Ten Years Ago: Rufus wins award on full league debut

On 5 November 1994 Charlton went down 1-2 to Bolton Wanderers who were eventually promoted to the Premiership from 3rd position. It was raining hard in SE7 that day. My notes recall, 'Bolton played vigorously from the start and scored an outstanding goal with a run from the halfway line [Sneekes after 23 minutes]. They got a second goal after half time with a deflection [off Chapple] from a long range free kick. Charlton fought back much harder than in the Burnley game, but could only pull one back from a late penalty' [handball decision on 88 minutes with Steve Brown scoring].

The programme celebrated the return from injury of Carl Leaburn in a reserve game. The progress of 17-year old Lee Bowyer was noted. Richard Rufus had received the Man of the Match award after his first full league appearance in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland earlier in the week. The bottle of champagne was awarded to him by Sunderland executive club members. Mention was made of the fact that Ruf's brother, Marvin, had found it hard going at Charlton and had gone out on trial to Leyton Orient.