The 'Preston Plumber'

Preston North End are the very definition of a mid-table Championship club and that's where they are ahead of tomorrow's fixture, just above us in the table: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/12/preston-need-to-do-better-but-few-signs.html

When I first started supporting Charlton in the 1950s, a visit by Preston was the cause of some excitement as one of their players was Tom Finney, the so-called 'Preston Plumber' because of the plumbing business he ran on the side and eventually retired to.

I'm not sure that I ever saw Finney as in my first year of support we played on a Thursday and the following year he was in an England v. Scotland game.  Finney was a versatile attacking player who could operate as centre forward or on either wing.

Preston were once known as the 'Invincibles' as they dominated the Football League when it was first founded, becoming the first team to win the 'double'.  I visited the football museum when it was originally located there before it moved to Manchester.

At the beginning of the season I forecast this game as a 2-2  and I will stick to that prediction.  They are the away draw specialists of the Championship, having drawn nine games on the road.

Preston had a strong start to the season but one win in 12 league matches between mid-January and mid-March derailed their play-off prospects.  They are now third from bottom in the form table.

They head to the Valley unbeaten in three, taking five points from a possible nine. It will be their first visit to SE7 since November 2019, Paul Gallagher scoring in a 1-0 win.

“They have been a Championship side for as long as my memory goes back,” Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley. “They are a really good Championship side. They recruit well and are very structured in what they do. They have been able to build on a solid foundation for years and years - I remember Alex Neil’s Preston with the players they had like Gallagher, Ben Pearson and Daniel Johnson.

“They either nearly, or did, get to the play-offs. They have been that type of side that has been a really good Championship side for years and they continue to do that.

Getting his excuses in early, Jones said: “They are a very tough test, are very experienced and have threats in certain areas. It is another difficult Championship test.”

Manager Paul Heckingbottom has condemned racial abuse directed at former Addick Thierry Small: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g89jkwp1vo

The Preston supremo is also expecting a 'tough contest in SE7: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2026/april/09/-long-may-it-continue----hecky-previews-gentry-day-at-charlton/

Charlton fans should be aware that 'Gentry Day' is when Preston fans commemorate fellow fans who have passed away.

A ray of realism from Ramsgate

Fanzine editor and Ramsgate-based fan Rick Everitt seems to have overcome his fear that Charlton would repeat their unanticipated collapse in 1972: https://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2025-26-blogs/8-4-ghosts-of-1972-can-t-frighten-jones-s-battling-side/

The Rickster admits that it's been a hard watch at time, but says that no one has really let us down, even scapegoat player Tyreece Campbell.   He points out that the Championship is a very different place from when we left it, i.e., much tougher.

The veteran fan has maintained a dignified silence in the face of attacks from Super Hoops top fan Lord Young of Acton, albeit that the noble lord was briefly distracted by having to explain away his presence in the Epstein files.

Realism doesn't go down well with some Charlton fans so it is interesting to see this favourable comparison between the Addicks and Birmingham City by a neutral commentator: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/incredible-charlton-athletic-claim-emerges-as-birmingham-city-comparison-made/

Kanu nominated for award

On loan Charlton striker Daniel Kanu has been nominated by Walsall for the League Two Young Player of the Season award.

He has scored 18 goals for the Saddlers this season.

This doesn't mean we should bring him back to The Valley.  League Two defences are more porous, although he could well interest in League One.

It's Super K day in the EFL

Four Four Two have published their list of the top EFL players.   No Charlton players are listed (unlike Bromley) but Lloyd Jones makes the 'honourable mention' category.

There is, however, a special feature on the Lisbie twins: Kyreece and Kyrell, the sons of Super Kev.

Kyreece was due to move from Colchester to Reading in January. but the move was stopped by prospective purchasers of the U's who in the event didn't seal the deal,   His trajectory was Cray Valley Paper Mills, then Brentford 'B'.   By the end of January he had fifteen goal involvements with the U's.

Kyrell has started to make waves with League One Peterborough.   'His speed, the way he carries the ball into space and the ability to play off either flank make him a real threat, leaving defenders unsure if he'll move outside and cross, or cut inside to shoot.  Adding an end product has attracted other clubs.'  Sign him up?

Feel the difference

I am always amazed by how confident the keyboard managers feel about telling the manager what he should do in terms of selections, tactics and substitutions.

I have been watching Charlton since 1953, albeit with a gap in the middle when I was bringing up a family of three in the Midlands and we had left The Valley.    Yet I feel that I know little about football (other than the economics and finance and even there I am outpaced by chartered accountants).

I think that the periods when I watched football in the 1950s and the last few years are particularly irrelevant.   Let's start with the 1950s:

• The pitches were atrocious and the game was played with a heavy leather ball  A key skill was to skim the ball across a puddle.
• Training was a joke   Players were denied the ball as it was thought it would make them hungry for it at the weekend.  Training focused on running up and down the East Stand steps or round the pitch supervised by trainer Trotter wearing a white coat he had probably borrowed from the pharmacy counter at Boots.   There were even 'training walks'.
• Players weren't that fit anyway.  No one had any idea about nutrition and players would often have a fag at half time.
• The formation was set up as 2-3-5.  The full backs were defenders and often cloggers   There were two wingers up front, but the role of the wing halves was nothing like a modern midfielder.
• Keepers were supposed to stay rooted to their line and Bartram got criticised as a showman because he anticipated the modern sweeper keeper.   Keepers had far less protection and players were allowed to shoulder charge them.
• Referees weren't very fit and Jimmy Seed thought that a lot of them always favoured the home side. Nevertheless, my mother was convinced that there was a referees' conspiracy against Charlton and was always ready with a shout of 'dirty red', followed by an invitation to the referee to make a quick return to his home town (usually 'oop north).

Where was Kaminski yesterday?

Thomas Kaminski was not in the squad yesterday.   Richard Cawley asked Nathan Jones about his absence and got the reply, 'He fell over and couldn't travel.'

Somewhat surprised, the relentless journo repeated the question and got the same answer.

My first thought was that it reminded me of when Feesh had been sampling his collection of red wines and fell into his glass coffee table, sustaining quite serious injuries.   I should add that Feesh has made it clear that those days are over.

I am sure that Kaminski keeps away from alcohol, but there has been speculative comment that he had a hissy fit about being dropped.  I am sure that he is too professional for that, but the explanation offered by the manager is odd.

One fan suggested that if he had thrown his toys out of the pram he should be let go.  Mannion was doing a good job and we could get a second keeper more cheaply.

I know that I am getting a bit obsessive about QPR, but you can't open a newspaper or magazine without some minor celeb droning on about them.  This morning it's Giles Coren in his Times column celebrating their weekend win over Watford

Apparently Louis Theroux is also a fan but he and Lord Young of Acton are daggers drawn over politics but agree a truce when they are at Loftus Road.

Charlton take something from the Hornets' nest

Charlton drew 1-1 at Watford this afternoon, remaining 18th in the Championship.  Matty Godden scored the opener for Charlton in the second half after his introduction.   Godden had apologised for failing to take a scoring opportunity against Bristol City.

Unfortunately the home side equalised, but it was generally agreed that Will Mannion had a good game.

It was a lively start at Vicarge Road.  Tyreece Campbell, back in the side, got to the byline and dug out a cross but Lloyd Jones couldn't get over it and his header goes into the Rookery End behind the goal.  Coady was also back in the side which should please some online managers.   Unfortunately, he had to be stretchered off after a ball hit him in the face in time added on ihe second half.   {He has been discharged from hospital and given the all clear).

At the other end, Nestory Irankunda cuts inside and unleashes a terrific strike with his left foot which was brilliantly tipped away by Addicks keeper Will Mannion.

Charlton started the stronger and hit the post through captain Greg Docherty's close-range header.

Watford struck the woodwork too when Imran Louza's cross bounced off the bar before Mamadou Doumbia's strike just before the break was disallowed for an offside in the build up.

Godden scored his first goal of the season in style by controlling the ball on his chest in front of goal and swivelling to angle in a fierce finish, giving the Addicks hope of a league double in the fixture for the first time in 30 years.

Irankunda had other ideas, cannoning a piledriver off the bar and forcing Mannion to tip his shot away either side of his scintillating fourth goal of the season, continuing the 20-year-old's splendid form after netting twice for his country against fellow World Cup participants Curacao six days ago.

Mannion stopped a Louza shot while Goglichidze and Mattie Pollock sent headers wide as Watford pushed for a winner, before Coady's misfortune caused both sets of players to show their concern for the on-loan Wrexham defender.

Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London: "It's a good point. Watford have outstanding individuals who can change and win a game - players who have cost millions, talented individuals from all over Europe.

"When we got the goal, they made a plethora of positive subs. We found that difficult to contain but we didn't give them any clear-cut chances and, when they shot from distance, Will Mannion had a wonderful game.

"We need to get a win very, very soon, so it just settles everyone down and we can start planning. We'll probably have to lose every game to be embroiled in anything, but the message is to finish the season strongly."