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.

The dwarfs name was aldo.. Everton mates told me when. They came to palace in the 80s a dwarf steamed in to them after th game. They seemed bemused by it itold them he was known face back then.

Dead Right, Was called Bill and went in the Arthur. I can remember him pulling a copper off his horse at QPR after we invaded the pitch when C.Allen scored and put his two fingers up at the palace fans, that was a crazy away game, cars got torched outside too.

We'd just kicked off with a load of Pompey fans down by the Wilton, and he was in the thick of it, although he knew me he didn't take kindly to me calling him titch! although thinking back it wasn't the best name to call him, Anyway he said Palace or not you call me that again and I'll rip your f**king head off
they're all mucsle them dwarves, I bottled it and apologised although I would have probably battered him with my spring loaded cosh that said I was out of order calling him names, he bought me a drink next time I saw him tho.

Edited by Barcelona Based Fan (11 Sep 2012 6.31pm)

Feel free to post, I love reading all the stories about what happened back in the day. As I am only 24 i never got to witness anything like this at football.