Mike Bailey RIP
Sad to hear of the passing of Mike Bailey. Diagnosed with dementia in 2020, he was 84.
One of my favourite ever Charlton season’s was the year he took us up in 1980/81. We were rubbish when we went down from the old Division 2. Bailey took over from Andy Nelson the previous March, inherited a mess and was allowed to sign no one but we won promotion at the first time of asking at our favourite hunting ground, Brunton Park.
1980/81 was a very enjoyable season after the dreadful season the year before when we were pretty much down at Easter. In the promotion year we lost just three times at home, were brilliant on the road, whereas Nelson’s teams were invariably not. The promotion battle was us against a trio of Yorkshire clubs Rotherham and Barnsley (who finished 1st and 2nd) plus Huddersfield as well as Chesterfield, Pompey and Plymouth.
In true Addicks style we tried our very best to throw it away by losing four and drawing one of the five games before the penultimate league game at Carlisle. Paul Walsh and Martin Robinson scored the goals in a 2-1 win as we listened to match updates at the house of friends, and fellow Addicks, in Basildon, Essex.
Bailey had us playing in a great style incorporating the young prospect Paul Walsh with Derek Hales and Martin Robinson up front. Bailey was a positive and easy going character, so different from the abrasive Nelson.
We also had two great cup runs that season, the FA Cup 5th Round defeat to Ipswich, one of the best sides in Europe at the time, lives long in my memory. Not only how well we played but it was my first away day without parental care!
Before my time, but he was by all accounts a hell of a player. An attacking wing-half with Charlton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he had legend status. He was at his best at the time when English football was rich in midfield talent, a factor which prevented him from winning more than two full England caps to add to his five appearances for the Under-23s. In another generation he would’ve certainly been an England regular.
He still got to games at The Valley and was a regular at Molineux.
RIP Mike.
Wonderful player and so unlucky not to get more caps. Am I wrong or did he break his leg at Middlesbrough just after being selected for England? RIP Mike
Agreed. Mike was a better all round player than both Stiles and Mullery, who were preferred by Ramsey.
He was a truly inspiring player whom I idolized from the very first time I saw him play. His time with us as a player was far too short but he was always fondly remembered by Charlton fans.
I too have great memories of that season and the Ipswich 5th round tie. Went with my dad, but because of a mix up at the Valley ticket office [long story] we ended up amongst the Tractor Boys. They were great, if not a little patronising, and Mariner and Co brought us down to earth, but it was just brilliant. Thank you Mike Bailey for that and all the other happy memories you had a hand in. My you rest peacefully in the arms of Him who never drops the ball and who always keeps a clean sheet!
Actually someone reminded me that he later became the manager of the Valley Club. I was a regular in there with my Dad and he was such a lovely man.
He did break his leg playing Middlesbrough FC at the Valley in Autumn 1964 following a nasty tackle from Mel Nurse their centre back. I heard a distinct nasty crack following the tackle as did most fans standing towards the North West Covered end. The ambulance turned up in record time – and I haven’t heard such prolonged booing before or since !
Saw him play in the 60s when he was also Club Captain, great player, skilful and tenacious.
RIP
Remember him as a hard tackling number 4 with very good distribution, classy at times, Someone we could do with today!!
I can see him now in that kit with white shirt, and the red flash across the shoulders. RIP Mike.
What a great season 80/81 , I’d just arrived in Berlin so didn’t see much of the season but listen regular on bfbs radio , what a great team under mike bailey one of my favourite players was Martin Robinson, RIP mike bailey
Sad to hear….I fondly remember watching him at the Valley when I was very young….he was the driving force in a great side.
He was a no nonsense player who dominated midfield.
RIP Mike !
Very sorry to learn of the death of Mike Bailey. Truly one of the VERY best players ever to play for our club. A strong tackler, an inspiring leader and a thunderbolt of a shot on him. I well remember a shot of fully 40 yards fizzing into the Derby County net.
Thanks for the memories Mike.
My first visit to The Valley was at the start of the 1959/60 season, so I was fortunate to see Mike for most of his time with us. He was a fantastic player and I remember how distraught many of us were when Wolves came in for him. He was unfortunately around in the wrong era, as otherwise I concur with CA that he would have won many a cap for England. RIP