Roots Hall??

Elaborate?

haha!

His name was Bill and in my eyes a palace legend.
Last time I saw him he was in a wheelchair outside portsmouth uni.
I shouted his name but because of traffic had to drive on.
He told me years back that his legs would give up eventually but that man had bollocks and was a star.
If you read this Bill then PM me.
Kindest regards Graham.

"Numb,gutted and shocked . Three words that sum up how I feel."
"Passionate,principled, genius. Three words that sum up Joe Strummer"
Martin Scorcese, Film director.

I'm going to have to put something here about why the Sydenham train thing happened, since people are slagging the dirty thirty. What was that from Noel Edmunds? Dirty Girty at number 30, can just about remember it, mainly because I lived at number 30 and used to get a right slagging - if it was Noel Edmunds f*** You or who ever it was.

Anyway, went to Charlton late 90s or at latest 2000. I went on my own, perhaps not the best idea. I lived in West London so was actually travelling mainly with non-football fans and Charlton family fans. There were the odd Palace - particularly after the Bridge but it was not a football special or anything like that. We were not escorted to the ground or anything. In fact, the policing that day was rubbish. It couldn't have been long after that Man U debacle where Paul Nixon was killed (I think that was his name - may he RIP) as Charlton 'firm' were singing 'The Wheels of the Bus Go Round and Round over Crystal Palace'.

I hardly saw any of the game as there was that much throwing shapes, coins, bottles etc. I think it was 1-1 - a s*** match anyway.
We weren't held in afterwards from the part I was in, which was a bit strange I thought. The way I was going was not escorted either. There were no Palace really going my way as I expect they were on buses or the football special - so really I was mainly with average, family Charlton fans just walking back to the station. Then I noticed we were being shadowed by their firm maybe 100-200 strong, The Charlton Reds or something like that, and I wondered what the hell was going on since, clearly there was no Palace firm or even body of Palace fans with me. Shows what absolute clowns they are really. They continued abusive songs, they all looked like pretty large guys with skin-heads, which I am also a bit like but mainly because I am bald, not from choosing if you catch my drift.
Anyway, as I walked up the avenue the Police completely left. It was as though they had something arranged, it was certainly a pre-arranged ambush designed to catch the weaker of Palace fans - certainly not the Palace main body, firm, crew or lads. I started walking faster, as you do. Got to the station, whichever craphole it was. A small station with a short platform and no real buildings, just one guard. The train was just pulling in, good timing for once.
Well we got onto the train just in time, as their firm steamed down the platform screaming something. We got organised and there were literally only a few Palace lads, I would say about 20. I remember one Palace fan was an old guy with a walking stick! We linked arms in the doorways of the train to stop these nutters getting on. They kept on charging, heads down, trying to get on. We held on doing everything to stop them, I was kicking and punching and whatever I could. The problem was, if we had let them on at all the train was full of Charlton kids and families, most of them were crying and screaming.
We held on and the train pulled off. We made the obligatory signs to their firm and asked politely to meet at London Bridge. We were well hyped up by then. One huge skinhead Charlton Clown had charged at me head down, he had a very large gold chain on. I had whacked him down and ripped it off, all by sheer adrenaline without thinking. I was waving it like a trophy. A couple of Palace fans were singing and jumping up and down. We were all hugging - the people on the train were relieved and thankful even though they were Charlton we felt we had done something good.

Stupidly, I went to London Bridge but there were far bigger teams there than us, nothing was going on but I was so pleased with myself that I went around looking for anything. I promised to keep in touch with some other Palace lad who had helped out but of course I didn't. Went home to Hounslow where there was little point in telling people what happened as I think most there were more interested in Cricket than Football. (Don't get me wrong I like cricket too).

I have always felt it was this ambush that caused the later unfortunate one, by way of revenge. Perhaps I am wrong. I suppose revenge is not the right thing anyway and of course attacking peaceful fans is not the way to do it. However, this does put the Sydenham thing a bit more in context as it was basically the same thing in reverse. I have had a slagging for posting about this before so if you are going to get upset by this - don't read it (a bit late now). I have plenty more, a lot worse really, but don't want to bore you. Quite amazing the things you see at away matches sometimes.

Red and Blue Army!

Quality mate did you keep it? I hope you wear it as trophy

Edited by Barcelona Based Fan (11 Sep 2012 2.39pm)

TaxiMark
Sheffield Wednesday Fan
Posted 23 February 2013 - 07:49 PM
I don't mind palace to be fair. Much better club than tinpot Charlton and Brighton