20 Years Ago: a sad day at The Valley

Thanks to Rob Hillman on the list for pointing out that when Charlton fans came to The Valley on September 7th 1985 they were handed a leaflet saying that the Addicks were leaving their home and going to ground share with Crystal Palace (there were also 'helpful' directions on how to reach the ground).

Charlton beat the Glaziers 3-1 that day and went on to be promoted to the First Division for the first time in thirty years. But it was a bitter sweet triumph when the fans were exiled from their spiritual home. Some feared, with good reason, that we might never return and that the club itself would disappear. Indeed, as has been subsequently revealed, there were plans to merge with Palace in a Crystal Palace Athletic which would soon extinguish the S.E.London tradition.

South-East London is not South London. When I was at the embassy in Washington last week, I met someone and immediately knew from his accent that he was in S.E.London.
It turned out he was from Bexleyheath.

So there is cause for celebration today. If we had told the fans entering The Valley twenty years ago that two decades hence Charlton would be in a completely refurbished Valley, 3rd in a revamped top league and have their right back playing for England that evening, they would have seen it as a wild and impossible dream. Thanks to all those who did make it possible.