An Apology (Of Sorts)

Seems as if my previous post generated much criticism especially from the anonymous amongst you. Very brave. Interestingly, the most concise comment came from Rob, a thirteen year old. Good luck with your blog mate. The thoughtful comment of 'tosser' was most enlightening.

However, I agree that on reflection the article was perhaps a bit over the top and for that I apologise to Lee Harrison. I don't agree though that, despite running a business, this would restrict you sufficiently from not visiting The Valley in over 13 years. I agree that it might prevent you from visiting on a regular basis but no-one works 24/7 and especially in recent years we have had sufficient Sunday games that would have made such a visit possible if you work Saturday's. Also, I would have thought that by putting yourself forward for this article, or a 'friend' putting you forward for it, you have to accept that some people are going to disagree with it's content and perhaps comment on it.

So, I hope Lee will accept my apologies if the article caused him any offence. For those whose first visit it was to this blog I urge you to read previous posts to see what the content is usually and to those that have visited before I hope that you continue to do so.

Updates during the summer may be few and far between but The Rumour Mill Site will be up-dated on an almost daily basis.

Fan Of The Year

Time for the inaugural CAFC Fan of The Year Award. Luckily this season the winner virtually picks himself. It is very rare indeed for such a candidate to emerge from absolutely nowhere to scoop such a prestigious award but that is what has happened this season.

On Sunday May 15th, against Crystal Palace, who incidentally were relegated if you hadn’t heard, this fan attended his first Charlton home game since that fateful day we left The Valley for our nomadic wanderings around London, 21st September 1985. In the intervening 20 years this exiled Addick was unable to attend another home game due to work commitments, although he was able to drag himself to Wembley for the 1998 Play-Off Final, a game attended by die-hard supporters only, so no glory boy here.

So, where was this Addick exiled you ask. Perth, Australia ? Boston, USA ? Perhaps, Kingston, Jamaica ? No, somewhere far more exotic; Malvern, Worcestershire. This man clearly deserves this accolade and a major article on the official CAFC website. Far more deserving of praise than the season ticket holder two rows behind me who travels to every home game from Bath. Far more deserving than those who do likewise from places such as Bournemouth, Taunton, Northampton etc etc. Far more deserving than those who regularly attend from Scandinavia, France and even Chicago, USA. I’m speechless on two counts. Firstly, that this story is given any space on the official CAFC website and secondly that this bloke seems proud of the fact he hasn’t visited The Valley in the 13 years since our return. Malvern. Many of us travel further for pre-season friendlies and will do so again this summer no doubt. I suppose we shouldn’t discount traffic problems encountered in The Cotswolds, which I assume are England’s equivalent to the Bermuda Triangle, or our lack of Sunday fixtures in the last 13 years as legitimate reasons for not visiting sooner. The hell we shouldn’t. A travel agent ? I’d get a new career mate.

So, step forward Mr Lee Harrison, CAFC Fan of The Year.

No, on second thoughts, most definitely NOT.

Could Dennis Do It Again ?? (Please !)

Well, first a big thank you to Mr Mike Riley. As Mr Andy Gray said on Sky, why worry whether it was a penalty or not as it was ‘Chelsea’s day’ and we wouldn’t want to spoil it for them would we. The hell we wouldn’t. After our recent run I doubt any Charlton fan was looking forward to this game with anything other than trepidation. In the end we got a thoroughly committed display that, although lacking in too much attacking intention, showed that the players do actually care after all. Furthermore, if Jon Fortune had taken one of the two chances that came his way or if Carlo Cuducini hadn’t superbly saved Matt Holland’s strike then we may have taken all three points. As it was a point was the very least we deserved and we would have gained it but for Old Mother Riley’s late, late penalty award.

Congratulations to Luke Young for his CASC Player of the Year Award. Fully deserved in my opinion as Luke has been very consistant in his performances this season and has also dramatically improved on the much maligned player we initially signed from Spurs nearly three years ago.

Quite understandably only 16,115 supporters have renewed their season tickets before the 5th May deadline. In response to this, and various letters and emails, Peter Varney has made a renewed offer of £ 25 discount if you now renew before 31st May. I hope that as many fans as possible take up this offer as season ticket sales are going to play a big part in how much Alan Curbishley is given to spend in the summer. The plunge down the table has probably robbed him of around £ 2.5 million so every penny counts. Now is the time to back Curbs and the Board if we want to see some much needed team restructuring.

And so to Palace. We can be instrumental in sending the stripey so-and-so’s back to their rented dump of a ground looking forward only to spending next season at least in the Fizzy Pop League, with our good friends from The Toolbox. It’s quite conceivable that they could win at The Valley and still be relegated but I’d rather not leave it to chance (or Norwich’s first away win of the season). No. Let’s make totally sure of their relegation by giving them a good hiding (1-0 will do!). It’s the least they deserve. Regardless of results elsewhere we know that a Charlton win will be enough to send them down so that is what is required, nothing less. The crowd will be up for it but will the players? Graham Stuart thinks so and if Alan Curbishley heeded my open letter to him then both he and the players should be also. Dennis in The Last Minute would more than suffice.

My prediction : Charlton Athletic 2 Crippled Alice 1.

Finally, please visit my Transfer Rumour site for all the latest Addicks related rumours.