Monday 30 June 2008

The origin of Addick

From time to time questions are raised about whether Addick is really a corruption of haddock, referring to the fish and chip suppers enjoyed by early Charlton players provided by a fishmonger supporter.

I was recently reading a biography published in 1916 of Will Crooks, the first Labour MP for Woolwich. It contains the following passage in the chapter 'The Haunts of his Boyhood':

'Here,' cried a fish dealer, holding aloft a haddock, 'wot price this 'ere 'addick?'

'Tuppence,' suggested a woman bystander.

'Wot! Tuppence! 'Ow would you like to get a ship, an' go out to sea an' fish for 'addicks to sell for tuppence in foggy weather like this?'

So there you have it.

4 comments:

SmokedAddick said...

Let me get this straight, Wyn.

We are de facto calling ourselves Haddocks and expecting to be taken seriously?:0

Anonymous said...

We are short on news aren't we!

Teletext "Championship" news page for Charlton lead with Kevin Lisbie's search for a southern club. Surprised that they didn't cover the exciting news that last season's winter jackets are now on sale.

Pembury Addick

WattO said...

Who gives a monkey's about the origins of the term? It must be the wankiest nickname of all the clubs in English divisions. I'd like to meet the tit the resurrected it. I was quite happy with The Robins or the fabicated sixties marketing man's name The Valliants.

Steve

Wyn Grant said...

Swindon are also the Robins, and I think Cheltenham Town. Port Fail call themselves the Valiants. At least it's different.