Charlton True — Terrace Edition

Words: Tom Reed

Images: Tom Reed

Shot on film and digital where stated.

West Ham fans sing that “fortune’s always hiding” but there was a time at Charlton Athletic when fortune was in witness protection, done a runner to Rio with Ronnie Biggs, missing presumed dead.

The Addicks were playing in the Hammers’ back yard, ground-sharing at Upton Park for a season and a half in the early 90’s after a sad six years lodging at Selhurst Park, following issues with the freehold rights to the Valley.

“Identity is the crisis” said X-Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene but Charlton’s self-image issue was more one of exposed concrete and overgrown grass, having seen their beloved Valley, which once held 75,000, neglected, with the team exiled at Crystal Palace.

Charlton have rarely been a bad side, no walk-overs and, in truth, the supporters there quite rate their chances when push comes to shove.

They were never going to lie down and let their team drain into nothingness nor their ground be covered in houses.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. Charlton Athletic approach.

They put together a smart political campaign, going after the soft power of local influence by forming the Valley Party in 1990 and ensuring that Athletic would be front and centre in the local elections.

Then came an investment plan and the “Valley Gold” proto-crowdfunding scheme, which cemented the link between the supporters and the club.

The relatively short and by turns excruciating period away from the Valley of seven years, came to an end for Athletic in 1992, just before Christmas when the fans poured back and Colin Walsh scored the winner against Portsmouth.

The aforementioned fortune hadn’t come out of hiding but began to poke its nose out of the door.

A series of fine home-grown players emerged including the likes of Shaun Newton, and Lee Bowyer.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. Charlton Athletic approach. On film.

You’ll find a mural of the 1998 Playoff Final hero Clive Mendonca outside the Valley, the forward who seemed to find the right first touch on the Wembley pitch and helped the Addicks to a memorable penalties win after a 4-4 classic in normal time.

A seventh placed finish in the Premier League in 2004 saw the highest top-tier standing in the modern era, with the likes of Paulo Di Canio and Jonatan Johannsson pulling on the red and white.

Yet, Charlton being Charlton, the crystal stair was always going be covered in honey and broken glass.

There was a sticky patch under the ownership of Roland Duchatelet in 2015, where the supporters again got together to oust an owner that, to put it politely, wasn’t running the club in a way that was deemed fit.

Thankfully, you’ll find smiling faces, cut with stoicism when you roll up to the Valley this season, with Charlton back in the second division in old money.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. Floyd Road SE7. Digital.

Bryan served in the Royal Engineers and saw service in Aden among other places so won’t be too worried about the small matter of Charlton’s chances back in the Championship.

His posture is one of an ex-serviceman and his flat cap in red and white colours is positioned just so on his bonce, albeit in red and white, instead of the navy regiment colours.

Gavin Billenness stands on the approach to the ground, flogging his “My Only Desire” fanzine, which, while being no Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab (which improves with every read), is a top-class example of football fan culture and a DIY ethos.

“I launched My Only Desire (MODmag) in lockdown 2020” says Gavin “just as the guitar-strumming Thomas Sandgaard swaggered into SE7, buying the club and booting out the characters that we feared would end up with Charlton doing a Bury. He saved us from certain administration, and The Valley buzzed with relief and optimism — was this the dawn of a brighter future? Well… not really”.

“Fast-forward to Saturday’s superb three points against Watford — proof Charlton are in far steadier hands now. We’ve just had our most proactive summer transfer window in years, and while the Championship opener was evenly matched, this was no smash-and-grab. Nathan Jones’ Charlton were organised, disciplined, and aggressive, delivering exactly the kind of performance that snuffed out any fears we might be out of our depth in the second tier”.

Indeed, Saturday’s last minute win was classic Charlton, buzzing with work ethic and the odd dash of elan. The pavement outside the Royal Oak heaved and the barmaid was heard to remark “this is the only Charlton pub” when someone talked of ale houses in the vicinity.