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.

I often think Lawrence’s achievements get overlooked, so it was fantastic to see him lauded the other night, just wish I could’ve been there.

Credit to Steve Brown and the ex-players association as well as people like Steve Sutherland for arranging the night. The club announced they are to rename the vice presidents lounge to become The Lennie Lawrence Suite.

I knew Lennie a little bit back in the day. He was a regular late night drinker at the Catford Cricket Club, as was I, and he was always very modest and matter of fact. He never carried the passion that someone like a Chris Powell or Nathan Jones did, and I know many Addicks felt he should have spoken out about the owners at the time of the move from The Valley but in reality Lawrence shunned any limelight or discord and had a great work ethic and was a very clever operator, which his longevity in the game has proven.

Lawrence despite his modest football background had a real eye for a player. Charlton legends such as Peter Shirtliff, John Humphrey, Mark Reid, Jim Melrose, Paul Mortimer, Bob Bolder, Colin Walsh and of course Curbs were all signed by him. Plus he introduced and coached youngsters like Robert Lee and Micky Bennett into the first team.

Lawrence kept us up on the last day of the 1982/83 season, when relegation to the then Division 3 would have been the death knell.

During the summer of 1985, which we began at The Valley, Lawrence signed 7 players of whom nearly all were fantastic for us, and that campaign that led to promotion to the top tier for the first time in 30 years was miraculous, only bettered by then keeping us in the top tier for four seasons.

I realize I am appealing here to Addicks of a certain age – but 1986 at Carlisle, that Leeds play-off win? The Battle of the Bridge, winning at Old Trafford in our first season, Simonsen at home to Chelsea? They all send a shiver down my spine.

That first season after relegation though was hard. Reality had set in at Selhurst, players were sold and Lawrence knew that it was time to move on. I stood on the Holmesdale terrace and admit I joined in the chorus of “Lennie Lawrence has f—-d it up again.” The time had come and his move to Middlesbrough and the introduction of Alan Curbishley and Steve Gritt gave us a whole new exciting chapter.

I think after he tried to prise away Robert Lee to Middlesbrough his Charlton stock dropped, but history and my memories tell me that Lennie did unbelievable things for out football club at a time of real adversity.

Lennie is a proper Charlton legend.

Finally, how many of those players in the photo can you recognize?