Fan Loyalty Rewarded ?

Whilst the support shown to Chris Powell on Saturday was laudable it was also quite laughable. Laughable to the extent that many fans showed more support to Chris, an opposition player, than they did for their own team. 'Fans' who sat on their hands, mouths firmly closed, for 90 minutes whilst the team they allegedly 'support' was trying to win a game and get a vital three points suddenly came to life when Chrissy made a late substitute appearance. And at the final whistle they could hardly contain their excitement as Chris got a rapturous round of applause as he performed his ledgendary tunnel celebration. Sad. Just a pity they can't put as much energy into supporting the team on the pitch. Fans, they don't know the meaning of the word.

At least they'll be pleased to read in the programme that the Club has decided to take the full allocation on offer for the forthcoming trip to Reading. The Club expect demand to outstrip even the 2,000 tickets on offer. They also took great delight in reiterating the current away ticket allocation policy. Yes, the blanket wearing, flask waving ValleyGolders get first dibs again whilst those who may not be in ValleyGold but are making the much longer and considerably more expensive trip to Wigan the previous week are left to wait patiently in line. Why ?? I've always been against a policy which basically rewards those who can afford to pay a tenner a month into VG over those who prefer to spend their money actually supporting the team. We'll be able to spot those at the MadStad who are there just for a jolly-up and a new ground a mile off (any true Charlton fan has been there already, a pre-season trip a few years ago). And will they support the team, will they end up hoarse urging their team onto victory?. Will they heck as like. It'll be moans about fans standing, fans swearing, people shouting too loudly in their earholes and their blanket getting dirty as other fans have the temerity to celebrate a Charlton goal. Whatever next?

Perhaps we should book Chris Powell as a warm up act. That'll keep 'em happy.

Operation Wigan (or get off your backsides)

Well, despite all good intentions it seems that Operation Cottage, instigated by the Charlton Life team, reported on here previously, has hit the buffers. A great idea and a very good attempt but it just doesn’t have the required exposure, at least not yet.

It has been suggested that Charlton have sold around 1,000 tickets for the game. Rumours of 2,500 plus Addicks making the short journey to West London seem unfounded. Some fans are still saying they will turn up on the night and pay on the gate, and undoubtedly they will be able to do so, but come mid-afternoon on Monday 16th, it’s raining and a mate calls to say how do you fancy a curry at the Omar Khayyam followed by a few pints down The Red Barn watching the game on Sky it is far easier to say okay when you have not already coughed up twenty-five quid for a ticket than when you have. If you are going to go then get off the fence, ring the Club and get your ticket. Otherwise shut-up.

Perhaps it’s already time for Charlton Athletic themselves to consider their annual ‘freebie’ trip. In fact it could be said that now is the time more than ever before. The previous ‘freebies’ to Port Vale, Forest, Bolton, Boro’ etc have all been launched to propel us towards glory, whether it be promotional glory or FA Cup glory. The same theme remains though; good times, happy times, times when we shouldn’t have needed such encouragement to support the team. Now the boot is on the other foot, nearly. Perhaps not yet bad times but, make no mistake, another couple of bad results and the bad times are just around the corner. The team, injuries permitting, is good enough for a top-ten finish, but once you become entrenched in the bottom three then it becomes psychological and whoops, before you know it, down you go. So it’s time for the Club to launch Destination Wigan.

Why Wigan you ask ? Well, for a few reasons :

1) we’d be able to get a large allocation of tickets.
2) the tickets will be of a reasonable price.
3) Newcastle is too soon, Sheffield Utd could be too late whilst Reading, a week after Wigan, is a new ground for most, a reasonable travelling distance, shouldn’t be too expensive and so should be well supported anyway. Another reason to get a large following up to Wigan the previous week.
4) it’s a winnable game.
5) it’s a great idea.
6) it can’t get any worse than last year at the JJB !!

So, it’s time to back Destination Wigan.

Let’s hope that someone at the Club (preferably someone important) either reads this, is alerted to this or are so clever that they have already had the same great idea. Failing that perhaps our Fans Representative will take up the baton and run with it. He can even claim all the credit if he wishes. Over to you Ben Hayes, let’s see what you are made of.

Up The Addicks !!

Support Operation Cottage

No, not an attempt to get George Michael out of his Range Rover and into a Public Convenience, but an attempt to get Charlton fans out of their armchairs and away from the telly and their take-away pizzas to Craven Cottage on Monday 16th October at 8pm.

Why you may ask ? Because we are in the proverbial doodoo. The players need our support. Iain Dowie needs our support. Charlton Athletic need our support. We are bottom of the league if you didn't notice. Admittedly, a tough fixture list and a lengthy injury list have not helped and nor have some dodgy refereeing decisions. However, bottom we are. We the fans have to help ensure we don't stay there. No matter how good a team we may have, when everybody is fit, it becomes psychological when you become entrenched in the bottom three. Everybody said Birmingham City were too good to go down last season but they still contrived to do so.

The excellant new fan site Charlton Life started this crusade and the baton has been taken up by all and sundry including netaddicks, Chicago Addick and All Quiet In The East Stand. Read their thoughts by clicking on the links to the articles. We too at An Addick for Life are lending our weight to the campaign.

So, if you are a true Charlton Athletic fan then get yourself to the Cottage, make yourself heard and do your bit to get us out of the plight in which we now find ourselves.

Up The Addicks !!