Away days

Saturday was a cracking reminder of what following the Addicks away from home can be like. I know it’s not always a pleasant experience, trust me I have watched them in many corners of the country and have returned home hours, sometimes a day, later wondering why I bothered.

But you do, as 855 of us did on Saturday. Leaving home early from wherever that may be, full of hope and no or little expectation, but equally willing to give the team every ounce of support because we know that it matters.

Many times when we were younger my brother and I would make very late decisions on going to away games. Often not because we really wanted to, but just because we thought they needed us. They need us tomorrow bro, we would say to each other over a pint on a Friday night. Decision made and alarms set for an early start.

Ticketing and the shear cost of getting to and into games prevents a lot of the younger generation from being so impulsive these days. Away trips take planning, commitment and money, but so often those that make it are rewarded and not just with a battling performance but a bloody good day out with mates and family bonding with likeminded people in an away end sharing songs and camaraderie.

So often at The Valley I find myself sat around people who act like they are only there because someone forced them. I don’t disagree that the team owe it to home fans to entertain, but it is not the theatre, this particular story hasn’t been written before and I am a great believer that negative and positive energy will spread to the pitch. Supporting a football club might not sometimes feel like it but it should be a two-way street.

Fortunately in Chris Powell we are lucky to have a man who understands the relationship between player and supporter, Johnnie Jackson too. I can see him now, the skipper that is, first over to the away end after the final whistle on Saturday, this from the bench, beckoning his team mates across the pitch to celebrate with joyous and hoarse Addicks.

That bond which was felt 90-odd minutes was topped off with a large spoonful of cream.

It’s a different type of supporter though that travels the country watching their team and I’ve always admired fans of all clubs that do it. I remember being so chuffed for those few hundred Addicks at Oakwell last season for example.

Some of my best ever Charlton memories are from away games, and those snatched points or convincing wins are great rewards for those that made expensive and time-consuming journeys.

There was a lot of younger Addicks at St Andrews on Saturday and I particularly liked this Blogger’s account of his day. It was days like Saturday that can begin love affairs or rekindle them, for me it just reconfirmed something that I already knew.