Even though the circumstances are completely different, reading this article - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24802846 - about the current plight of Gloucester City Football Club, the pictures of the state of the pitch brought back a wave of uncomfortable memories about the condition of The Valley when we began the clear-up. Hope things can be resolved for them, but at the moment, it's difficult to see how.
About ten years ago I was touring Gloucestershire when I happened to stumble upon this charming little football ground. I walked through an open gate and up the touchline to where an elderly gentlemen was burning litter in a metal bin. I asked the fellow if it would be okay for me to take some photos of the stands, floodlights etc for my epic collection of grounds visited. For the next fifteen minutes, this absolute gentleman treated me to a tour of the ground, plus a potted history of the club itself. Unfortunately the club shop (a table and shelf in the tea stand) was locked up and I was unable to secure the obligatory memento of the visit. But, as I climbed into my car, my new friend came scuttling across the car park and proceeded to hand me a club badge - the very one he had worn on his coat for so many years. I still have it to this day in my big chest of treasures. That was my first and only visit to Meadow Park.
Horrible story which I am sure brings back so many bad memories for so many Charlton fans. Whats so sad about this story is that all of this happened as a result not of any individuals incompentance, but for merely being situated too close to a river during a particularly wet summer. That picture of the water up as far as the crossbar I found particularly harrowing. All the best to Gloucester City in their future endeavours to return home.
They keep chopping and changing the clubs due to descrepancies in who goes up and down. Bishops Stortford got stuffed with a couple of seasons in the Northern section a year or two back. The problema is that sometimes, the bottom three in the Premier are southern, so to accomodate a 2x2 promotion, someone in the south gets moved northwards. I have to say I can remember being pelted with stones at a Gloucester v Dartford match back in the eighties, but in spite of that, I had some good days out there so I hope they get themselves sorted out.
Gutted for them. As Thurrock said, we know how it feels. A football stadium is at least 50% of a club's DNA. Take it away and you are in trouble. It made me puke when people talked about us moving to a faceless corporate shell on the Peninsula.
Just accepted an invitation to go and see the Gloucester City vs. Fleetwood Town FA Cup tie - be nice if they got a result but I think they may be battered by the Cod Army (sorry about that...) if 'The Beast' is on top form. Still remember that nutmeg and goal of his at Stoke.
