It's not that black and white for me, I can do two things at once.
I had a great weekend at Wembley, met up with people before and after then got back to my normal life ...
... at the same time I was very disappointed at the result and our performance.
I don't understand how anyone, passionate about the club, would be any different tbh.
Perhaps it just doesn't mean that much to you which is fair enough
Well, it seems like you can take it reasonably well.. I remember the Charlton play off final like yesterday, the first one I mean. Its been since, for me and my lad, like a running nightmare. So clear and vivid from the first to the lastminute, from setting off to it finally hitting home the following day at the petrol station at Pallion when filling up the car. I might as well tell the story, again, as no matter how hard I try, it never gets any better.
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I was fortunate enough to have a very well paid job with one of the Airlines based at Ponteland. The day before the game three of us, Dave a work colleague supporter of the lads, Dave (my lad) and me set off on staff travel tickets flying down to LHR BA business class, basically for free and then back on the Tuesday after the game.
We Flew out, had a very nice breakfast and landed at LHR and hit London. We quickly made our way and went to Eastham where we were staying overnight with Dave's brother (supporter also) before coming back home. We settled in, had some grub , changed and set off for the West end, Covent Garden and Piccadilly.
We ended up at a club/boozer called Tiddy Dolls (history buffs need to research) around the Mayfair area sitting listening to a pianist playing a grand piano as Dave's brother staffed these type of clubs and hotels in the area for his clients, ending up as another freebie. We stayed until around 12 pm before heading back to the digs. No tubes , buses but very ,very expensive taxis I do recall.
Following morning found us up bright and early after breakfast and setting off for Kings Cross to meet up with a couple of mates before heading off up to Wembley. It was a bit of a blur trying to take in the stadium and the stroll up to it , the first time being in 73 and then the Milk Cup final in 85 which were light years away but at least the lad was enjoying it. Getting into the stadium it was hard not to see just how dilapidated and crumbling it was. A shade of its former self. Onto the terraces for the build up and the singsong. If I ever hear another Robbie Williams "let me entertain you" again ******* it will be far far too soon. The other thing that stood out was just where the Charlton fans were, there end being empty for most of the time we were in our seats then all of a sudden, there they were.
The Match. less said the better.
After the final whistle I can only describe as feeling and being numb, in fact I'd say in shock. I remember clearly going to the toilets on our way out and wading through ankle deep rivers of piss. The smell, Argh, I'll never forget that smell. .. We wandered down Wembley way in a daze and eventually ended up at a McDonalds buying a a burger or something that I do not recall eating before heading off back up to (there was a steep bank) the tube station when an old mate from my youth, not seen for years, Robbie Thompson came into view. He was with his little lad slouched with this flag on his shoulders and he appeared to be in much the same state as my crowd.. We chatted about the game for 15 or so minutes, it could have been longer or less, but shock seemed the basis for being unsure of how long. We parted ways and took to the tube back into London. During the time it took to travel back to Eastham to Dave's brothers before heading up town to celebrate (fecking good word that after you've lost) but it was becoming clear, to me at least, I needed to get home.
Bearing in mind we had staff travel business class flight tickets back for the for the Tuesday me and the lad headed up to Kings cross to see if we could but a seat on a train heading back home. Later two singles were bought. for £168.00 and after purchasing a Kentucky bucket opposite KC we boarded the train around 8.00 back to the North East. Needless to say it was like a morgue on the train especially having had the four tinnies confiscated before boarding . The wife got a shock us being home that night but it was the next day at Pallion that it really struck home.
While filling the car up ,still in this daze I looked over to the lad behind me filling his up at the same time. We both looked at each other and just shook our heads in what I realise was one of those a "what the hell happened there" moments..We never spoke, never said a word but the pain that showed on this lads face must have mirrored mine.. I got home about an hour later and cried.
Thanks for reading if you have.
Do I feel the pain has been lifted writing this, Not one bit. That particular result and time frame still hurts like hell.