Football hooligans are often described in the press as "cowardly" and their victims as "innocent." I don't believe this is usually the case as it tends to involve like-minded herberts intent on the excitement of a big fight - especially in recent years when they often organise it in advance away from the ground so as to minimise the chance of arrest. However, on this occasion the press were bang on. A cowardly attack on harmless fans who would have not have batted an eyelid at rival Palace supporters joining the train to Norward Junction. I was on the train behind this one (that was delayed for 20 minutes as a result) and there were indeed Palace fans who joined us and who were threatened in no way. There were actually a good number of likely lads on our train who would have given the cowards a run for their money had their timing been better, but I suppose this would have just given the Sydenham Cowards some justification for their attack and probably have put "innocent" Charlton fans in the clink as well.
Sad that it had to happen at all, but at least it's a story with a happy ending. Hopefully those affected personally by it haven't been frightened away from the game for good.
Some years ago my son and I went to selhust to see palace v Charlton after the game that Charlton won we were going back to our car and were surrounded by about twenty palace yobs my son who was then 13 was scared , just as they started pushing and shoving us about 40-50 Charlton lads came around the corner and chased the palace heroes off , that was the last time we wore our Charlton shirt's to Palarse.
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