h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Charlton Athletic Football Club - A881697
Author: Dr Montague Trout - U188966

...bob bob bobbin along...

Excellent

I think that all football fans have a soft spot for Charlton because of the ground thing. I remember seeing TV pictures of the first game back - marvellous!

Only on quibble

"Shortly after the Second World War, in the 1945-46 season, Charlton Athletic finished runners-up in the FA Cup Final, losing 4-1 to Derby County. The club went one better the following season beating Burnley 1-0 to take the trophy home to Charlton for the one and only time in the club’s history to date. Notably, however, the players took home bronze medals instead of the usual gold medals because there was a gold shortage at the time. Moreover, Arthur Turner won one of those winners medals for Charlton but as there was no league football in 1945-46 and he left before the start of the 1946-47 season, he never played a league match for the club."

Who's Arthur Turner? I don't think he's mentioned elsewhere. Or am I going mad?

Were Charlton involved in the first relegation playoffs (when the third from bottom team in the top division entered the playoffs as well) or was that Oldham? I can't remember!

Otto

Worth doing a bit more on the Hales and Flanagan saga? A great story - I read a bit about it in Football's Strangest Matches - my memory gets more vague by the week, but didn't one of them leave the club, and the other one got put on paid leave or something because they refused to play together... and a couple of years later, the one that left came back to Charlton and they formed a successful-ish striking partnership again?

I might have my facts wrong, but you know them already, I'm sure...

A bit of evolution completed chaps, but not all. Bear with me.

DMT

Nice one Doc - no mention for famous old boy Garry Nelson ? - wrote a 2 volume auto biography - Left Foot Forward and Left Foot in The Grave - I think he is currently FA Press Relations Officer.

Where did that version of 'Mull of Kintyre' that they play come from? And do they always play 'Into the Valley' by the Skids, as well? They did when I saw them beat Villa 3-0... great choice! One of those things that's utterly obvious when you think about it, but if you're not expecting it, it comes across as total genius.

Any other chants worthy of mention? I like the Steve Gritt one...

Va...lley Floyd Road, The Mist Rolling In From
The Thames, My Desire Is Always To Be Found At Va...lley Floyd Road
...etc.

I'll look up the Gary Nelson thing.

Might be nice to mention the work CAFC do with youngsters and also the race equality work.

http://www.footballculture.net/teams/feat_care.html

http://www.thames-gateway.org.uk/youthfootball/aroundclubs.shtml

A couple of areas where the team excels, I think!

It's a good point ZSF. One thing I notice in retropspect is that it's largely an entry on the development and history of men's football at the club.

Perhaps as a contributing researcher, you'd care to throw together a few sentences ...?

Yeah, get stuck in, ! This is already an excellent entry, but it could be made better still. Charlton really do deserve credit for being a friendly club. I've been there as an away team supporter on several occasions, and the contrast in atmosphere with other London clubs like Millwall, West Ham or Brentford is striking and much to Charlton's credit.

This is a great, lively read. Well done!

OK, I'll make a start when I get home from work.

DMT,

Life is full of unexpected coincidences. Today at work, I got a call on behalf of Charlton Athletic Football Club and so I got the current contacts for both the CARE partnership and the Youth Programme, so I can get the information from the horses mouth. What about that!

However I can't do it until Wednesday, as I'm off to view a conference venue tomorrow so won't be in work.

Fated.

We can wait.

Definitely synchronicity going on!

DMT, I have been derailed by the car incident and have not followed this up so far. I will do, but it will take me a couple of days,as I have definite commitments tomorrow and Saturday and I'm off to the Isle of Wight on Monday.

Can you wait until Sunday for me to write something?

OK with me. Shall I stick this down in WW or CWW until we get it sorted?

DMT

DMT,

Leave it here - I'll do my research when I get back to work (I'm back 2.6.03), although I probably won't make contact with with the people until the Tuesday - little has to go to the dentist on Monday afternoon.

OK did my bit. Most of what I wanted was on the website anyway. The person I spoke to at teh club was sniffy about quoting anything she said without getting the entry checked out and anything she said vetted by their press officer. Suffice it to say that they are excited about something that should be happening at the end of the month - I know what it is, but can't say yet.

I'll write about the Community work and antiracist stuff a bit later this evening and you can decide what you think is interesting

No, too tired - I'll do it tomorrow!