20 Years; 20 Players: No.8 Clive Mendonca
20 Years of Blogging and almost 50 years of watching Charlton Athletic, so I am putting together 20 Players who will forever mean the most to me.
Very few lists of Addicks’ memories and moments would exclude my next pick. No.8 is Clive Mendonca.
45 goals in 96 games, Clive had that innate talent that anytime the ball came towards him near an opponents goal, there was a very high chance that he would score.
Super Clive had a superb touch, could find a few inches of space in tight areas, would pin down defenders and swivel away from them this way or that, and then using both feet equally or his head he’d find the most corner of corners of the net.
It was so sad that his career came to such a sudden end, taking specialist’s advice that if he continued to play his damaged hip could leave him with permanent damage and possible disability.
The hat trick at Wembley was one of the best ever seen at the old stadium in what is often voted the greatest ever club game. And on that day Clive Mendonca was the greatest of all strikers.
Then the first game at home in the Premiership, Clive only went and smashed another hat trick against Southampton. It was proper dreamland driving home after the game that night.
The fact that he just moved back into regular life, working in car factory, after he retired just makes him even more mortal for me.
Appearances 96. Goals 45 (1997 – 2002).
I believe I was supporting Charlton when Eddie Firmani was around, although that may be more to do with images I’ve seen in later years, particularly him wearing the famous white shirt with the red flashes on the shoulder. Can’t actually remember any goals.
I was definitely around for Ray Treacy and that goal against Brian Cloughs Derby and Matt Tees.
While I’d like to say I remember that goal “Killer” scored but in all honesty, I’m not sure I can, other than repeats of the big match.
Equally, Bent and Hunt but again can’t say I remember any of their goals, though they scored plenty.
But I can definitely say I remember that Mendonca Wembley Hat trick and is probably why I view him as probably the best striker I have seen in my time of supporting the Addicks!
Don’t forget Stuart Leary – between 1951-1962 played League and cup games 403 and scored 163 goals.
created the deep-lying centre forward game before “The Revie Plan”, the latter getting all the recognition!
That “guns” celebration in the photo supposedly came after a young player did it in a reserve team match he was having a trial in. After scoring a goal that was how he celebrated and Clive Mendonca nicked it for the penalty after he scored in the shoot-out.
We were lucky not just to have him but for one of the few seasons in his career when he was fully fit and also bang in form. No arguments – without his goals we would never have made the play-offs let alone the final.
Catching the tube to Wembley for the final I got chatting to some Sunderland fans and we walked up Wembley way together, at the top I went right and they to their left, my last words to them were to watch out for our Sunderland supporting number 9…
Sadly after he retired he got into a bit of financial bother and had to sell his winner’s medal. I wonder who bought it?
I wish it were me. I’d let him have it back.
I haven’t caught all of your previous posts on this subject, so I would suggest (if not already included) Flanagan ,Hales. Horsfield and Powell.
rierti – Clive was no. 8 (they are in no particular order), so I have 12 left and it is hard. I have a shortlist of 40.
Colin Powell was no. 1
https://chicagoaddick.com/2024/05/17/20-years-20-players-no-1-colin-powell/
Thought I’d better do my list before you do any more just to see how much we overlap – bearing in mind you are a bit younger. I understand the criteria you are using and it has really made me think. You will remember my views on loan players, so I have to confess I have got one on my list! But the real conundrum is do I include someone who meant a lot to me and the Club, but ultimately broke my heart and that of my godson, and who I now hold almost wholly responsible for the demise of the Club??? Probably not on balance I guess.
As for Clive – that goal at Aston Villa in the first season up sums him up for me – watch it in slow motion and the way he moves. Sublime.
First of all. This is the goal —
https://youtu.be/vmdugIPnDMI
Its the ever-so subtle feint that you can only see in slow motion! A thing of beauty.
I reckon I know who the player is who broke your heart. As for loan. Carson? Whyte, Costa or Cullen?
Has to be the big man and the whole story which makes me smile every time I think of it. I don’t think he ever understood why we loved him so much. Was there at Old Trafford for his last game when we held up the presentation of their little tin-pot trophy when Chrissie Powell pushed him towards our fans at the other end of the pitch who were continually singing his song and Sir Alex had to wait – priceless.
One more thing on that topic. I would’ve had Rufus, but I crossed him off my list due to his issues later in life, which wasn’t really a rule in my thinking, but I still did.