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Jul 4

1 Comment

250 years old 🇺🇸

It can be a little awkward being a Brit in America on July 4th. This year there is the added extra spoonful of discomfort as it is the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence, or as the White House is branding it, “Freedom 250.’

Yet other than a wrestling event, and a National state fair that looks as if it is being less well attended than your regular village parade, there isn’t much else different than other July 4th’s I’ve witnessed over the years.

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Jul 3

3 Comments

Cabo Verde so close to greatest ever shock

Americans have fallen in love with the World Cup, and in a plot-twist the visiting football fans are falling in love with Americana. There’s a lesson or two there somewhere.

I’m here to talk about the football though, you can call it soccer if you want, but the 2026 version is proving to be one of the most entertaining.

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Jul 2

1 Comment

And the new kit is

Red.

And importantly ‘Charlton red’ which is all I really look out for these days. It is simple, unfussy and um, red. More white trim than the black from last season, but the little Reebok bird poop on the shoulder is unnecessary and RSK continues on the front of shirt.

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Jul 1

9 Comments

You’re gonna be the one that saves me

What would we do without Harry Kane.

For 75 minutes we were going home. Those brilliant fans would’ve borne witness to one of the all time shocks and an embarrassed FA would’ve had no choice but to pack Thomas Tuchel back to the Hinterland.

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Jul 1

7 Comments

Big Billy Koumetio in the building

Signing number two. As anticipated 6ft 5 centre-back Billy Koumetio has signed for the Addicks from Dundee for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £500,000.

The 23-year old was born in Lyon, France but moved to England when he was 15 and came up through Liverpool’s academy. He signed for Dundee 2 years ago.

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Jul 1

8 Comments

Gillesphey signs for Bradford City

Bradford unveiled the signing of Macauley Gillesphey this morning.

He signed an initial 2-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The very best of luck to him. Bradford have signed a good man.

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Jul 1

2 Comments

Ahadme leaves on loan

Gassan Ahadme has joined Sky Bet League One side Cambridge United on a season-long loan.

That signals a real opportunity for Ahadme, who impressed on loan at Cambridge when he was Ipswich, which has to be the main reason he appeared on our radar and why we subsequently spent a a £1 million on him, which I was always skeptical.

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Jun 30

11 Comments

First summer signing – Ivan Mesík

The club do keep these names quiet, don’t they.

25-year old Slovakian left sided defender has signed from Dutch club Heracles Almelo on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Mesík has obviously been on the radar for a while, and his signing shows that the club are looking beyond these shores as they build a squad for the future.

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Jun 29

2 Comments

Billy Koumetio

Players contracts expire tomorrow, so it is anticipated we will see movement in and out this week.

The only two Charlton players whose contracts actually expire tomorrow are Lyndon Dykes and Luke Berry. The latter has already been released and I don’t think we will see the former again in a Charlton shirt.

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Jun 27

2 Comments

Wonderwall

As English fans and players serenaded each other on the pitch after. It became pretty obvious that Jude Bellingham is England’s Wonderwall. Incredibly Thomas Tuchel had to convince himself that Bellingham was even worth a squad place. I’m not sure what we’d be watching without he and Harry Kane.

I’m warming to Tuchel like a cold beer in an ice bar. Not bringing along Trent Alexander-Arnold is looking an increasingly stubborn and stupid move.

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Jun 26

11 Comments

Karoy Anderson to Blackpool

A few rumours out there, I wouldn’t say lots, started by people that can’t help themselves about the club’s finances, the owners and Nathan Jones’ mood.

I would not believe any of it until someone like Rich Cawley speaks. It is really difficult to get any information out of the club, especially since Charlie Methven left.

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Jun 25

6 Comments

Cheltenham away in Carabao Cup

Basically a final pre-season game to allow Nathan Jones to prepare his team and squad for the main course the following week at home to Derby County.

The Addicks were drawn away at Cheltenham Town in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup this afternoon.

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Jun 25

10 Comments

Derby at home to start, West Ham follows

Derby County at home will be our Championship opening game on Saturday, 15th August. We then a week later head to West Ham at the London Stadium.

Millwall away is pre-Christmas on December 19th and then Southampton visit The Valley on Boxing Day. Let us hope they don’t give us the gift they gave us last season.

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Jun 24

1 Comment

Tumbleweed

Seven and half weeks after the last ball was kicked the Addicks returned to Sparrows Lane today to begin pre-season training.

All the chaps were there, suntanned and in a frivolous mood. Bit like the first day back at school, but better paid.

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Jun 23

5 Comments

Curb our enthusiasm

Ronaldo arrived, but England were stuck at the lights. Disappointing today against a stubborn and solid Ghana.

I’ve seen a lot of the games, and have been really enjoying the tournament 13 days in. We’ve seen a record goal count, and all of the stars have come out to play. The England game today was probably the worst I’ve seen.

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Jun 22

5 Comments

Phew what a scorcher

Climate change ain’t a real thing is it….

Take care of yourselves back at home. I’m seeing that temperatures are going to rise to 40c, and a rare red weather alert has been issued for parts of the country. That’s crazy.

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Jun 22

11 Comments

Godden signs new contract

Matty Godden has signed a one year extension.

The popular striker missed almost the entirety of last season with initially a lengthy knee injury which had added complications, and then when he finally returned fully fit he broke a fibula in the Ipswich home game, which ended his campaign.

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Jun 21

4 Comments

Bradford interest in Macauley Gillesphey

Rumours surfacing on t’internet that Bradford City have made an approach for Macauley Gillesphey.

Macca has a year left on his contract (plus a club 12 month option) and it would surprise few if he was to leave SE7 this summer.

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Jun 20

Travelogue – Qatar قَطَر

Our visit to Qatar was last summer, and it has taken me to now to put this Travelogue together of our family trip. I joke that we were in Qatar at about the only time it wasn’t being bombed in the last 12 months. Hopefully the Qataris can now look forward to a more peaceful existence.

We chose Qatar for a family holiday for a couple of reasons. There was a direct flight from Miami, it was half the distance of our first pick, which was Vietnam, and we only had limited time plus importantly we wanted to expose our daughter to a culture far away from what she currently occupies.

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Jun 18

4 Comments

Siegermentalität

That was quite exciting wasn’t it. Croatia as per gave us a run for our money and it was a very good game.

1st half England were convincing going forward and unconvincing at the back. 2nd half made me realize how many good players we have at our disposal. The trick will be if the German can find a way to take us from plucky losers to an ingrained belief that victory is achievable.

Siegermentalität the Germans call it.

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Jun 17

6 Comments

Slovenia again

The Addicks will once again go to Slovenia for a pre-season training camp, but will this year have a game that fans can attend.

Charlton will play NK Maribor at Stadion Ljudski Vrt, 16 times Slovenia champions, on Friday, July 10th, 6pm local time.

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Jun 12

13 Comments

James Bree

James Bree has signed a 3-year deal, with *Spoiler Alert*….

Southampton.

Bree was signed by Nathan Jones for Southampton when he was in charge at St. Mary’s. Bree played for 5 (five) other managers after Jones left in February 2023, but Will Still clearly didn’t fancy him, and we had him on loan of course.

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Jun 11

2 Comments

Peter ‘Scoop’ Burrowes RIP

Peter Burrowes was synonymous with Charlton Athletic, and he sadly passed yesterday aged 87 following a short battle with cancer.

‘Scoop’ as he was known in the press room had been a fixture of my entire Charlton supporting life, and just like the loss of Colin Cameron The Valley won’t be the same again with him not in it.

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Jun 10

5 Comments

World Cup Fever

Feeling it? No, me neither.

The largest and longest ever World Cup Finals begins tomorrow in Mexico City and despite the fact it is on my doorstep I have felt strangely insouciant to it.

Of course when I say doorstop, this World Cup Finals transverses across an entire continent but you’d hardly know it was happening around my way.

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Jun 10

Travelogue – Vilamoura, Portugal

One of my old mates was regaling the group of us that went to Portugal on a lads weekend of stories from when we were at nursery school together. We were 4 at the time, I just about remember what I ate for breakfast. I took his word for it.

The rest of our Vilamoura group friendship began at secondary school, although mostly if I’m honest after it as people went their own ways, but this group stuck together, the adhesive being a boys holiday in Bournemouth when we were just 18.

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Jun 9

4 Comments

Ed Warrick departs

The club has announced that Ed Warwick has left the club “to pursue other opportunities.”

A short and sweet announcement for a man who had a significant role behind the scenes. He joined as part of the Senior Management Team three years ago alongside Jim Rodwell, Charlie Methven and Simon Lenagan.

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Jun 2

16 Comments

Rumours

The first couple of Charlton transfer rumours surfaced today. I am sure there is a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes and remember this is still early.

The transfer window doesn’t offically open until June 15th, and players contracts in the EFL all run around ‘til June 30th.

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Jun 2

8 Comments

Back to the future

Flying to London tonight, a quick visit to the parents, and then on Wednesday ten of us will meet in the morning at Gatwick departures lounge over a Guinness no doubt and embark on a long overdue boy’s trip.

Almost 40 years ago the same group minus two or three went on our first foreign lads holiday to Magaluf. We rekindled that group to re-visit Majorca in 2011, and now as we close in on the next big birthday milestone, a couple have already passed it, we are together once again a little greyer, balder and less energetic.

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May 29

4 Comments

Miami heat

A weekend away in Miami awaits with the family. We often drive across alligator alley and enjoy the aura Miami oozes from the more pedestrian pace of where we live on the Gulf Coast. We are booked into our favourite hotel and restaurant and have plans in case it rains, which is in the forecast.

We usually do this trip post school/ busy work period about a month later but hotel prices during the World Cup are extortionate, even although there are suspicions that large blocks of rooms that have been booked out will come back onto the market due to a very slow take up of tickets.

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May 25

12 Comments

Next season’s Championship

With Bolton beating Stockport yesterday, next season’s line up is finalized.

It looks pretty formidable in that graphic – a proper Premier League 2. Only 4 of the 24 clubs have never played in the Premier League, and there are 8 previous top tier champions.

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May 23

12 Comments

Charlton’s women win promotion to the WSL

Almost 20 years after Richard Murray disbanded Charlton’s women’s team following relegation they are back in the big time after winning their play-off final today against Leicester at The Valley.

One of the few things Thomas Sandgaard will be remembered for is that he brought the women’s team back under the auspices of the club in 2021, although proving that he often lacked judgement he did try to change their ‘name’ to ladies from women.

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May 22

9 Comments

England squad

“The goal is to try and win the World Cup and not be shy about it”

Only a German could say that, not an Englishman. Let’s hope Thomas Tuchel is right after the squad was picked today.

There are always major tournament squad picks that are up for debate among your mates down the pub, but Tuchel’s 26 looks to have a few more than others.

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May 20

1 Comment

PSR to SCR. What does it mean.

This change to the financial rules in The Championship seems to have gone a little overlooked this week, but to be fair there has been a lot going on.

Beginning with the 2026-27 season and therefore this transfer window, Championship clubs have voted to replace the old Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with a new financial framework based on Squad Cost Rules (SCR).

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May 19

14 Comments

Spygate

Crazy eh?

Southampton expelled from the play-off final today and deducted 4 points from the start of next season’s Championship. Yet they’ve lodged an appeal and on Wednesday will argue the punishment is disproportionate. The EFL said it would be “working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday, 20 May”.

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May 16

7 Comments

U18’s win National title

Fantastic win by Charlton’s U18’s last night to become Professional Development League National Champions for the third time.

The PDL is for Category Two Academies and has 20 clubs split in two regional divisions. The young Addicks won the South Division for the fifth time in six years and booked their place in the final with an impressive 4-1 semi-final victory over Hull City in SE7 last Saturday.

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May 15

6 Comments

This time last year

A year ago tonight the roof came off the Covered End. By common agreement The Valley was one of the loudest, if not the loudest it had ever been, and on 81 minutes the wonderful old place exploded.

Godden again, ole ole.

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May 12

7 Comments

The eye of the Tigers

🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅

I think I’d rather forego next season’s 6 points than have Millwall join Palace in the Premier League.

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May 12

2 Comments

Patrick Casey

Interested to see Patrick Casey being offered a new pro deal.

The club released their academy squad update today with Toby Bower, Ollie Hobden, Paris Lock, Lennon MacLorg and Tommy Reid being the most high profile leavers.

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May 11

13 Comments

Review of the season

I enjoyed having the stress levels reduced over the weekend with no Charlton game. Less so if you are a West Ham fan. Looks like we’ve come to the point where VAR will decide the Premier League title and relegation.

Play-off semi’s conclude this week, the Championships ones were tight. Bolton, with no Rob Apter in their squad, and Stockport (Tanto came on as a sub) have the advantages.

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May 9

4 Comments

Luke Berry appreciation

Just a few words on Luke Berry. The club is in a much better place than it was when he joined.

Berry and Nathan Jones were reunited after he was released by Luton in the summer of 2024 following the Hatter’s relegation from the Premier League.

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May 8

10 Comments

Squad update thoughts

It’s hard to take the scalpel to the squad when there isn’t much lying on the operating table.

The only long-term contracted players that expired this summer are Luke Berry and Terry Taylor, both will be released. As expected TC will have his additonal year triggered. The club also have an option on Godden, but with him and Lyndon Dykes the club “remains in discussion.”

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May 7

Ft. Lauderdale Swimming Hall of Fame

Last weekend we were at the Ft. Lauderdale International Swimming Hall of Fame, and their impressive aquatic complex, which is midpoint of a $220 million redevelopment that is planned to be finished in 2028.

We saw it before but I had to look up why this impressive competitive arena was chosen over anywhere else in the country. According to ChatGPT in the early 1960s, Fort Lauderdale had already established itself as a premier training destination, notably hosting the College Swim Forum and international teams, making it a natural fit for the Hall of Fame.

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May 6

1 Comment

Coventry called up

Good to see Addicks’ Conor Coventry be selected for the upcoming Republic of Ireland friendly.

Heimir Hallgrimsson added seven players included for the first time for this month’s friendly against Grenada.

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May 3

26 Comments

Ruthless decisions

Nathan Jones has stated numerous times, and yesterday more forcefully that this summer will see a big turnaround in playing staff following the consolidation of our Championship status, the first time the club have done that since 2013, and the first time ever following promotion through the play-off’s.

Jones said yesterday: “We need an influx of quality, athleticism, better decision-makers and pace. Everything. We need better.”

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May 2

4 Comments

Swansea City 3 Charlton Athletic 1

And relax. That’s it then, all over.

Defeat on the final day of the season losing to Swansea 3-1 in South Wales.

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May 1

6 Comments

Game 46

So here we are then. We made it, game 46. Swansea City away.

You could’ve had a baby in the time since the opening day against Watford, which is actually still quite fresh in my memory. Not having a baby, I’ve never actually had a baby, but the Watford game. What a great day that was even though I spent 14 hours of it on an airplane.

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Apr 30

5 Comments

Lloyd Jones

Lloyd Jones’ name will appear on the POTY trophy for the second successive season.

Jones follows such Addick luminaries as Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood, Nicky Johns, Richard Rufus and Keith Peacock in winning the fan voted for award two year’s running. John Humphrey won it three times in a row between 1988 – 1990.

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Apr 28

The Big Easy

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Zurich Classic this past week(end). This is the only PGA Tour’s regular-season team event, when 80 pairs of pro golfers compete at the TPC of Louisiana.

TPC Louisiana is a stunningly beautiful golf course in Avondale, 15 miles from New Orleans, built over wetlands, still home to hundreds of alligators, and carved from a forest of cypress and oak trees.

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Apr 28

17 Comments

Lennie Lawrence dinner

I had this photo sent to me of Lennie Lawrence’s dinner at The Valley on Sunday. Had me feeling all sentimental.

Lennie is an Addicks legend, a miracle worker who bought, and coached some of my favourite ever (and best) Charlton players of the last half a century. And at 78 years old is still working in the game.

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Apr 26

14 Comments

The journey continues

How nice was it to follow yesterday’s results after the conclusion of our game. Stress levels: zero.

Oxford shoved Wednesday aside and Derby, Hull and Wrexham will contest the final place-off place next week. Meanwhile it does look like Millwall will need to beat Oxford, whatever happens in the Southampton v Ipswich game on Tuesday.

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Apr 25

18 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Hull City 1

I’ll say it again. Phew.

Fantastic to win today to secure our Championship status after our first year up. Two wonderful goals allowed us all to let out massive sense of relief.

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Apr 25

9 Comments

Phew

What a relief.

More later. Come on you reds.

Apr 23

13 Comments

Together

Nathan Jones has recorded a message to supporters on the official channels. We’ve had a few of these over the years, but this one seems as significant as the many others that have come before them.

There are so many thoughts swirling around my head that I’d like to get down in writing, but I don’t feel this is the time for that. That needs a clear head and it is nothing but that at present.

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Apr 23

20 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Ipswich Town 2

I felt I needed to sleep on last night’s game.

That wasn’t particuarly successful as I couldn’t get our situation out of my head, plus my alarm went off at 4.30am as I had an early flight to catch. The anxiety is real.

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Apr 19

3 Comments

MoD magazine to close

Sad news reaches me that the Addicks’ fan magazine My Only Desire are calling it a day after five years.

It’s bloody tough, time consuming and expensive to produce a regular fanzine but the guys at MOD have done an excellent job of keeping it relevant and engaging.

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Apr 18

24 Comments

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Charlton Athletic 1

We are such a hard watch. There was absolutely nothing praiseworthy about that, and we were second best all over the pitch.

It is like every game is on a loop and we’ve been playing the same match for weeks. We are simply incapable of taking care of ourselves.

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Apr 15

12 Comments

No faint hearts

How we all feeling?

I’m making my way home after being away for 15 of the last 17 days and in that time saw the Addicks in the flesh twice, watched the Watford game on the box, and will be back in front of the small screen on Saturday.

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Apr 12

15 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Preston North End 2

Apologies for another delay on my post match thoughts. I was at The Valley again yesterday and again had to drown my sorrows afterwards.

This morning I woke with my stomach churning and that was not due to the late night Brick Lane curry.

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Apr 6

1 Comment

Conor Coady discharged from hospital

On his 500th appearance Conor Coady was entrusted back into the defensive midfield role today, and I was pleased to see it.

He had a strong game, but just after the officials put up 6 minutes of added time, Conor took a shot from Tom Ince straight in the face and lay prone unconscious for 9 minutes.

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Apr 6

14 Comments

Watford 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Another very good away performance. It’s been a nice run since the Millwall debacle.

Today we held a better structure, defended smarter, characteristically battled for everything, and wasn’t it great to see Matty Godden score.

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Apr 4

2 Comments

The Let Down Effect

I had been in the UK since last Monday. This week begins a crazy period of work travel. If anyone has a potion for preventing illness after extended trips, then please share.

I beleive they call it the ‘Let Down Effect,’ which after extended periods of stress or travel or both, elevated hormone levels drop quickly, resulting in a ‘crash’ of the immune system.

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Apr 4

20 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Bristol City 2

I’m heading home to Florida today and was at the game yesterday. We really are crawling to the finish line, well not even crawling more frozen to the spot.

It was another frustrating display as we lost at home for the third time in four matches.

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