Leaburn farewell

Today we say goodbye to Tracey Leaburn as Head of Player Care.  She has provided 10 years of great service to the club, not least in staying put at The Valley as one of a trio who stood up to individuals who were a great threat to the club's existence.  The surname Leaburn is legendary at Charlton and I wish her every success and happiness in the future.

I only met fellow blogger Dave Thomson (Drinking During the Game) once when Murray mints called in all Charlton bloggers for a meeting.   That was at a time when the blogsphere was more populated and of greater importance.

Dave sadly passed away in 2023 from cancer and his daughter Heather is undertaking a 30 mile walk to raise money for cancer research: https://www.castrust.org/2025/08/sponsor-heather-thomson-in-memory-of-her-father/

Football is more than the game itself.  A few days ago I made a routine visit to my chiropodist.   She is a keen Villa fan (season ticket holder) and we usually talk football, but she was more restrained than usual.  Then she revealed that her father whom she went to games with had passed away and she couldn't raise her normal enthusiasm for the season.

At home with the Leaburns

The Guardian has published an in depth interview with Miles Leaburn, also featuring his mum and dad.  Tracey cooks jerk chicken dinners for the younger players.   She is a star in her own right: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/09/charlton-miles-leaburn-carl-tracey-interview

Leabiurn has been named as League One Player of the Month: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-striker-miles-leaburn-wins-league-one-player-of-the-month-award/

Tracey Leaburn interview

Tracey Leaburn is a very popular figure at The Valley and in this interview with the SLP she talks about her role as players' liaison officer and her 23-year relationship with Carl Leaburn. Apparently, she didn't watch him play and if she did turn up at The Valley, she would often have a glass of wine rather than watch the game: Looking after players

I was there at Ipswich when Carl Leaburn scored his hat trick.