30 year old memories

Happy 30th anniversary Back to The Valley Day.

We’ll ignore how the team did their very best to bury any memories of a wonderful time in our history on Saturday. A penny for the thoughts of those real Charlton legends including the peerless Roger and Heather Alwen who had to sit through that tosh.

I’ve shared my memories of December 5th, 1992 before, but that day 30 years ago we sat in the Covered End, up towards the back on the left side. I will never forget those white doors of the temporary dressing room opening to reveal Simon Webster leading the team out down newly painted steps to the sound of the iconic Red, Red Robin.

Tears were in all of our eyes. How did we even swallow Thomas Sandgaard’s attempt at removing it for his own egotistical song. There should have been a riot!

Colin Walsh’s goal was perfect in every single way and it was celebrated wildly. I remember after that it was a bit surreal and the noise levels were huge as the Covered End shook.

The atmosphere was further cranked up in the 2nd half and weirdly every Charlton fan I have spoken to in later years have all said the same, and this was that we never looked like losing. Which is what no Charlton fan has said ever, certainly under current management!

A second goal didn’t seem necessary, as Portsmouth appeared to not try particularly hard, and they were good that season, but the rest of the game flew by and the Covered End rocked to ‘Charlton are back, ello, ello’ ‘Back to The Valley’ and ‘Valley Floyd Road’ throughout the 2nd half.

The final whistle was met with tears and endless cheers and no one wanted to go home.

How things have changed, but they can change again. COYR.