Friday 15 January 2010
2009 Top Five - CAFC Defining Moments
Well the year certainly improved with age and I believe we got some of our Charlton back but we survive on a knife-edge financially and the next 5 months could well determine the next decade of Charlton Athletic's history. Unsuprisingly being a Charlton fan a lot of stuff happened in 2009, but here are my Top 5 CAFC Defining Moments:
1. CAFC 2 Blackpool 2 and relegation confirmed
I had witnessed every one of our promotion and relegations in my 34 years as an Addick and I so my heart ruled my head and I flew home to see us drop into the 3rd tier for the first time since 1975. Throwing a two-goal lead away summed our season up well.
2. Transfer deadline day
On September 1st the Official Site entered melt down as thousands of Addicks' fans logged on to see who we had sold on transfer deadline day. The answer was no one, well at least no one that mattered. We even made a couple of signings in the form of Sam Sodje, Leon McKenzie and Luke Holden. It was a real lift after a 100% start to the season.
3. Yeovil 1 CAFC 1
A day when courageous Addicks stood in some of the worst rain ever witnessed at a Charlton game and watched a heroic performance from the players. History might overlook this point in the west country, although the 1,600 will be talking about the rain to their grandchildren, but for me it was a day when we saw once again something in a Charlton team that reminded us why we all supported them in the first place.
4. "Brink of collapse"
We are all still haunted by this headline written by Charlton fan Mick Collins in July and although administration didn't arrive in the summer thanks to a £7m cash injection from existing board members this story I suspect is still sat in draft on a lot of reporters laptops.
5. Phil Parkinson contract extension
The timing was perhaps surprising but Parky was rewarded with an extended contract in November. Certainly I feel a general warming to the man, and although there will always be a few detractors the majority are right behind him as very importantly are the players. Parky's first game after his contract extension mind was the shocking performance at Northwich, then we lost at Southampton in the JPT but after that it was 5 league wins out of 6. ¶ 13:49
Well the year certainly improved with age and I believe we got some of our Charlton back but we survive on a knife-edge financially and the next 5 months could well determine the next decade of Charlton Athletic's history. Unsuprisingly being a Charlton fan a lot of stuff happened in 2009, but here are my Top 5 CAFC Defining Moments:1. CAFC 2 Blackpool 2 and relegation confirmed
I had witnessed every one of our promotion and relegations in my 34 years as an Addick and I so my heart ruled my head and I flew home to see us drop into the 3rd tier for the first time since 1975. Throwing a two-goal lead away summed our season up well.
2. Transfer deadline day
On September 1st the Official Site entered melt down as thousands of Addicks' fans logged on to see who we had sold on transfer deadline day. The answer was no one, well at least no one that mattered. We even made a couple of signings in the form of Sam Sodje, Leon McKenzie and Luke Holden. It was a real lift after a 100% start to the season.
3. Yeovil 1 CAFC 1
A day when courageous Addicks stood in some of the worst rain ever witnessed at a Charlton game and watched a heroic performance from the players. History might overlook this point in the west country, although the 1,600 will be talking about the rain to their grandchildren, but for me it was a day when we saw once again something in a Charlton team that reminded us why we all supported them in the first place.
4. "Brink of collapse"
We are all still haunted by this headline written by Charlton fan Mick Collins in July and although administration didn't arrive in the summer thanks to a £7m cash injection from existing board members this story I suspect is still sat in draft on a lot of reporters laptops.
5. Phil Parkinson contract extension
The timing was perhaps surprising but Parky was rewarded with an extended contract in November. Certainly I feel a general warming to the man, and although there will always be a few detractors the majority are right behind him as very importantly are the players. Parky's first game after his contract extension mind was the shocking performance at Northwich, then we lost at Southampton in the JPT but after that it was 5 league wins out of 6. ¶ 13:49
