Isn't Gritty assistant to Steve Brown At Ebbsfleet? Since he was appointed I've still seen him at Sparrows Lane for the under-21's game. Is there any actual evidence of a potential move to the peninsula? If we did at least we would still be in Greenwich, whereas Messrs. Varney and Murray were looking at sites in Kent. We seem to be approaching the time when the **** is hitting the fan, the poor long suffering fan who has to pay for the mistakes made starting from the day Richard Murray decided to put one over Jordan by appointing Dowie, the day we stopped being the model of a well-run club. Personally, rather than move, I'd like to see our owners stick to their plan of building through the Academy, even if it means appointing a manager who will embrace this idea, possibly Nathan Jones. This would take time to succeed, and wouldn't please the wish for instant success that seems quite prevalent.
Man that's frightening. I bet the player wages don't have much in common with that figure. Apart from that, I agree with all the Valley nostalgia, and there are a couple of posts on here that bought a tear to my eye. What I want is a takeover that involves building the Valley up, pumping money in for the squad and directors who can identify with all the posts on here, and keep the soul of the football club they buy. Oh yeah, and bring back the peanut sellers I remember from the seventies.
I am pretty sure John Hewie did that. At least, it was something that was always written about him (although Wikipeida now says "almost every position"). I only saw him on the left-wing once when injured (it was the fashion in those days) and I cannot recall him ever playing right-wing, so I could be wrong. Very sure about the other positions including goal, where he was picked a few times on merit, not because of injuries during matches, so that gives him a "moral advantage" over Gritty. Both great clubmen and favourites of mine, but Hewie was international class not just a loyal journeyman.
Completely academic as we know nothing about a takeover and the move is pure speculation, but why do we need a 40,000 capacity stadium when even in the prem, we only sold out four or five times a season (as I remember anyway)?
Emotions are running high, Ken. The new owners (if we get them) must heed this, or be doomed from the off.
Yes I very much understand the ground is home and the connection that some say should never be changed, it is sacred etc. But here we lay, as it stands, are the same fans who do not want change OK with things as they are ? The attendance size, the money in/out of the club, current level of football, with the slight possibility of movement happening anyways ? I totally would prefer Charlton to stay at the Valley, and for things to take shape around CAFC as they are, and not for CAFC to have to take shape itself. I personally am fine with Championship football, just means I cannot catch much on Cable. On the flipside, how sure could anyone be of a move resulting in the flowering of Charlton anyway. No one be offended, I wasn't trying to disregard the stadium and culture, just if it is going to happen what do we do, roll with it or .. ?
I went to Galatasaray's 'Hell' stadium about 2009, and loved the Sunflower seeds they sold in an old fashioned paper bag. Or roasted peanuts straight of the hot plate. Hopefully in a year or two a step would be well in place that has most of us grinning from ear to ear regarding our clubs direction.
@ Ken Oh yeah, and bring back the peanut sellers I remember from the seventies One of my first Charlton memories is of standing on the East Terrace, and the old boys walking down below calling out "peanuts" and then lobbing the bags ! Imagine that happening now, the stadium would immediately be closed on elf n'safety grounds. One of the old boys was a regular in my local bookies of the time (come to think of it, he still owes me a tenner). You can guess what his nickname in the shop was...."Peanuts" !
@ Ponders Steve Gritt is what you call a proper person. Not the best player in the world, but wore the shirt as if it meant something. Always has time for people & despite getting the elbow from the Club on at least three occasions, he has an undisguised love of CAFC. I am ashamed to admit that in my formative years I used to give Gritty a bit of stick from the terraces for his efforts in midfield..that was before I understood what ****e really was !
So from someone who doesn't remember Steve gritts playing days, was he very much a Bradley Pritchard??
Remember Nelson's tactic of playing Gritt for the away games, then dropping him for the home games and bringing in Paddy Powell, who in turn would be dropped for the away games?
I once played in a charity match at The Valley a few years back (the year we were relegated from the championship). Part of the package was that each team had a former Charlton player playing at left back, my team were lucky enough to have Steve Gritt. Admittedly playing with 10 blokes a little overweight and lacking the ability to have made it in their youth, Gritty was the best player on the pitch by a mile, and what an engine even at his age! But what really impressed me what how he spoke of his love for the club, you could tell you were in the presense of a real 'Charlton Man'. He even stopped behind for an impromptue Q&A in the changing rooms afterwards and was just a genuinely nice and approachable bloke. At a time when (if I remember rightly) we ended that season with about 3 or 4 right backs, Gritt hailed a teenage Chris Solly as the best of the lot. Although the current and previous managers (Parkinson & Pardew) had a real hang up about his height and were reluctant to give him more of a chance.
I love The Valley. If we could somehow get multi millions to buy more of the land around it and really do the place up it would be perfect
Whats the verdict lads, if a takeover is complete, what will be the first significant promising changes ?
We will have the customary sops: promised transfer funds, management confidence, Valley assurances, and a bright, new vision for the club. I'd be happy with those.
