Unsung heroes

When you start reading this, you may wonder where the Charlton content is, but I do get there eventually.

Most of my adult life was spent in a household where there were four girls/women and me. So it's not surprising that almost all my close friends today are women. I feel comfortable talking to them about hairstyles, hair colour and fashion.

However, football is a big gulf between us. They find my interest in it baffling, even though one of them was the highly successful director of a football research centre. In particular, they can't understand why I support Charlton rather than a top six club. Only of them has an interest in football and she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan. Cue jokes about 'she doesn't have an interest in football, then' but at least it's not Palace. I would add that Chris Powell is a Spurs fan and had a season ticket at one time.

She was pleased that I went to Tottenham on Saturday afternoon for the opening of an exhibition by the Mayor of Haringey in which I am an exhibit. It's odd to see your story on an information board funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Even odder to have people come up to you to shake your hand, say they remember you and that you were a 'star' (clearly not).

Meeting members of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation

It was good to meet representatives of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation who are clearly doing some great work in the community and want to contact me to record my 'life story'. They were a bit shocked to find that I was born south of the river!

Last week a Bulgarian friend of mine invited me out to dinner. We had what I thought was a good natured discussion about my interest in football, but she mistakenly thought she might have upset me and invited me out again. That led to a very interesting discussion about cultural differences and why she finds my 'Englishness' a problem. That's understandable, given that she has lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, the United States, the Netherlands and now the UK. I have only lived and worked abroad for short periods of time.

Given that one of her passports is still Bulgarian, and that she has property there, I was shocked that she had never heard of Radostin Kishishev who earned 89 caps for Bulgaria. But that led to a train of thought.

One of the Charlton Facebook groups recently invited fans to name their favourite player of all time. The answers were inevitably generational. Among the most popular choices were: Sam Bartram; 'Killer'; Mark Kinsella; and Sir Clive Mendonca.

But what about the players who were unsung heroes? Players we may have slagged off at the time, but came to appreciate what they offered later. Often they were midfielders. I would suggest the following names from different eras:

• 'Squib' Hamond who passed away recently and worked away in the midfield engine room in the days of the maximum wage (he later became a hospital porter).
• Keith Jones, disliked by many because of his role as a defensive midfielder which sometimes involved playing the ball sideways or backwards. But he scored his penalty in the Greatest Game and scored a winner against Liverpool.
• And, just to wind up my friend, Radostin Kishishev.

Radio Scilly

Just to update you on my role as mainland football correspondent of Radio Scilly (see earlier story). I got the dreaded vote of confidence at the weekend, but my football preview was not used. This led to an exchange of views online on Sunday morning with the new managing director. This was awkward as she is a long-standing friend: I made a special trip to the islands for her wedding reception. She ticked me off on air, but also said I was forgiven. So we shall see.

Run of wins comes to an end

Charlton's run of wins came to an end with a 2-2 draw against Luton Town this afternoon. To look at it more positively, we are unbeaten in six. The Addicks stay 6th in the table.

Instead of conceding a last minute goal, Chris Solly scored a 95th minute equaliser, volleying home from a corner. He had not scored for six years (his last goal was away at Blackpool) and has scored just twice in 269 appearances.

Fosu scored clinically from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Aribo had been brought down, giving Charlton the lead. Luton boss Nathan Jones has complained that it was outside the box which makes me glad I have my sight test coming up as it looked inside on Quest.

Luton should have levelled 10 minutes into the second half but Elliot Lee was denied by Jed Steer - the striker's rebound hitting the outside of a post. The introduction of Harry Cornick inspired Luton, as after missing an excellent chance, he beat Steer to Collins' flick-on to make it 1-1 after 74 minutes.

Steer made a brilliant save from Lee but was beaten again with nine minutes to go. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's shot cannoned off the woodwork and Collins converted the rebound.

The report from Louis Mendez can be found here: Dramatic late points

Back to Kenilworth Road

Luton Town have aspired to a new stadium for a long time with sites near the M1 being discussed. But they are still in Kenilworth Road which must be one of the odder stadiums in the Football League. I remember visiting there in the 1990s and going through a passageway alongside a house and then climbing some steps adjacent to a back garden to get into the away end.

Heather McKinlay can recall a not altogether happy experience in the 1970s: 41 years of hurt

I met the local Hatter in one of the Royal Spa's 47 coffee shops this morning, but he had little insight to offer beyond saying that both teams are doing 'quite well'. I might have got more out of the predominantly Portuguese speaking clientele, but they were more interested in games in their native Brazil.

Charlton are currently 2nd in the League One form table and Luton are 7th. Most of their success has been at home with three wins, one draw and no defeats. Last week they drew 0-0 at Blackpool, but that was largely due to some super saves made by the home keeper.

Four Four Two forecast a 7th place finish at the beginning of the season.

Luton supremo Nathan Jones says of the Addicks: 'A tough game. a good side, a very good side. The manager has done well there under difficult circumstances, fair play. They're a good side, a big club for this level. They've got good players and it will be a real good test of us, our structure and where we are because there are sides that are Premiership, or ex-Premiership sides at this level, and they're one of them. it'll be a tough test, but a great test for us.'

On Charlton's strike force, he said: 'They've got some potency there, Lyle Taylor and Karlan Grant are a real potent strike force at this level and we will have to be at our best. But, we're in good form at the minute, two back-to-back clean sheets, so we can't go into it in any better defensive form, so we will see. It's a wonderful game, full house. Charlton is a wonderful club, I have actually worked for them, so I know what a fantastic club it is, but I also know what a fantastic club we are.'

Jason Pearce says that the feeling in the camp is really positive at the moment. Lee Bowyer is a tough manager to please, but that is the way the defender likes it: Happy at demands

Have I been sacked?

In the Porthmellon Studio of Radio Scilly

My position as mainland football correspondent of Radio Scilly may be in jeopardy. I was planning tomorrow to reassure local Plymouth Argyle supporters that their team put in a decent performance at The Valley last Saturday. The Argyle Community Trust was working with the Five Islands Football Club training youngsters on St. Mary's in August.

Yesterday morning the station was on auto pilot. Morning show host Will Lethbridge was revealed by Facebook as being in Barcelona. Ofcom had changed the license holder at 6.01 a.m. that morning. Investigations at Companies House revealed that Zoe Parry and her partner had resigned as directors. BTW, I was interested to learn that one former director had 'Charlton' as his middle name. I thought that only happened on Only Fools and Horses!

This morning I tuned in and heard the dulcet tones of community bus driver and local councillor Steve Sims. It was evident that he was struggling with the equipment and the running order. It also emerged that no one was ringing in to answer the breakfast brain teaser, but eventually someone did and got it right.

I sent Steve a message of sympathy because I wouldn't like to host the morning show which is the peak listening time and he did read it out on air, so perhaps all is not lost. Having been involved in commercial radio since it started, I would struggle with the equipment!

But don't expect my football preview tomorrow! I'm not sure that anyone listens, although a friend who was staying in a hotel was told by the owner that 'he knows all the managers.' Which I don't! Some of them I wouldn't want to know.

Mad as Hatters

I am meeting a Hatter tomorrow morning to discuss Saturday's game between Luton Town and Charlton Athletic.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that 'Bedfordshire Police will be running a free bussing operation for all Charlton fans attending the above game. The busses [sic] will be located at the train station and can be utilised to get to and from Kenilworth Road Station [stadium?] Officers will be at the station to assist and answer any questions. Luton has a guided busway system which if circumstances allow, will be able to get Charlton fans to the ground and back from the stadium to the station within 2 minutes.'

I do not know what you are supposed to do if you intend to go by car. Presumably the bus operation is in part intended to deal with all the Addicks hard men that will be arriving (including the Bloke Behind Me who lives in the area). Perhaps there are memories of the notorious visit by Millwall to Kenilworth Road in 1985 which influenced Mrs Thatcher's stance on football: Riot

TIT bid for Charlton has collapsed

Charlton fans hoping for a takeover received a further blow when it was revealed that the Trotters Independent Trading bid for Charlton has collapsed. The following is a transcript of a conversation between Del Boy and Roland.

Bon joor Roland, it's your old mucker Del Boy.

Qui?

Del Boy from Peckham what has just been voted the eleventh coolest place on the planet: London's coolest neighbourhood

Mon Dieu!

Nous parlons Franglais?

Bien sur.

Trez bien. Now when we were last on the dog you said you wanted 60 for your debts and 40 for the club and I said we could run to a ton.

C'est vrai.

Now Roland I am prepared to up my offer. In preparation for Brexit we are making Belgian style beer here in London.

[Roland is shocked into speaking English]. It's a travesty!

Non, mon ami, it's not a tapestry. But, as it so happens, I have a consignment of authentic Bayeux tapestry tea towels which I am happy to throw in.

Je bois café - et l'eau du robinet!

Like the Academy players! But I bet you like a nice glass of Belgian beer. Our beer is made by monks in a monastery in New Cross and it is called 'Pissoir New Den'.

Roland: Sacre bleu!

No, it's not blue Roland, it's a nice golden colour.

Quoi?

No, Roland, this is nothing to do with Tony Watt.

Are you that M. Everitt from Ramsgate in disguise? Is this a wind up?

I'm not that plonker, it's your old mate Del Boy from Beckham with the brother whose middle name is Charlton.

You take me for a fool! I'm a billionaire visionary. I will not sell the club to you!

Truth is a relative thing

In a new announcement on the club website, it is suggested that truth is a 'relative' thing for CARD: Clarification of bonus situation

It is also stated: 'In the meantime the club investigated how this issue became national news in the UK and beyond, a significant blow to the reputation of the club and owner and to the ability of the owner to sell the club.' Presumably it became national news through the normal processes of journalism with the story then picked up outside the UK by, for example, outlets in Belgium.

We could have a discussion about what is meant by 'truth'. Those things that are indisputably factually correct can be relatively trivial. For example, we know that VOTV editor Rick Everitt lives in Ramsgate. Indeed, he confirmed this yesterday by tweeting a picture when he was enjoying the amenities of the Royal Victoria Wetherspoons pub. Other than he was able to enjoy the sunshine rather than subbing the next issue of VOTV, the wider significance of this fact is limited.

Everitt has, however, responded to the club statement from the Isle of Thanet in his usual forthright manner: It's you have a problem with the truth, Roland

Most things are a matter of interpretation, even in a court of law. However, what is evident is that Roland Duchatelet is launching a vigorous campaign to defend himself with the EFL. He is entitled to do this, but it might have been a better use of his talents and energies to build a good relationship with the fans in the first place.

It is interesting that he is now described as a 'billionaire', presumably in euros. Previously I had thought that he was just a multi-millionaire. But evidently when it comes to selling the club he is keen to recoup the £65m of debt accumulated by one of his companies. I suppose that if I was in his position, I would want to as well, but it could be argued that poor decision-making by the owner has contributed to this outcome.

The debate about who has been economical with the actualité will no doubt rumble on. At least we can take some pride in the team and the management. Going to The Valley has become less of a painful duty.