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Club Statement - Fan Sadly Passed- Headphones Norm Barker RIP
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Unbelievably sad,what a shock at this news,players,managers owners of the club,come & go,but its the fans,supporters whatever we are called but certainly not customers,who are the heart beat of this great club & one such Legend is know not going to be there in person ever again home & away,but as we can so easily promise,his spirit is set in stone now,just as it is with Seb,he will always be with us wherever we will roam,god bless his family,friends & also to the 1st class medical support & each & every person who witnessed & helped in the best possible way to keep him safe & everyone that has been affected by the passing of Headphone’s NormRIP mate…❤️4
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All you had to do to brighten up someone's day was say "I've just seen Headphones Norm"30
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Due to often A2 roadworks between Charlton and Chatham where I live,I dont usually attend midweek games,will certainly attend tomorrow to pay my respects to this lovely man.21
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Few of us will ever manage to be as well known, and instantly recognisable.
RIP to an iconic fan.8 -
Exactly, I remember messaging my son when I was watching the Maidstone FA Cup match on TV to say 'I've just seen Headphones Norman in the crowd' because I knew it would make him smile.cafc999 said:All you had to do to brighten up someone's day was say "I've just seen Headphones Norm"5 -
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And stood at the front in the Cray Valley Paper Mills replay. You couldn't miss him.cherryorchard said:
Exactly, I remember messaging my son when I was watching the Maidstone FA Cup match on TV to say 'I've just seen Headphones Norman in the crowd' because I knew it would make him smile.cafc999 said:All you had to do to brighten up someone's day was say "I've just seen Headphones Norm"4 -
Condolences to a true club legend. When I could get to The Valley, was the one face you could count on seeing in the North Lower. Proper Charlton.
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Club Statement - Nice words whoever pieced that
Charlton Athletic are devastated by the loss of one of its most loyal and recognisable faces, Norman Barker.
Saturday’s fixture against Portsmouth at The Valley was halted in the 12th minute after Norman fell ill in his seat in the Covered End Lower. His fellow supporters came to his aid, while staff and first responders did everything they could, but he sadly passed away in hospital.
A true beacon of the Addicks faithful, home and away, Norman was affectionately known by fans as ‘Headphones Norm’ due to his distinctive look, which included a set of headphones either around his neck or in position listening to the latest results coming in, a vest with numerous Charlton and other football-related badges and patches on display and brilliant headwear such as his favourite ‘Davy Crockett’ hat, proudly emblazoned, of course, with his beloved club’s logo.
Norman was a constant at every game up and down the country for 40 years, always supporting the Addicks through good times and bad with a smile on his face. His dedication to the club was recognised earlier this year as he was presented with the Colin Cameron Supporter of the Year award, receiving his accolade from Men’s First-Team Manager Nathan Jones as part of the 2025 Hall of Fame event at the Charlton Athletic Museum in July.
He was also chosen by the club to feature in a season ticket campaign ahead of the 2020/21 season in which he discussed his story of becoming an Addick and his love of following the club.
Norman will be truly missed by all at Charlton Athletic and everyone at the club sends their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
Charlton Athletic will honour Norman’s life when the club host Middlesbrough at The Valley on Tuesday evening. Further details on the tribute and how supporters can honour and celebrate Norman’s life will be shared in the next 24 hours.
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Norman was a proper supporter. Would struggle to say over any of the away games I have been at in the last 40 years that I have not seen Norman.
An absolute gent of the highest order, always said hello or a raise of the head.
Never appeared to want or be a 'celebrity' supporter, just someone who was the perfect definition of the meaning of true supporter.
RIP27 -
So so sad, as @AFKABartram mentioned earlier in the thread, we stood/sat near Norm for years in the lower Covered end, and he was such a brilliant, nice human being, never phased, always welcoming and always someone you could say hello too. He used to walk up Thorntree Road after games and we would always say hello even after I had moved to the upper.
One of the loveliest humans around, and my thoughts are with his family, his friends, and those who stood with him in the lower north.25 -
RIP Norm. You’ll be missed by us all.1
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Both my wife and myself where at the game on saturday. We had photo on us that was taken at the Leicester home game with Norman and three friends of his who had travelled with him both on coach and train over many years. I never managed to hand it to him. Please can i say a BIG THANK YOU to two stewards in the East Stand who helped me during the advents of saturday afternoon ,be pround of the way you helped me.A JOB WELL DONE. Also my thanks go out to Ben Hayes who helped me in my time of need. Norman we will be unable to travell over tomorrow to stand with you ,but trust me every fan in Holland will be thinking of you at the Middlesbrough game. Thanks for you friendship over the years RIP Norman.38
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There was no need to thank me but I really appreciate your kind words all the same, Colin.Lewis Coaches said:Both my wife and myself where at the game on saturday. We had photo on us that was taken at the Leicester home game with Norman and three friends of his who had travelled with him both on coach and train over many years. I never managed to hand it to him. Please can i say a BIG THANK YOU to two stewards in the East Stand who helped me during the advents of saturday afternoon ,be pround of the way you helped me.A JOB WELL DONE. Also my thanks go out to Ben Hayes who helped me in my time of need. Norman we will be unable to travell over tomorrow to stand with you ,but trust me every fan in Holland will be thinking of you at the Middlesbrough game. Thanks for you friendship over the years RIP Norman.
Agree on the stewards and i'll be contacting the club to say the same.8 -
It's too new and too raw right now, but I'd love it if we could find a song for Norm like we have for Seb.
I've been singing an adaptation of Weather With You in my head for a day now.
"Everywhere we go,
Always took your headphones with you..."🎶🎧23 -
It turns out to be my neighbours best mate. He was at the game on Saturday. Brilliant gesture from them and hopefully erases any previous comments made on the Pompey fans in general!NomadicAddick said:I’ve seen on Facebook that Portsmouth fans have started their own fundraiser for Norm, already at 2k. I think it’s been pretty clear over the last 24 hours a section of their fanbase let the club down, but the fundraiser is nice to see.
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Minutes applause from yesterday's CAFCW match which was also against Portsmouth
https://x.com/CAFCWomen/status/1997999610241933504?s=2011 -
RIP. This has really messed with me, and I've not been able to form a proper response. But I think, despite the horrible and tragic experience that unfolded for all of us to some degree on Saturday, there's a crumb of solace. They say that most people would wish to go surrounded by their family. Well, he certainly was56
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I saw a nice quote somewhere, along the lines of:Leuth said:RIP. This has really messed with me, and I've not been able to form a proper response. But I think, despite the horrible and tragic experience that unfolded for all of us to some degree on Saturday, there's a crumb of solace. They say that most people would wish to go surrounded by their family. Well, he certainly was
'It's incredibly sad to think that that Norman will never be back at The Valley ...however there is also something in the fact that given the circumstances of Saturday, arguably he'll never leave'47 -
Talking to my brother this morning, he said he last spoke to him at Bristol this season and Exeter last season, was meant to come up for this game, instead we're coming up for Oxford, really wish I could get to the Middlesborough match.Just seen on the club IG the service the club held this morning, heartbreaking.Kinda feels like this has hit us deeply, still tearing up about it now.5
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RIP Norm0
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He was always a gentleman, who I known since I was a kid, loved seeing him at away games. Headphones Norm and also Pin Badge Norm (still wearing his Welling United badge, and look at the pictures recently that David Beckham Academy one never went away) as my old man referred to him as once.Always made a point about saying hello to him at Away games (did that at play off away game at Wycombe)- he was sitting in the front row of where we were sitting- even though he wasn't apart of my family and friends I would normally go with.When I went on my own to Bristol this season had a chat about where you get a programme. Norm was just someone anyone could have a chat with. I saw him when I was working Unity Cup and when I helped him with his ticket, he smiled at me.A sunshine to anybodies storm.Fitting the last time I saw him was on the way back from Coventry.
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I am really sad to hear the news of Norms passing after the 12th minute in the game against Portsmouth on 6.12.25.
It was a real shock. More so what I googled and recognised the face from the name Norman Barker(Norm).We started school together at Charlton Secondary School for boys at the Lombard Wall building from the age of 11-13years I believe. We were in the same class together. We were both born in 1957. Then the school moved to the Maryon Park building of Charlton Secondary school. We were together there as well for another 2 years. We were in the same maths class. Mr Foss was our maths teacher back then.Norman(Norm) at school was almost exactly the same then. Whatever fellow supporters have said in their tributes to him apply to him as he was at school.He was a shy boy. Humble, kind, modest.I don’t recall him ever getting upset or annoyed about anything no matter how much anybody tried. He would not hurt a fly. He would just make a facial expression and turn away if anyone tried to mock him or upset him. He had extremely good self control as a child.It has been said that Norm shrugged his shoulders when there was a delay due to a train cancellation but no other reaction from him. It is typical of him.It is good to see that not only the boro fans but all football fans would be uniting in paying their tributes to Headphones Norm.I will be there on Tuesday 9.12.25 to pay my respects to Norm.There should be a statue in a prominent position at the ground in Norms memory.I am really touched by the tributes paid to Norm.I have been a Charlton supporter all my life and I usually sat in the covered end.I never realised what a true legend Norm is.RIP Norman Barker(Norm),”Headphones Norm”
see you on Tuesday 9.12.25.
Parkash
your School and classmate (Charlton Secondary School for Boys 1969-1973)85 -
Norm
Many miles did you travel
Many games did you see.
with great respect and may you Rest in Peace.
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If we are talking songs then a slight amendment to Sebs would work
”Headphones Norm and Sebbo, we will never let you go”…
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Sebbo and Norm - ole ole ?3
