I doubtless went to the Valley as a young kid, but I have no clear memories before the late 1970's, near the turn of the decade. I'm finding it most interesting to be reminded about (and learn a few new things about) these players, both the well remembered ones and the less well known.
Although I only had one season of watching Tutt, I thought he was our best player despite his young years, and I expected him to have a top top career. After his injury he had a successful career as a coach, while Tom Finney, who died some years ago, was described as an "Unemployed labourer". He always got rightly booed whenever he played at Charlton, his late tackle was an act of thuggery. Tutt was never forgotten by Charlton fans, and his recent death was widely mourned.
I remember a lot of these players although some escape me. During his first spell at Charlton Hales was an out and out goal scorer. He really didn't do much else when he returned he had become a much better all round player. He had a strange running action his elbows went sideways rather forwards and backwards, but he was quick over 20yards and determined if there was a chance of a goal. Flanagan was the better all round player. A lot of these players were what I used to call nearly players. Nearly top flight except for one weakness. E.g players who lacked a yard of pace or determination, height etc. Any that were good enough were sold. Hales wasn't a success at Derby, because they didn't play to his strengths, at West Ham they did scoring 14 goals for a relegated team was a good record.
Must have seen him, can't remember him at all. Mind you, I used to have a decent bevy before most games in those days.
I remember most of these previous players- Jeff Wood in particular for his MOM performance when Luton beat us 7-1. Tydeman was one of my favourites, but Killer is still my all-time favourite Charlton player.
Wow, some real memories there. I remember a home game back in the seventies when Charlton got a penalty and the covered end started chnting 'Cripps, Cripps, Cripps' and asking my dad 'what are they saying'. He scored! ray Tumbridge was a favourite of mine at Charlton and I was amazed to find him at Dartford when I started going to non league matches. Absolutely gutted when he left and ended u at local rivals Northfleet. Mark Penfold turned up at Dartford around the same time and scored a goal direct from a corner at kettering in Dartford's relegation season in the Alliance premier. Tony Burman fired Dartford to promotion the previous season, and did it again two years later, before a hugely successfull managenment career at the club. I remember les Berry starting out and looking like a lower league Ray Wilkins - my early impressions of hime were that every pass went sideways or backwards, but he had a huge career with Charlton. And then there was Killer. What need I say?
Steve Gritt, club legend who played in every position including in goal. Although the club didn't find a position for him later on he was still a regular at Sparrows Lane to watch the youngsters and have a natter.
Paul Lazarus turned up Dartford (doesn't seem to be mentioned so may have been on loan). I heard more than one supporter calling him 'Lazy-Arse' as he really epitomised a player who thought he didn't need to try.