Park 'n' ride Saints

One of the conditions of Charlton's return to The Valley was that the club introduced a park and ride scheme. A condition that was never implemented. Mind you, there was a lot of talk of a bowling alley as part of the proposed complexat The Valley, and thankfully that didn't happen either. But since those dark days for Charlton, a lot of clubs have introduced park and ride schemes. Southampton at their St Mary's stadium are one such club. And Saturday may well be the first time I experience wonders of such a scheme. Usually when I go with the old man by car we ignore them, assuming we'll get a good spot to park near the ground anyway.

But on our last trip to St Marys we drove around the warehouses and industrial park near the ground, couldn't find anywhere and ended up in a car park near the station. Now that was OK in daylight, but after the game in the dark and a 30 minute walk via a 'short cut', we couldn't find the car park let alone the car. And when we did, we still got caught in a snarl up getting away from the town.

No, this time we are seriously considering the park and ride scheme and wondering whether this should have been the future for Charlton.

Despite the past three results it seems we have around 2,000 Addicks going to the game on Saturday. Not sure why it's such a popular place to go. OK, it's not too far, but it's much the same type of ground as many others - Stoke, Hull, Coventry, Derby etc. For me it keeps the run going. The aim is to go to every game this season. Whilst there are more challenging places to go, it's not easy to muster the enthusiasm to go anywhere after three consecutive defeats. So full credit to those that are going. Let's hope we can get behind the team and help turn it all round again.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

West Country sorted

It's alright if you live conveniently in south London or Kent, getting to and from these midweek away games is difficult, but possible. If you drive, it's that bit easier still. But if you live in Essex and don't drive, then the midweek away games are a definite challenge. Not for the first time this season I've spent a lot of the day checking out the possibilities for the game against Bristol City on Tuesday week.

The first away game this season in the cup at Swindon, presented a similar challenge and I resolved this by staying in a Travel Lodge. On that occasion my girlfriend was over from Canada and I treated her to a night out at the County Ground. It all worked well, got there by train, saw us win, and came back the following day. I spoil her.

But the fundamental problem is that there is no way home on the night of the game. The train home after the Bristol City game gets back to Paddington at 12.30am which means that I can't get a connection across London to Essex. The coaches will drop off in south London with no way of getting home from there either.

So yesterday I considered the options. All of which mean staying overnight somewhere. Having checked out the hotels in the Bristol area it looked like it was going to be an expensive away day. But assuming I can get back to Bristol Temple Meads station by 10.30, I can get that last train to Paddington and have now booked a hotel room in Paddington. This at least means I can get in to work at a reasonable time and not take too much time off work.

Does anybody know the best and quickest way to get to and from Temple Meads? It's my first time in Bristol!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Charlton 0 QPR 1

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong. Eight days ago we were looking forward to a clash against Wolves. But we have lost three games in a week - two of them at home. And this latest defeat was against the bottom club that have not won away all season.

We can't just shrug this defeat off and say QPR were lucky. It was us that were lucky! They missed a penalty and several golden chances. I'm not sure their keeper had a proper save to make. And it is difficult to know where the problem is. Basey made a good debut, Lloyd Sam looked lively going forward, and Mills was his usual hard working self. But everything else was lack lustre. And that includes the crowd. Several people near me - not the usual die hards - commented they had never heard the crowd so quiet.

Because we lost at Luton, we don't have a game in the cup this week. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing for a league aspirations. Perhaps it gives us supporters time to dust ourselves down and gear ourselves up for a trip to Southampton next week.

Yet Saturday started off so well. Getting to The Valley from Essex is quick and easy, and relatively cheap. Having left home at 10.30, I had bought tickets, programme and a pint in the Horse and Groom by 11.40. Even managed to see the Crossbar Challenge on Soccer AM in the pub. Perhaps we should have stayed in the pub.

But the pupose of this blog is to provide a record of a season where I get to every game home and away. I knew there would be some logistical problems - and Britol City is providing the first major obstacle - but I hadn't fully appreciated the drain on motivation after three consecutive defeats.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Hoops!

The thing about this league is that you don't normally have too long to wait until the next game. With two previous defeats, this next one against the 'superhoops' from Loftus Road, the game really can't come quick enough. QPR have a new, albeit possibly temporararily appointed, man in charge, so it's difficult to know how this one will go. But we need the win against a team in the bottom three.

Hopefully Charlton fans are not that fickle that we'll be calling for the manager's head if we lose. But getting the win is pretty important if we are to challenge at the top.

This game's on Sky so it's an early kick off. That always screws with the pre-match routine. Probably time for a quick pint either in the Horse and Groom or the re-opened Oak. I also need to pick up tickets for Bristol City away at some stage. I might be going to that one on my own, and still have to sort out travel.

I don't want to tempt fate with a prediction for Saturday. We just need to win!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Charlton 1 Plymouth 2

Sometimes it takes a while to muster up the enthusiasm to record thoughts after a second consecutive defeat, and our first defeat at home. This is one of those times. But even immediately after the final whistle I had to recognise that Plymouth probably deserved the win. Ok they didn't construct too many chances, but then I don't remember their keeper having too many saves to make. The lasting impression was that Plymouth were up for it and prepared to have a go. Yes, it became a bit feisty, and yes it was one of the worst refereeing performances we have seen for a long time - even in this division. But let's be honest, Plymouth were prepared to work hard and at all stages of the game were prepared to commit numbers going forward. And for that I think they probably just deserved the win.

Having been to Hull earlier this month, I recognise the pleasure the 1,000 plus fans must have felt as they made their way home. The fact that some of them were on the platform at West Ham station waiting to go 'home' to Essex just shows that there are always loads of exiles living in the South East and able to get to even mid week games. Maybe that explains why the Jimmy Seed stand had over 1,000 Plymouth fans, yet at Hull we had a couple of hundred.

Away from the actual match there are always other issues to concern the average Addick - if there is such a thing. On other blogs and websites a number of people have been concerned that they don't get the bottle top when they get a soft drink. Some clubs provide them but we don't apparently. But in the East Stand we do! Not from the official concession places, but from the independent van selling burgers and soft drinks. Waiting for my delicious burger, I witnessed people getting bottles of water and coke with the tops left on. This is a major inconsistency! So if the top is important to you, avoid the official sellers and go to the burger van!

Chant of the game from thePlymouth supporters after Toddy got booked: "You dirty northern bastards".

Up The Addicks!

Robin

An expensive night

Whilst we may welcome the chance to get get back on track at home against Plymouth on Tuesday, we should perhaps spare a thought for Plymouth supporters. Having done a long distance midweek trip to Hull recently I can empathise with any loyal Argyle fans coming up to London for this game. It ain't cheap when you consider the time off work, fares, food, beer and match day ticket. I know! Let's just hope it's an expensive and miserable day out for them and we get three points.

I'm not sure how much we have in common with Plymouth, except that a few years ago we swapped commercial managers with them. It was all recorded for a documentary on TV. We got a modest, mild mannered chap; they got our Steve Sutherland who endeared himself to the locals by declaring 'I don't make tea'. Unsurprisingly they wouldn't do a premanent deal, and sent our bloke back at the end of it all. It was all amiable stuff which presumably allowed us to forge a few bonds. Not exactly a tie up with Inter Milan, but harmless enough.

However that will all change if we don't get anything out of the game on Tuesday. We've played eleven games now and struggled against the teams just below us. Plymouth fall into that category. It's time to step it up a gear.

As for me, I'll be going to the game straight from work in central London. We'll probably meet up in the Horse and Groom, though the Royal Oak should be opening soon. Might have a look in there if I get there early enough. I see tickets for the next couple of away games are now on sale, so might pop round the ticket office for the Southampton tickets before the game. Best to do it before Tuesday's game as it always seems that much harder to muster enthusiasm if we don't get a win.

But of course we will win. Won't we?

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Wolves 2 Charlton 0

Charlton have made enormous progress on a number of fronts over recent years, including in the ticket office. Many Essex supporters use 'Fiddler' to get their tickets, which saves us all having to try to get through to the ticket office, and what used to be hours on the phone. But the ticket office answer the phone much quicker these days and are far more efficient.

That's probably the reason that I didn't check the four tickets I bought from the ticket office last week. We hadn't been sure how many of us were going to Wolves so were later than usual in getting tickets. I bought them at the ticket office - three adults and a junior. It was only when we were sorting the tickets out on the way up to Molineaux that we realised that two tickets were in a different block. We wondered whether they might somehow end up being close to each other, but no. Two seats were some way from the other two. Is it too much for the ticket office to get a request for four tickets all seated together? It wasn't the end of the world, but it's so simple to get right that it is bloody irritating.

Having had two weeks to look forward to it, the game was disappointing. We did OK in the first half without ever showing a cutting edge. Scoring straight after half time meant that Wolves were in the driving seat and we never really looked like getting back into it. We're getting a bit careless with our full backs now as well. Apparently we didn't have anyone in the treatment room a few weeks back. So where are Mootu, Sankofa, Thatcher and Gibbs (he had another injury last week)? And now Powell's injured.

Whilst I like the ground, Molineaux still doesn't have pleasant memories for me. We left yesterday at 11.00 and arrived at 2.00. Not too bad considering the state of the motorways. But it took nearly an hour to get out of the town, arriving back at 8.00 - just as the egg chasing final started. At least we don't have to wait too long for the next game and to get this one out of our system.

Molineaux

I've been to Wolves a few times over the years. The first occasion was when we took about 8,000 up for an FA Cup tie. I was young and went by coach. But Southend and West Ham were also playing in the Midlands and in the mid 1970s it kicked off big style on the motorway service stations. Southend were also in the cup and took a few thousand to their game, so the service stations were like war zones. We lost the game and the day was yet another anti-climax.

I went up a few weeks later for a league game with just a few hundred supporters, and this time were ambushed by Wolves supporters. Not a happy ground.

Then in the early 1990s I went to a midweek game (0 - 0 I think) and couldn't believe the transformation in the ground. We had decent seats, under cover, along the side of the pitch. Like Charlton, Wolves are one of the few grounds that have been rebuilt on the same site. All quite impressive. Mind you, at £27 a ticket it wants to be.

For this game we're going by car. Tony has a bus full of Essex Addicks going from Grays (he might still have a bit of space left though). We considered the train, but ruled it out on the basis of cost. Toby's still at school and might have found it a financial strain as well. So we spoke to the Old Man who didn't take much persuading to drive us up there. So we'll set off late morning up the M40 or M1 / M6 - not sure which yet. Some of the pubs are a bit dodgy, so we'll take suggestions as to where to drink. Tony normally sorts out a Conservative Club or CIU affiliated club, so may give him a call en route.

As for the game it may depend on how fit Reidy is. It's frightening how much we depend on him for our creative play. If we're up for it and take the game to Wolves I think we can get something, but as I've never seen us win there, the normal Charlton pessimism kicks in. It'll be interesting to see how we perform after the international break though.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Highlights

It makes a pleasant change to scan the league table from the top when looking at our position, rather than from the bottom. It's early days and all that, but it's good to be at the top rather than the bottom. It bothers me that the club is advertising our games as promotion clashes and us as title contenders. Of course we want that to be the case, but I just fear this could be setting us up as a fall. We mustn't regard ourselves as a premier league team waiting to get back where we belong. Other clubs and their supporters have been that arrogant in the past and fell on their arse. Nottingham Forest in particular spring to mind.

This season we have a team of new players many haven't played in the premier league, and most weren't with us last season. These players may have the ability but it is gratifying that they realise they have to work hard to impose themselves. After the first few games I think they started to realise this and by and large the results have come. And none better than result at Palace.

We travelled in from Essex and met up at London Bridge for that game. A few beers later and we crammed onto the fast train to Selhurst. The tardis-type toilet proved popular on the 15 minute journey. Why are they so big on trains these days? It's always entertaining to see how many people fail to understand the instructions to lock the door. Not always pleasant, but entertaining.

Walking up from Norwood Junction I remembered how much I really hate everything about the place. The area, their fans, the ground, the Arthur Waite stand, and their chairman. I had to remind myself that, a bit like the sorting hat in Harry Potter, the club chooses you - you don't choose your club. These Palace fans can't help it.

The ground hasn't changed since I was last there. It's still dangerously cramped behind the stand. The view is dreadful and there's no way you're able to sit and watch the game even if you wanted to. You're on your feet the whole time. Apart from our exile years, I always remember the FA Cup replay back in 1970 when we beat them 2-0 and Charlie Wright was chaired off the pitch by Charlton supporters. It was quite a memorable first experience of Selhurst Park.

And this game provided another highlight. Without ever hitting the heights, the team worked hard for the result and we need that level of effort for the rest of the season. Some teams in this league may have limited ability, but we're still going to have to work hard to overcome them. So it was with Palace. The first away win I have seen in two years couldn't have come at a better time or place.

The euphoric celebrations were tempered slightly as we made our way back to the station. Two sets of supporters mixed in a tense atmosphere outside the ground. It wouldn't have taken much for it all to kick off and I'm not sure the police were that well organised to contain it. Fotunately there were no serious incidents on the way back to the station, but it seems there werer elsewhere.

Back home via London Bridge and a few more beers and it was a quite satisfying three points. Lets hope we have a few more such highlights over the rest of the season.

Time out

With 13 games played, roughly a quarter of the season gone, and an international break ahead, it's probably a good time to take time out and review our progress so far.

From the team's point of view we've only lost one game over 90 minutes, and given the team were a bunch of strangers at the start of the season have done really well to get to second place in the league. You'd hope that the team will continue to gel and get better. If that is the case then the signs are good. The highlights for me have been beating Palace again, the result at Hull, and the first 30 minutes against Norwich when they hardly got into our half of the pitch. More of the Palace game in a later post.

But the main reason for this blog is to chart the progress of Robin Rance, who aims to go to every single game this season. Some people want to conquer Everest, others want to go round the world, but Robin has more limited horizons. Every game in a complete season is the limit of Robin's ambitions. Robin usually comes away from a game ranting about something or other, and I'm helping him record his thoughts.

The next quarter of the season will provide Robin with some of his biggest challenges. A couple of midweek away games where there is no obvious means of getting to the game and home again afterwards. His meagre salary means that he might be stretched here. But perhaps his biggest challenge will be to take a two week visit to his girl in Canada and not miss a game. Currently he is due to get back to Heathrow on the day of the Preston game. Obligingly Preston have delayed the kick off, but it's going to be tight. We'll have to see if he makes it - and how he makes it.

Over the next few days Robin will be recounting his escapades at the earlier games that have not yet been recorded on this blog.

More beer

Upminster or Basildon to Charlton can take as little as 45 minutes by train. Even with moderate waits for connections, it rarely takes much more than an hour. Despite the crowds coming away from The Valley you can even get home, usually in about an hour. In fact for the Norwich game we were home an in the local pub by ten to six. But not tonight. Road works, congestion and hanging around for trains meant we didn't get home until nearly 7.00. Coming home is never a problem if we've won, but today felt like a loss. General concensus from the homebound Essex crowd was that we did all right but should have sown the game up long before the end.

Again, I thought we looked a classy side and knocked it about well. But that's no good unless we penetrate the opposition. And we didn't do that enough today. Even so Barnsley's late equaliser made it feel like a defeat. And they could, maybe should have won with a golden chance at the end. Barnsley were amongst the better teams we've played this season and they will argue were worth the point.

With the international break coming up it will give us time to take stock and assess our chances for the rest of the season. But the signs are promising.

Four of us met in the Horse and Groom today before the game to lubricate the vocal chords and watch the early game. There was some dispute as to whether the egg chasing should take priority on the TV, but thankfully the Man U Wigan game won through. During the pre match 'entertainment' we discussed the options for getting to Wolves. The train looks favourite but we'll have to see what the costs are. Tony's bus is an option apparently as there's a few going from Essex.

Before the match a man with lots of bottles of Fosters on his back was found wandering around the back of the East Stand. Come half time when you want a beer, this bloke was nowhere to be seen. Someone should have a word about his promotional techniques. People have been known to die of thirst waiting to be served at the kiosks, so this bloke could do a roaring trade if we could find him!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Result!

True to their word Charlton appealed against Lloyd Sam's sending off. Predictably the authorities backed their boy and imposed the three game ban. In their appeal Charlton pointed out that fame by frame the video evidence proved that Lloyd was not the aggressor, and the view of the referee and assistant was blocked. But like a proud parent defending their child, so the authorities ignored the evidence and stood by their boy. Maybe Charlton would have more success if they didn't point out so starkly that the referee was 'wrong'. Nobody likes to be wrong, so using softer language might be a better option.

But at least it wasn't frivolous! That in itself was a result.

Another result today was the manager of the month award. Pardew came second so we won't have the curse that comes with that award.

So we have to make our first change to the team line up for three matches. With Jerome Thomas coming on as sub at Hull it could be a straightforward replacement. But the signs are there that the team are beginning to gel. Arguably we have played some of the smaller and lesser teams in this league - Palace fall into both these categories - and beaten them. Barnsley may provide a tougher challenge though and are on a good run. I wouldn't be surprised if we struggle against them. Hopefully even a point will keep us in the top two.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Hull 1 Charlton 2

I don't know if Danny Mills is a nice bloke off the pitch, but on it he can be a nasty piece of work. Kicking the ball out after an injury stoppage rather than give it back to the keeper riled the home fans. His time at Leeds didn't endear him to the locals either. And his no compromise attitude to tackling always causes explosive incidents. But because he's 'ours' it's OK. Because he plays in Charlton red we'll forgive him and get right behind him. Last night Danny was never far from the rough stuff, but there was one particular incident at Hull that suggested he's not alone in the Charlton side.

Challenging him as No 1 thug was young, home grown Lloyd Sam. Off the pitch young Lloyd seems a nice, affable chap. But last night he showed the other side to him. Torturing the Hull defence again he put his legs in the way of captain Ashbee's studs. Then he attacked Ashbee's boots with his body and hit Ashbee's hands with his throat. He then had the audacity to grapple with Ashbee, bringing Mills and Co into an '18 man melee'. From where we were at the other end of the ground it looked like the usual huffing and puffing, but clearly Lloyd Sam had to go. It seems that Danny Mills has a challenger.

Apparently we're going to appeal. Haven't we learned our lesson? This is bound to be another frivolous appeal and our new mean machine will be out for four games. Maybe it'll create an opening for mild mannered Ben Thatcher!

The game itself was a tepid affair for 40 minutes and we scored from our first real bit of pressure. It was difficult to see from the other end, but the ref could easily have given a free kick to the goalkeeper - they usually do if the keeper drops the ball under pressure. But the goal, and then the fracas, certainly livened things up. In the second half we knocked it about nicely and seemed to play on the break. We certainly improved, and ZZ held the ball up nicely for big Chris to seal it at 2-0. Except it didn't seal it up. Hull pulled a goal back and it was typical Charlton. We let a comfortable result turn into blind panic. There were stoppages and injuries galore, but we held on. In fact we didn't realise the final whistle had blown because we had someone being treated for injury at the time. Buut it was a good game to win and made the journey home seem that more palatable.

As for the journey, we went via a working day in Sheffield, so we got there in good time. Except that accidents and a bloody fair meant that it took about an hour to get parked. We settled for the hospital car park, about ten minutes walk. It took ages to get away and we hit the road at about 10.15pm. We passed the two Redwing coaches near Lincoln and were indoors before 1.30am. Apparently the coaches got back at 3.00am.

The KC stadium was fine beer and a variety of pies on offer. And they sell their soft drinks in bottles - with the tops left on. There were no incidents as a result of the Fanta bottle top being left on which begs the question - why can't we have bottle tops at The Valley!

A good night out. I've never seen us lose away at Hull (3-0 and 0-0 previously). Roll on the Tykes on Saturday.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Chant of the night: 'That's why we're going up, that's why we're...' after we scored at our first attempt on goal after 40 minutes.

Up North again

Another purpose built stadium that I've not been to before. They all begin to look the same after you've been to a few of them. But arrangements for getting to this one has taken a bit of planning.


The first thing is that I need to take a day's holiday. That can't be avoided. The next is to work out how I'm going to travel. Fortunately the old man has fixed a business meeting for somewhere in Sheffield earlier that day. He's happy to take me up there if I can get up at 6.00am. This means travelling up the M1 and getting to Sheffield late morning.


Fortunately for me I know a few people in Sheffield so have arranged to meet them over a few beers at lunch time. After that there'll be a bit of waiting around before driving over to Hull later in the afternoon. There's no prospect of extra time for this evening kick off - unlike Luton last week. So if we get away quickly we can get back about 1.30am.


Not surprisingly Tony's not taking people up there in the bus, so it'll be a low turnout. Kim's going up by coach and staying over with other Essex CASC members - in Bexleyheath! I expect there may be a few others catching a coach. Pity we don't command enough support to warrant a pick up from Essex any more. We tried it for a year, but it didn't work out.

So another new ground and bleary eyes in the morning. At this stage I'm planning to go to work on Wednesday, but we'll see.