Mrs Peeps and I duly made our way up town this morning in time for a few pints of Sussex Ale in Whitehall with a couple of fellow Addicks. From there we went down to the Palace of Westminster and made our way through security and into the Cholmondley Suite with it's riverside terrace. It may have been dull overhead but it was fantastic to be with a hundred or so other Charlton fans in such an historic setting. I was pleased to see an old mucker and former mod there and to greet each other with "what are you doing here?" He is now a respectable businessman with connections to the club's owners, so it was very interesting to exchange views on what's going on.
The hospitality was excellent and the Rothschild's wine kept coming before and during a reasonable meal. Lord Grade of Yarmouth was our host for the afternoon and he delivered a fine Charlton-supporting speech as he welcomed us all to the event and thanked us for our support. Dave Berry then did a bit of MC-ing which obviously came very naturally as two "experiences" were raffled off. One a two-dayer with the Charlton squad as they train and prepare at Sparrows Lane and the other a day out with the Capital FM team. My bet was that the day at Capital would out-bid the Sparrows Lane experience and I was proved right.
Jason Morgan updated me on the success of the Charlton Community Trust which I understand came runner-up in the global version of the best Community Scheme. A true accolade and something to be very proud of - 10,000 children involved every single week and a scheme that now has a turnover approaching half that of the football club (with no debt). Who would have ever imagined that?
I believe there will be a follow-up event at the Indigo Bar at the O2 which I will try and support.
it would be interesting to hear your old aquantances views (the one who knowsa thing or two about our current owners) on current affairs at the club.
ReplyDeleteScoops - some very specifics which would cause him personal embarrassment but the general thrust of the conversation supports the scenarios that most of us assume to be the case re the ownership of the club, where it's gone wrong and the dilemma currently faced in trying to sell it on.
ReplyDelete