We have been preoccupied in recent days with the exhaustive and exhausting debate about whether Nathan Jones should go - it is pleasing to see the Chicago Addick argue convincingly that there are some other guilty but very low profile men who must take some responsibility for the present mess.
Today is Back To The Valley day when we celebrate our return to our spiritual home. The years that followed were heartening ones as we rebuilt the stadium and the team. Remember Target 10,000? All leading up to the Greatest Day.
Coincidentally, I met my late wife on 5th December, obviously decades before. She came from Thornton Heath, although her first job was in Woolwich. Her father was Palace, but she soon became Addickted.
It's over a century now since my father starting supporting Charlton, encouraged by cousin Ted. As an apprentice, he didn't have much money, but earned pennies for admission by looking after horses while deliveries were made.
And there the line dies out. Our youngest did come to the Greatest Game, but is not a football fan.
My great-granddaughter lives in Spain and is thriving although puzzled by the fact that people around her speak three languages: English, Spanish and Valencian (Catalan).
Calp could call themselves sons of the rock like Dumbarton - incidentally local dialect omits the final e
Her local team would be Calp, but they had an unfortunate incident a few years back when the police staged a raid during a game and removed several illegal immigrants from the pitch.
Her mum (my granddaughter) has said she wants to go and see Real Madrid (the travel time wouldn't be much greater than that from Warwickshire to The Valley).
Getting a ticket is another issue. I have had dinner there. I also had an audience with the current king (then crown prince) at his palace outside Madrid. My photo with him impresses local Galician tradesmen, but it won't get a ticket to the Bernebau.
No comments:
Post a Comment