in control of that match, bar from a 10 minute spell Orient had.0 -
If ever "just win games" was justified then it was yesterday.
Not a classic match and none of the drama of our previous three finals but we won and deservedly so.
We scored an excellent goal (oh way didn't I back Macca for first and last goal instead of Ramsay?) and then we're confident enough in our own defensive ability to sit back and just defend.
The defence and the clean sheets had got us here and they were enough again.
For all Orient's passing and possession it was nearly all in front of us. They never got behind us, thanks to Josh Edwards, or cut us open.
Another goal would have calmed the nerves but in the end we didn't need it.
Maybe the expectation of being the "big" club, of being favourites, of finishing higher and beating them twice in the league already and the early goal meant it wasn't as dramatic as the previous finals but "big" teams are successful because they get the job done and that is just what we did.
Will Mannion came and caught everything he needed to, the back five stood strong. The midfielder didn't create much but they worked their socks off. Upfront Gooden and Campbell had to feed off scraps but it was TC who won valuable free kicks including the one lead to the goal.
Another time and another place to discuss what changes, who comes, who goes, etc but so pleased for the whole squad and it was great to see them all, including injured and fringe players on the pitch celebrating and wearing the shirt. Probably a fair well to a few of them so pleased Chuks, Watson and others got to go out winners at Wembley.
Up the Addicks
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Garrymanilow said:Downside: I'm pretty sure we now have to pay a promotion fee for Ahadme
And a pay rise which will be included in his contract as well as a bonus 🤦🏻♂️
I know recruitment isn't an exact science but how can we make excellent signings like Ramsey, Jones, Edwards, Small, Godden and even Macca who has been a revelation in '25' after a wobbly start yet Ahadme and Kirk were recruited on long contracts.
Gassan will be difficult to move on if he is content not to be in the 18 and get paid for working 4 morning a week at Sparrows. At 24 can he suddenly be the new fit Chuks to impact from the bench 🤔 probably not 🤷🏻♂️
Obviously systems and formations are involved in success or failure at clubs but in Charlie's case other than Burton away he looked lightweight even in the pre match warmup; in one home match Jason Pearce looked at him with contempt and then ignored him after Kirk went down holding his shin from minimal contact when playing one touch.
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That 11 minutes of injury time went like a bloody week but thought it would be more.
Great day was nervous all week, but felt great on the day despite getting up at 5, lifts to the station and bloody hours getting to waterloo cos of engineering works on the railways.
Game was as i expected cagey and boring but we did it. Would love to meet those 2 Orients fans i chatted to in march (who thought i was an O.s fan ) said that we were 2 bob....well have 10 bobs worth of that.
Rebuilding begins and its up to the board to unzip their wallets and back Jones, dont wont to get back in this league despite the fact most clubs and fans are pretty decent at this level.
One request of some of those fans yesterday. Get back to the valley next season in numbers and support those season ticket holders who have helped keep this club going whilst some of you have been away, It isnt all about play off finals.23 -
Thought the refs technical issue massively helped us. That took over 8 minutes and I already estimated before then that he’d add on over 6 minutes added time as he kept stopping his watch at every occasion. Psychologically think it had a big impact as they missed out on the time prior to added time. Either way what a win and time to enjoy the summer!14
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