I decide not to renew my season ticket I have made a decision, well two decisions. One, I am not going to go home for the Palace game and two, I'm not renewing my season ticket.

The first one is all to do with the team's recent performances. I will be so pissed off if I fork out for a flight home (and it would just be for the weekend) and I have to endure us getting beaten by the scummers and watch them stay up. I would rather not put myself through the pain and the cost. I will watch the game on television either at home or in the bar and will save my money and come home in June.

The choice not to renew my season ticket has nothing to do with Charlton. I have had a season ticket for almost every season since the late 70's - I didn't when we were at Selhurst as I used to go to more away games then - and believe me we have often had a lot less to look forward too. If I was living at home, I would have no hesitation in sending my money off about now.

I know everyone has their own reasons and I'm not going to tell anyone what to do in their lives, but I can't help think those people who are saying that they are not renewing their tickets because of Curbs, the style of play, the end of season slump, the atmosphere or whatever are missing the point of what being a football fan is all about.

The things I really, really miss living in the US - the uncertainty, the excitement of a win, the despondency of a defeat, the debate following a poor performance, the differing opinions on tactics and signings, the belonging, the pride of supporting a team that has come so far in the past 10 years, the team that no one had ever heard of in this country but it's name is now met by approving nods. The fact that you and your mates can make a difference by getting behind the team home and away. You don't know how lucky you are. I miss it, I miss it bad.

I'm not renewing my season ticket because it does not make good fiscal sense. I have been to 4 games this season (3 defeats and 1 win), my son is not ready to become a fully fledged Addick so when I am home on weekends I will still want to see him and that will not involve (just yet anyhow) taking him to games. It would be selfish on my part and I want him begging me to go, just as I did to my Dad when I was 8-years old after the 1974 World Cup. Hopefully this pattern will be repeated after the 2006 one in Germany.

Therefore I am more likely to see mid-week games (as 3 of this season's were) and for these I can use my parents seats as it is unlikely they will make it up from Eastbourne for those matches. I have other pals scattered around the ground that I can beg, steel and borrow from and of course with the expanded Valley on the horizon tickets will become more readily available.

Stupidly I have thought long and hard about this resolution because owning a season ticket has become second nature but it is for the right reasons and not because we didn't qualify for Europe!  ¶ 09:15