This doesn't really deserve it's own thread but... I was listening to Ian Wright on the way home from Charlton the other day and they were talking about Torres playing a full 24 hours without scoring, to which Wrighty laughed 'He's Carl leaburn!' He never mentions BWP (maybe out of professionalism but I think the shows too Premier League centric) but he often mentions his 'good friend' Pards. I have the same Text Template ready every week saying along the lines of 'How about a mention for BWP and Charlton? Don't forget Super Pards put us where we are...' Out of 3 attempts he is yet to read it on air...
How many non-Charlton fans still remember Leaburn? He'll always be a bit of a cult hero at The Valley but was he really the Emile Heskey of his day (i.e. a national laughing stock)?
I loved Carlo. He is a Legend. His work-rate was superb. He now works as a security guard at Heathrow.
My first game at the valley was in about 92 or 93. I went along with my neighbour who is still a season ticket holder. The easy stand was a building site. We played Bolton and despite being rubbish we won 3-0 (sound familiar). Peter Garland scored a belter from about 30 yards at the old covered end. I remember being really impressed by most of our team - Garland, Walshie, Nelson, Minto etc. And then there was dear old Leaburn! I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. Total donkey. But he made up in effort what he lacked in skill. Bless him.
Work rate unparalleled; lay-offs pinpoint; chest control magnificent; hold up play allowed so many players to get into good positions around him - yes, only 50 goals in 350 appearances but always gave of his best, and never, ever hid. Also wearer of the thinnest tie ever seen at an awards presentation - and I have a picture to prove it...
Tewks you tease I'm going to need to see that pic! I'm a purveyor of mens fashion (Parky's suits > Chrissy's suits)
To be fair, he would have played alongside Pardew at Palace, so it's only for him to stick up for a former colleague. It's quite amusing for him to compare Torres to Carl Leaburn, bearing in mind the infamous drought was in the late 80s, so well over 20 years ago. He scored 14 goals in a season once, so wasn't always as bad as Torres!
Carl is a legend. I say this as I was maybe 8+ years old when he was our striker, and whilst I knew little then, what I knew of cafc was that CL was the man. Fickle. Maybe.
