Charlton fans steal the show

A battling, if disappointing display from Lee Bowyer's boys on Friday secured a play-off final against Sunderland at Wembley next week. That was what 25,000 people at The Valley expected on Friday. However, what no-one expected was the spontaneous pitch invasion that followed Tommy Rowe's final penalty miss for Doncaster Rovers. 

Sky's cameras captured it all as thousands of fans swarmed onto the pitch from all sides, including one wheelchair fan who was equally determined not to miss out. Given the damage done to our fan-base since Duchatelet took over in 2014, this was a remarkable sight. Lee Bowyer's battling side have really struck a chord and in recent weeks the demand to see them play has been growing but even allowing for that, what we saw on Friday told us more than any of us could have hoped for. In spite of Katrine Meire's war with the fans and Duchatelet's complete disinterest in anything to do with the football side of the club, the numbers of those who carry Charlton in the hearts has remained strong. The dire football of recent years, the hopeless numpties forced on a succession of under-supported managers and the disdain with which fans have been treated hasn't materially broken the bonds with our supporters. Gates may have continued to fall and general interest been in steep decline, but given hope and something to be proud about, supporters have returned in impressive numbers. 

More importantly, it says something significant about the potential of Charlton Athletic Football Club. Something Duchatelet has failed completely to understand or even been tempted to engage in. It's too late for him, but prospective new owners should see a huge commercial opportunity to drive this club forward. Bowyer has achieved what he has in spite of Duchatelet. Imagine just what may be possible with progressive, knowledgeable owners with a modicum of ambition and reasonable financial support. 

I am very conscious that my posting over the last couple of years has been increasingly depressing given the state of affairs we have had to reflect on and for me the hidden damage was potentially the biggest problem of all. Friday's outpouring after Tommy Rowe's penalty miss suddenly revises all of that and should give us all massive hope. Losing at Wembley could prove disastrous if Duchatelet remains at the helm longer term - which seems very likely - but winning could just make Duchatelet realise that he may not get a better opportunity to sell the club and that he should look very seriously at the offers he has been made to date. We can but dream.