A Friday evening chat with a Charlton fan

Steve Charnock from Addicks fanzine My Only Desire joins us for a chat

Oct 18, 2024

Friday 18 October 2024

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Charlton supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

It’s a late one from me today. I won’t lie, I’ve been having a very lazy day today, after gigging every night this week. As a global superstar, I just needed some down time today, after entertaining crowds around the world (Derby, Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool and Newcastle-under-Lyme to be precise).

County haven’t been in action for a fortnight but we’ve got an extremely busy period coming up, starting with a trip to London tomorrow. Ahead of our first league game at The Valley since 2009-10, Charlton fan Steve Charnock from My Only Desire joins us for a chat.

Today’s edition is sponsored by The Mortgage Mill. A big thank you to James.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £2,027

Total completed streets so far: 399 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Matty Godden scored the winner as Charlton beat Birmingham last time out (Photo credit: Charlton Athletic FC)

How’s your season been so far?

Started nicely (three wins on the spin, three clean sheets) then went south (4 points from 18). Out of the League Cup (lost 1-0 at home to Alfie May's Birmingham City). But we were victorious in our last game with our best performance of the season so far (won 1-0 at home to Alfie May's Birmingham City).

Charlton in the third tier. Lots of shit along the way, but can it all be traced back to the club thinking “Curbishley's taken us as far as he can”?

No offence… You're not to know this… But this is perhaps the biggest bugbear of Charlton supporters. Curbs left of his own accord to go to West Ham. He wasn't sacked, he wasn't pushed out, he wasn't so much as tutted at by fans. Somehow the narrative became “Charlton got too big for their boots and ousted their best ever manager to push for Europe and then got relegated… Serves 'em right.” BUT IT'S BOLLOCKS.

What do you think of your current owners?

They seem legit. Genuine. They've put their money where their mouths are and have been busying themselves with plenty of new campaigns and ideas. Fingers crossed it stays that way and leads to some success. Touch wood. Hang a horseshoe. Check fingers are still crossed.

Have you ever seen Nathan Jones and Alan Partridge in the same room?

I've never seen either in any room.

What’s the fan culture like at Charlton these days?

Same as ever. You've got your geezers in the North Stand, your anoraks in the West, and your moaning old sods in the East. Part of the new owners' focus is finding new 'audiences' and 'demographics'. Something that's tricky when you're in League One. And none of your owners are Deadpool.

What’s your thoughts on Stockport County – A) the club B) the fans C) the manager?

A) You seem well run and have had a cracking few years.

B) You're proper football people because you follow County, not City or United.

C) There was talk that we were trying to nab him before we made the ludicrous decision to hire Michael Appleton last season.

Seven years in the Premier League at the start of this century. Will you ever make it back?

God, no.

How many times would you have to see a penguin in one day to feel the need to call the police?

Depends if it's got a washing-up glove on its head or not.

Who’s been Charlton’s best manager of all time?

Very elderly types might be able to tell you it's the fella who was in charge when we won the FA Cup after the war (Jimmy Seed). But it's Curbs, isn't it?

Are there any players you regret selling over the last few years?

Anyone very good who went to a bigger, better opportunity, you can't really regret those. In terms of players we could and should have kept (and would’ve stayed…) we let Darren Pratley go too early. Even though he was getting on. He's since proved at Orient that he'll play to a decent standard well into his 60s.

How shit is it to have Jim Davidson as a celebrity fan?

NEVER HEARD OF HIM. Our famous fans are Steve Davis, Boris Becker, Cheryl Baker, Karl Howman, and Del Boy and Rodney's mum.

Who’s your favourite Charlton: Bobby, Jack, Suzanne or Heston?

ATHLETIC.

Prediction for Saturday?

Looks like you enjoy 1-1 on an away day. I'll go for that.

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Photo of the day

The Valley, Charlton

Some of the 925 County fans at The Valley the last time we were down there, which was our 2-2 draw in the second round of the FA Cup back in November 2022.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

One film at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) this evening. Speak No Evil (15) at 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJ

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.

🍺 Food and drink

Pop in for a pint at Heaton Hops (SK4), CAMRA Pub of the Year for Stockport and South Manchester.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8).

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as AMP (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).

🎤 Karaoke

The Alexandra (SK3).

🎵 Live music

Eden at The Crown (SK6). 9pm.

Random photos of County players at other clubs

#27 – Lewis Fiorini, Charlton

A return to his former club for Lewis Fiorini tomorrow. Made five appearances for the Addicks during the second half of last season, on loan from Man City.