Charlton Lane closure

Sue Parkes is the wife of long-serving club secretary Chris Parkes and has posted an explanation of the Charlton Lane closure last Saturday on Facebook.

'Charlton Lane Closure - Please Don't Blame CAFC!! All supporters who were inconvenienced after Millwall game due to the unannounced closure of Charlton Lane please don't blame The Club. Chris & I were very late leaving the Valley after the game and therefore didn't know about the problems until I read the postings on FB late Saturday evening, I had even suggested the route via the crossing to a couple of friends in cars.'

'Having read about the problems supporters encountered I asked Chris to try to find out why Charlton Lane was closed, firstly he checked his own copy of the Matchday briefing notes, then he spoke to Senior Safety Staff both sources confirmed that the road wasn't scheduled to be closed but more to the point CAFC Safety Staff were not aware that the road had been closed until Chris told them about it this morning. They hadn't been informed of the closure nor had they been party to it, therefore I'm saying the Club shouldn't shoulder the blame. Hopefully now they know what happened the problem will be looked into to prevent similar treatment of Home supporters in future.'

I had always thought that this was a last minute operational decision by the Metropolitan Police who thereby nearly created a public order problem for themselves. As people were chanting at the time, 'You don't know what you're doing!

The problem is that the programme gave the impression that the whole operation was a joint decision between the club and the police when it is entirely possible that the police put pressure on the club. The club has also been relatively silent on the issue which would not have happened in the past.

Aooarently Ransom Walk was opened relatively quickly. An Addick has commented, 'If Ransom Walk was open after 12 minutes, and presumably policing at that spot was carried out with a view to achieving opening ahead of schedule, why were elderly / infirm people not advised to wait a few moments? In the event, a good number made the long trek around the houses and as a result of the closure of Charlton Way took well over 30 minutes to get back to coaches on Woolwich Road. Proper communication could have saved this.'

'I was lucky enough to get across the level crossing before that route was closed. I was one of the first back to my coach. How is it that I met a good number of Millwall fans, not all looking amiable [surely not?], walking the other way along Woolwich Road?'

I have now read Mick Everett's statement on the club website. It's clearly useful to have this, even if it is somewhat belated. It does explain the context to the decisions taken, although the logical conclusion of his argument would be to play the matches against Crystal Palace and Millwall below closed doors, although then that would invite disorder on the surrounding streets. If I had known what I know now, I would not have gone to the game.

It appears that British Transport Police took the decision to close Charlton Lane on what they claim to be health and safety grounds. One wonders why this separate police force is allowed to continue to exist. Expertise on railway matters could easily be incorporated within existing forces. It is also revealed that even the club did not know that Coxmount Road was to be closed and this was the most foolish operational decision of all. Anyway, at least I know now that I should make a complaint to the BTP.

Goals change games

That old adage was proved to be true today when two second half goals in quick succession gave Millwall a 2-0 victory at The Valley this afternoon. Up until then, Charlton had been at least holding their own against Millwall: possession over the game was 53-47 in favour of the Addicks. Indeed, arguably we played the better football in the first half in particular but as Steve from Petts Wood commented, 'We played some nice football, but we weren't ruthless enough to make anything of it. It was pretty clear to me that once we went 0-2 down we weren't going to get back in the game, although we tried hard enough.' Millwall have now leap frogged Charlton in the table with the Addicks going down to 14th.

The sense of deep disappointment was intensified by the frustration caused by the difficulty in getting away from the ground. We had known in advance that Floyd Road and Ransom Walk were to be closed off, but fans were advised to exit right into Harvey Gardens and then found the bottom half of Charlton Lane had been closed, denying many of them access to their cars parked on the other side of the Woolwich Road. According to the programme the plan to let the Millwall fans get away was a joint decision of the club and the police, but some sources have indicated that the club would have preferred the visitors to be held back.

A lot of Millwall supporters got on at London Bridge, but surprisingly none at Deptford. A large group got on Greenwich and the air was soon blue as a tale was told involving some ducks, a swan that had been kicked in the chest and then the arrival of some ****ing alsatians which spoilt the fun. It was raining heavily when the game started and the pitch was quite badly waterlogged on the East Stand side. In the flats overlooking the ground a group of Millwall supporters were hanging out a banner: ironically there is a Charlton shield on the same floor.

Bradley Pritchard drew an early save from the Millwall keeper. Charlton won a corner but from the ensuing play Harriott sent the ball well over. Millwall won a free kick near the corner flag, but it was cleared without great difficulty. Good play by Harriott forced Millwall back. Osborne had to be withdrawn for Millwall and Scottish economist Adam Smith replaced him. Solly put in some excellent defensive work. An error in midfield by Pritchard led to a corner for the visitors. As the half hour mark passed, Charlton seemed to be in the ascendancy and Harriott put in a shot which had to be saved by Forde in the Millwall goal at the expense of a corner. However, this led to a free kick for the visitors.

Slowness by Pritchard set up a Millwall attack. Kermorgant put in an effort that was way off target. Smith got a yellow card for a foul. With two minutes added on, Millwall put in a shot that was fractionally wide, a warning for the second half when they would be attacking towards their own fans.

HT 0-0

Harriot was tripped and Dunne got a yellow card, setting out a free kick in a promising position. For a moment I and those around me thought that Kermorgant had scored, but the ball had flashed just wide. This was a turning point in many ways for Charlton's play started to deteriorate. Runs by Haynes were petering out, Wilson was putting in aimless balls and Harriott put the ball over again.

Millwall brought on their loan signing from Palace and with his first touch of the ball he scored, the ball slipping through Button's arms. Charlton started to lose their shape and panic. Pritchard received a yellow card for a foul, setting up a free kick in a central position but some way out. It didn't look that dangeerous at first, but the shot arrowed through, curving as it went, and Button was unable to make the save: he should have done better.

Charlton then made a double substitution, taking off Wilson and Haynes (rightly so) and bringing on Wagstaff. Indecisiveness by Button required Solly to use all his skills. Charlton tried to apply some pressure, but it was evidently going nowhere. The bloke two seats to my right was going beserk with anger, but the simple fact was that we had been outplayed on the day. When four minutes were added on, one wag said that if four hours had been added on we wouldn't have scored. Of course, it's more difficult for people who live in South London and have to put up with bragging rights. I don't know any Millwall supporters in Warwickshire, although there are a few Charlton supporters around.

I have never seen so many police at a Charlton game, although to some extent the behaviour of some of our own supporters at The New Den may have contributed to this. My plan had been to walk up the hill and get a bus to Woolwich or Blackheath rather than hang around in Harvey Gardens for half an hour. However, the Bloke Beside Me offered me a lift into Woolwich and the idea of taking a look at my old stamping ground appealed: I haven't been there since the play off celebrations. However, when we reached the top of Harvey Gardens we found the lower end of Charlton Lane blocked off. Some people were going up Craigmount Road which enabled them to loop round and join Charlton Lane nearer the level crossing but the police formed a line, including mounted police, to stop this. Many people then started going through the garden of the corner house and climbing over the fence and two mounted police were deployed to stop this. I learnt subsequently that some of these were Millwall fans seeking to taunt the stranded Addickted. Many people were quite angry and it could have turned nasty, but fortunately it didn't.

We were then told that Floyd Road was open, so I went back that way. A group of Millwall fans was being escorted up the road by a phalanx of police, so so much for getting them out of the area. Another who was the worse for wear was being dealt with by the side of the road. The police have a difficult job, but sometimes they make it more difficult for themselves. I don't think that the Metropolitan Police enhanced their reputation today, certainly not in my eyes, but I don't suppose they care. If it happened in Warwickshire, I could complain to the much maligned police and crime commissioner.

Match analysis

Ivy the Terrible was so barking mad after the game that she was inclined to keep the Silver Bone for herself. However, eventually it was decided to award it to Callum Harriott. It's unfortunate that some of the best chances fell to him because he didn't make good use of them, but he did play well, showing lots of pace and commitment. Is Button any better than Hamer? He spilled the ball once and the second goal was arguably saveable even though it did curve. Morrison generally had a decent game. Taylor played us into trouble once. Solly showed some real skill at times. Wiggins did make one or two errors, a lack of pace at one time giving Millwall an avoidable throw in but was generally solid. I thought that Pritchard had a rather error prone game, although there were some positive contributions. Jackson battled away with great determination. Wilson was below his usual standard and seemed a bit off the pace at times. I had advocated starting Haynes but he seemed to be too lightweight and was muscled off the ball too easily, admittedly often when he had two or more defenders chasing him. Kermorgant nearly scored with his free kick, but got increasingly frustrated as the game went on. He evidently felt that he did not get enough protection for fouls, but I thought that the referee got things right most of the time. Wagstaff was energetic when he came on but to no great effect. I had hoped that the skill of Fuller might turn the game around, but he seemed to be lacking in ideas.

Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match to the Metropolitan Police.