A 'global' strategy for Charlton

I must say that I had to laugh at the account published in The Times this morning of Manchester United's post-season tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong.  It may have raised £8m towards a £10m gap in their finances, but it seems to have seriously pissed off their already demoralised players who had to resort to the consolations offered by a few drinks (such as six bottles of champagne from a slot machine): https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/inside-manchester-uniteds-chaotic-post-season-asian-tour-8vzjh5kn7

However, it does raise the question of how Charlton should boost its global presence now we are in what is de facto the Premier League Division 2, the biggest competition outside the top flight anywhere in the world.

When we were in the Premier League, there was some interest in Charlton in unlikely places.  I have never quite got over switched on my television in Kunming in south-west China to see a rather good analysis of how Curbs and Keith Peacock worked together.

There was some interest in the club in an Asian tour but when I had word with Curbs it was clear that his grasp of geopolitics did not match his football skills - and indeed why should they be.

Our aims now need to be more modest and I would suggest that we should make use of the large numbers of expat Charlton fans in the 'Anglosphere': the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Their friends probably already support Premier League clubs, but perhaps they could be persuaded to adopt Charlton as their Championship club?

I also think we ought to reinvigorate our links with South Africa.   In the late 1940s and early 1950s this was an important source of recruitment for us.  In the Premier League days we benefitted from players such as Sean Bartlett and Feesh.

I have never been to South Africa and I don't know anything about the current state of South African football, although I suspect it has gone downhill over the last twenty years, but there may be undiscovered talent there.

Remembering the good times

In these unhappy times for the club, it helps to remember some of the good times in the past, including the 3-3 home draw with Manchester United in the 2000-1 season. Sir Alex Ferguson praised Charlton: 'They fought really hard and played very well.' Even the Match of the Day pundits described Charlton's fightback as 'absolutely magnificent ... absolutely awesome.'

On nine minutes good work by Graham Stuart allowed Kishishev to put in a powerful cross. Bartlett powered between two defenders and put in a header that found the back of the net. It was the first goal conceded by United in 338 minutes of Premiership football.

After Deano had made a great save from Ryan Giggs, Solksjaer fed him to put the ball in the back of net three minutes from half time. A speculative shot from Giggs from near the halfway line rebounded off the bar, allowing Solksjaer to put the ball past the stranded Kiely. Half time and we were 1-2 down.

Things looked grim when Keane scored a soft goal on 66 minutes, Kiely getting a hand to it, only to put it in the net. Johnnie Robinson was brought on to replace the ineffective Salako. The East Stand linesman made a number of increasingly bizarre offside decisions against Charlton. As the crowd chanted 'Offside, offside', stewards piled in to throw out an Addick for 'abusing the linesman.'

Robbo gave the linesman a piece of his mind and got a yellow card. However, an angry Robbo was a dangerous Robbo. On 79 minutes Kinsella played in Kishishev who put in a low and powerful cross from the right, allowing Bartlett to head into the net. The Addickted started a chant of 'We support our local team.' On 85 minutes a Jensen corner was played on by Kinsella to Robbo who put in a good shot which went inside the post to make it 3-3. He nearly went crazy in his celebrations.

Sean Bartlett pays tribute to Charlton

Sean Bartlett has paid tribute to the part Charlton played in his evolution from player to promising coach with his Durban side winning promotion to the top flight of South African football: Bartlett

A great player and a great bloke, I still have my commemorative t-shirt for his wonder goal.

The family took me away to Dorset for the weekend which, of course, emptied out on Saturday, but I will give my reflections on the season later in the week.

Was this the greatest goal?

Four Four Two used social media to ask their readers what they thought was the greatest goal they had seen their club score. The quest was focused on the relatively recent past.

Charlton fans nominated Sean Bartlett's goal against Leicester City at The Valley on 1 April 2001: 'Like everyone else inside the groud that day, Foxes full-back Gary Rowett expevts the South African maestro to take a touch rather than attempting a visionary Valley volley. But with both feet off the ground, striker Bartlett dispatches Graeme Stuart's raking diagonal pass with enviable nonchalance. A worthy Goal of the Season winner.'

I still have the commemorative t-shirt. But what other goals might qualify? One by Johnnie Robinson away at Huddersfield from distance was certainly good. A memorable goal, if not a great one, was the header by Richard Rufus in the play-off final. A scruffed goal scored by Keith Jones in a 1-0 win against Liverpool at The Valley comes to mind. Luke Young scored a rather good goal at home to Liverpool in a 2-0 victory.

But I'm sure there are many other candidates.