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
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Saturday, 13 October 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
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
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
Thursday, 4 October 2007
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
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
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
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.
Monday, 1 October 2007
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.
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