Friday 8 September 2017

VOICE OF THE VALLEY


Below is an article written for The Voice Of The Valley fanzine last year. 

It's April 1936 and Jimmy Seed is looking forward to a nailbiting end to the season, where a second consecutive promotion looks likely, but can Charlton finish the season as Division Two champions?


GLORIOUS APRIL 1936

ONE GAME REMAINING, ALL TO PLAY FOR…

   ‘Jimmy, you’ll have to spend some real money if you want to stay in the Second Division.’ 
So said my pals after we ran away with last season’s Third Division (Southern Section) title. With only one team from each Section promoted there was little margin for error, so we were relieved to finish eight points clear of second place Reading. 
I believe in rewarding success, so those that played their part in our promotion have been given their chance in Division Two this season. Having said that, of course we have needed to strengthen the squad in our attempt to bring top flight football to The Valley.

   Any idea I might have had of becoming a second Herbert Chapman, and transferring Charlton from rags-to-riches using the cheque-book, were soon dashed after I joined the club. The Glikstens made it clear there was to be no spending spree. They’ve big plans for Charlton, but having already invested heavily, they’ve made it clear they want their cash back as soon as possible.

   However, I believe we’ve put together an excellent side, despite what some critics (and even some of our fans) are saying. Yes, we have few star turns. Our only major signing last year was Don Welsh, a centre-half secured from Torquay United for £3,250. And what a good player he is becoming.
   
   I’m proud of the country-wide scouting system I’ve set up, and with my brother Anthony in charge of a team of five scouts in the region of my birth, the North East, dividends are already being reaped. Sam Bartram and Jack Shreeve were two Anty discoveries who did not cost us a penny. Many more, I’m sure, will follow. Bartram, in particular, is made of the right stuff, and a bolder, braver keeper I would like to see.

   Back in ‘33/34 I brought in Frank Harris (£450) and Bert Turner (free) to bolster the half-back line. Following them came Harold Butt (£160 from Bath City), and George Green (£250). We finished a respectable 5th of course. Progress, but further singings were needed. I wasn’t looking for stars; I was looking for two things, character, and potential. That summer saw George Robinson returning to The Valley (free) after a loan to Burton Town. George Stephenson (£660) and Ralph Allen (£650 from Brentford) followed.

   I cannot over-emphasise how I believe that team-spirit is the first essential, and I know we have this plus at Charlton. No manager has a grander bunch of boys fighting for him, and I’ve given each and every one of them the chance to prove their worth this season. They haven’t let me down. The only cash signing I made before this season started was Syd Cann (£400 from Manchester City).

   Meanwhile, while balancing the books in the transfer market, or even turning a profit, gates have risen consistently, with last season’s average of around 15,000 a third up on the previous term. More work is now urgently required to update facilities in and around the ground, as attendances now average nearer the 25,000 mark. This further development is essential as who knows how big the gates might become were we to achieve promotion to the First Division. To that end I would like to see The Valley become one of the finest stadiums in the whole of Europe.

   But let’s keep our feet on the ground, and deal with recent events. My old Sheffield Wednesday colleague, Jimmy Trotter, has been brought in as trainer. A man of few words, Trotter conscientiously completed a postal course in physiotherapy, is a skilful masseur, and has passed all necessary trainers’ exams. As a player, I always had ideas of becoming a manager when my playing days were over, but Trotter was set on taking up the training side. While at Wednesday I assured him that given the opportunity to settle in a manager’s chair, I’d remember him, and I’m proud to have kept that promise. Already they’re calling us ‘The Two Jimmies’, and I’m happy to say we’ve established a good working relationship in this, his first season.

   And what a season we’ve had! From our opening day trouncing of Burnley by four goals to nil with what most people consider a Third Division side, we have proved our critics wrong. Aye, our early season away form left something to be desired, and on 3rd October we were in 16th place, six points behind high flying Leicester City. But by the end of the year we were second, two places above my old team Tottenham Hotspur who are still languishing outside the top flight after their relegation back in 1928.

   As many of you may know, Spurs cut my wages in 1927 from £8 to £7 after I was injured, and I joined The Wednesday, as a direct consequence of that action.
The following season the Owls found themselves cut adrift at the bottom of the League. With ten matches to play I was made captain, the team was reorganised, and we secured 17 points from a possible 20. We stayed up, and guess who were relegated in our place? Tottenham Hotspur.

   I digress. Our promising start to this season was de-railed slightly through a lack of goals from our forwards, other than leading scorer Harold Hobbis. Of course I had to sell Ralph Allen who scored 32 league goals in only 28 league games for us last season, and replacing him has proved a difficult task. Towards the end of February we were averaging much less than a goal and a half per game. Trying Don Welsh at centre-forward wasn’t a success, but at left-half he has flourished. However, sometimes the recall of a stalwart can work wonders. Stan Prior has performed well, especially recently, and bolstered our goal tally in the process. We topped the Second Division table for the first time on 4th January, with five straight wins from Boxing Day showing that we meant business.

   Another key to our recent success has been our signing of the strong and assured centre-half John Oakes, who has shored up our rather inconsistent defence. I have to thank my brother Angus, Aldershot’s manager, for the recommendation, as we now have a defence that’s difficult to break down.

   So despite the series of injuries that afflicted us mid season, we’ve had a successful April, despite our 4-1 defeat to Leicester City on the 4th. The Blues were relegated last season, but look likely to regain top division football soon, if not this year.
Our fortunes began to improve on Good Friday when we collected a valuable point at White Hart Lane. The following day’s 4-0 drubbing of Nottingham Forest at The Valley, followed by the 2-1 defeat of Spurs on Easter Monday, meant we were level with Manchester and West Ham on 50 points.

A record crowd of over 47,310 witnessed the defeat of Tottenham, but I’m sorry to say that The Valley struggled to cope with such a large crowd. A number of wooden barriers collapsed and the ambulance men had very busy time, showing once again the need to improve facilities and infrastructure as soon as possible.

   Of course a key fixture was against the our promotion rivals ‘The Irons’ at Upton Park last Saturday, where Hobbis’ spectacular long range effort sealed a very brave, 3-1 victory. Some of the press implied that we were lucky but, as I stated in my match diary, we ‘played with great team spirit and were on top right through. We looked a very good team indeed, and well worthy of the victory.’ Don Welsh was outstanding, but our courage was highlighted by John Oakes, who played on valiantly despite blood pouring from a broken nose.
We now topped the table with 52 points, Manchester followed on 51, but with a game in hand, and West Ham had 50 points, with Sheffield United not far behind.
   
   Yesterday’s match against Bradford Park Avenue was absolutely vital to our promotion chances. We calculated that three points from our remaining two games would see us promoted, so I was not surprised that there was a big crowd to enjoy another hard fought, but well deserved victory, our fourth in a row. Avenue have a good recent record against us, so it was a relief to win by two clear goals.
Considered not good enough by some, Stan Prior has proved his worth by netting five times in our last three crucial matches.
With Manchester United, Sheffield United and West Ham winning as well, we maintained our slender one point lead, in what is a very close promotion battle. It is notable that our goal average was now almost one and a half a game, whereas United’s was more than two.
 
     Next Saturday’s match against Port Vale looks set to be a thrilling occasion, with another big crowd expected at The Valley. Port Vale are fighting to avoid relegation and need a win to do so, whereas even a draw would confirm consecutive promotions for Charlton, a feat never before achieved in the history of the Football League.

   In fact, with West Ham travelling to former Division Two leaders Sheffield United, a defeat for the Irons would see us promoted even if we lose to Port Vale. But we’re taking nothing for granted, and aim to go all out for a victory. Manchester United have two fixtures remaining, both away from home; at Bury on Wednesday, and Hull City next Saturday. Two draws for them (or worse) and a win for us over the Vale would see us crowned Division Two Champions. Let’s keep our fingers firmly crossed!

James Dutton

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Unfortunately Manchester United beat Bury 3-2  away on 29th April, and drew 1-1 at Hull three days later, clinching the title by just one point. Charlton finished three clear points ahead of third placed Sheffield United. Both Manchester United and Charlton scored 85 league goals that season, just over two per game.

Onward and Upwards!

The £3,250 paid for Don Welsh is £207,488.33 in 2016 money.
The £450 paid for Frank Harris is the equivalent of £1,935 today.

I’ve used some quotes from The Jimmy Seed Story, and a couple of quotes from his match diaries.



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