Friday, December 7, 2018
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Still Here
I hope to bring to this blog some of the articles I write for the monthly Pattaya Trader magazine. I still visit the canals, but not as often as I used to. I'm more often than not going back to places I visited before.
As for my football team Charlton Athletic, they had a good season in the Championship, (the old Second Division where they spent most of my childhood), after their record breaking winning of League One, (the old Third Division), the previous season. In Chris Powell they have not only a young ambitious manager and one of the few black football managers in the English game, they also have an ex-player who was deservedly a crowd favourite and still does have a fantastic relationship with the crowd.
The one problem Charlton have is with their rather secret and hidden ownership and that so many of the old guard in the club's administration have left. Forgetting this, we can still dream of promotion to the Premiership. My local satellite TV provider has lost Premiership football broadcasting this coming season, maybe they will get the Championship. We can live in hope.
As for my football team Charlton Athletic, they had a good season in the Championship, (the old Second Division where they spent most of my childhood), after their record breaking winning of League One, (the old Third Division), the previous season. In Chris Powell they have not only a young ambitious manager and one of the few black football managers in the English game, they also have an ex-player who was deservedly a crowd favourite and still does have a fantastic relationship with the crowd.
The one problem Charlton have is with their rather secret and hidden ownership and that so many of the old guard in the club's administration have left. Forgetting this, we can still dream of promotion to the Premiership. My local satellite TV provider has lost Premiership football broadcasting this coming season, maybe they will get the Championship. We can live in hope.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
An Important Win
Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Charlton Athletic.
So we get the points in the first of two six-pointer games. Next week Wednesday's neighbours, Sheffield United, visit Charlton.
Of course they are not really six point games. A win still only gives you three points, but the advantage gained by beating teams also vying for promotion can seem like double the points are on offer. The visit to Sheffield Wednesday may well have been the more difficult of these two games as they were unbeaten at home this season until our visit. On the other hand United are the in-form team. If we do get the three points in that game, champions of the third division starts to look like ours to lose rather than for anyone else to win.
So we get the points in the first of two six-pointer games. Next week Wednesday's neighbours, Sheffield United, visit Charlton.
Of course they are not really six point games. A win still only gives you three points, but the advantage gained by beating teams also vying for promotion can seem like double the points are on offer. The visit to Sheffield Wednesday may well have been the more difficult of these two games as they were unbeaten at home this season until our visit. On the other hand United are the in-form team. If we do get the three points in that game, champions of the third division starts to look like ours to lose rather than for anyone else to win.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Year ends badly for Charlton
So the last game of the year ended up with 1-0 loss to the Orient. The Charlton keeper was sent off very early in the game so there's an excuse. The shame is both Sheffield teams got three points. A win at home to Brentford is very much needed tomorrow.
I have to add I have a soft spot for Orient. Many years ago I had an invite to their directors box for a pre-season friendly against I think Grimsby. It was during the very early eighties and at the time there were quite a few more mature players finishing their careers for the O's. The ones I can remember are Stan Bowles, who had sent an apprentice down the road to put a bet on, Ralph Coates and Mervyn Day. Also a young winger called John Chiedozie was playing who promised so much for the future.
What made my day was the minicab driver taking me over to the game. I would have been in my late twenties or early thirties. I dressed up for the occasion with a blue velvet jacket and a nice pair of strides. I looked the part, and even though I was smoking with the window open, the driver was convinced I was a player. This was helped by the fact that the entrance to the directors box was via the ground's players entrance. That was the one only time I ever been mistaken for an athlete unfortunately.
I have to add I have a soft spot for Orient. Many years ago I had an invite to their directors box for a pre-season friendly against I think Grimsby. It was during the very early eighties and at the time there were quite a few more mature players finishing their careers for the O's. The ones I can remember are Stan Bowles, who had sent an apprentice down the road to put a bet on, Ralph Coates and Mervyn Day. Also a young winger called John Chiedozie was playing who promised so much for the future.
What made my day was the minicab driver taking me over to the game. I would have been in my late twenties or early thirties. I dressed up for the occasion with a blue velvet jacket and a nice pair of strides. I looked the part, and even though I was smoking with the window open, the driver was convinced I was a player. This was helped by the fact that the entrance to the directors box was via the ground's players entrance. That was the one only time I ever been mistaken for an athlete unfortunately.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Still unbeaten but not top
It had to be. We didn't get the three points, just the one. Sort of knew that was coming. Charlton 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday.
Good point was that there was still a +14,000 crowd for a Monday night division 3 game.
Good point was that there was still a +14,000 crowd for a Monday night division 3 game.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Still up there
A good away win at Bury and a win over Reading in the League Cup on the Tuesday of the week before were very good. This week we have to wait for a Monday night game to see if we can keep up with the other two early leaders, Sheffield United and MK Dons (*boo). Our game is at home against the Sheffield team, Sheffield Wednesday, who are not known as pushovers but 3 points will put us as joint division points leaders.
The Independent carried a nice interview with Chris Powell about his team building policy. Nice does seem the right word for Chris. He comes over as a genuinely nice fellow and I do wish him well for more than just selfish reasons.
The Independent carried a nice interview with Chris Powell about his team building policy. Nice does seem the right word for Chris. He comes over as a genuinely nice fellow and I do wish him well for more than just selfish reasons.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
A good start
I knew yesterday's game was going to be problem when earlier in the day my brother said that it was an almost guaranteed three points. I can't blame him saying that. Following a good home win against Bournemouth with two wins on the road, 2-1 over Notts County and 2-0 over Colchester, made a home game with lowly* Scunthorpe seem easy. It wasn't to be of course. A 2-2 draw still leaves Charlton tied on points at the top of the third division with the MK Dons (boo**) and Sheffield United so we mustn't complain, but it will be interesting to see how good this side that Chris Powell has put together is.
*lowly - not really fair as Scunthorpe has only just joined the third division after relegation last season.
**Anyone who is against the Americanization of British sport should boo here as MK Dons were the first English football club to be franchised and made to move towns. Something very un-British.
*lowly - not really fair as Scunthorpe has only just joined the third division after relegation last season.
**Anyone who is against the Americanization of British sport should boo here as MK Dons were the first English football club to be franchised and made to move towns. Something very un-British.
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