Saturday 9 November 2013
Kick off (delayed) 3:30pm
Referee: K Stroud
Attendance: 17,601
This was my first venture into the world of media since passing my diploma in freelance journalism. I was feeling like a little kid again and thoroughly looking forward to the day ahead of me.
I arrived at the Valley at 12:10pm and made my way to the media centre. It was raining quite heavily and some of the supporters milling around are fearing another Doncaster type wash out. My host for the day Peter Finch from Charlton Live and BBC London hadn't arrived and so I made my way down the stairs to the press room.
There were around 20 chairs laid out in front of a stage with three chairs and three microphones. Suspended from the ceiling were microphones to pick up questions from the press. Three journalists were already sitting chatting and from their conversation were waiting for the tea and coffee to arrive.
On the left hand side of the press room is a media suite. It is decked out with a number of pc’s which will be used by photographers and the written press after the match to meet their various deadlines. Two media officers enter the room carrying with them the team sheets, match day programmes and media passes for those waiting in the room.
I am made to feel extremely welcome when picking up my pass which says that I am with BBC London. I then pick up my copy of the team sheet and match day programme. It’s now 12:50pm and the coffee, tea, soup and sandwiches arrive much to the delight of those waiting.
Peter arrives at around 1:00pm and shows me where everything is. The radio studio is on the right hand side of the press room and a large glass window allows you to look out. As I glance into the room I notice that Sky Sports Bianca Westwood is now sitting making notes. No wonder the room is suddenly full of men!
It’s now nearly 1:20pm and Peter suggests a coffee. After pouring my coffee and adding the milk I turn round and bump into someone. Without looking I say sorry and the reply of “nay bother” comes back from Leeds legend Eddie Gray! Embarrassed and a little star struck I make my way back to the radio studio.
Back in the studio the team were getting ready for an interview with former Charlton defender Eddie Youds. Moments later the Liverpool born Man Mountain enters the studio. Now working for Acorn estate agents in Crystal Palace, Eddie was asked about tackling. “You can’t tackle these days. Sky cover every angle and players can’t get away with as much due to retrospective action” Eddie said.
When asked who his toughest opponent was Eddie said that Niall Quinn was closely followed by Robbie Fowler. “Robbie could go ages doing nothing but always had a knack of popping up in the right place at the right time to score a tap in” Eddie said. The play off final of 1998 was of course his magic moment. Charlton winning on penalties after a 4-4 draw with Sunderland.
The interview drew to an end and a few photos were taken before Eddie made his way to the bar. Outside the rain continued to fall and a pitch inspection was made at around 2:00pm. The kick off was put back by half an hour until 3:30pm. Most of the talk in the press room was around the weather and could it be another Doncaster with the game being abandoned. At around 3:10pm Peter and I made our way up to the press box.
Peter was met by Emma Jones from BBC London and they sat and got ready to start the commentary. It was now almost time for kick off and the Leeds supporters were as vocal as ever. Not to be outdone the Charlton supporters soon joined in and the atmosphere started to heat up as the two teams walked onto the pitch.
A minutes silence in remembrance of the war heroes was impeccably observed with the Leeds fans spontaneously applauding during the silence which was met with approval and spread around the ground. Moments like that make you proud to be a football fan.
The game finally got under way at 3:30pm and Charlton appeared to be the better of the two teams during the first quarter of an hour. Leeds however took the lead on 17 minutes after Dexter Blackstock flicked a header on and Ross McCormack slotted home to make it 1-0 to Leeds. As the rain continued to fall Charlton pressed for an equaliser.
On 27 minutes Simon Church went down under a challenge in the box and the referee Mr Stroud said no penalty. Right on half time Dexter Blackstock was booked for kicking the ball away. The resulting free kick was cleared to the edge of the area where Cameron Stewart spectacularly volleyed the ball in to the back of the net to make it 1-1.
The second half started with Leeds making a substitution with Zaliukas replacing the injured Wootton. On 46 minutes Danny Pugh drew a foul from Callum Harriott and the referee pointed to the spot. Ross McCormack stepped up and place a right footed shot straight down the middle. 2-1 Leeds.
On 59 minutes Johnny Jackson crossed for Dorian Dervite whose shot went high and wide. Yann Kermorgant replaced Callum Harriott and it seemed to breathe new life into Charlton. In the 69th minute Simon Church’s hard work down the left was rewarded when he crossed for skipper Jackson to stab the ball home from close range to make it 2-2.
McCormack completed his hat trick on 72 minutes from a free kick. The Charlton defence seemed to stand still and the Scottish international hit a right foot shot past Hamer into the top right had corner. 3-2 Leeds. Matt Smith replaced Dexter Blackstock in the 75th minute.
Chasing the game Marvin Sordell and Bradley Pritchard replaced Cameron Stewart and Lawrie Wilson respectively in the 85th minute. It was Leeds who had the last word though. Rodolph Austin was taken down by Rhoys Wiggins on the edge of the area. Wiggins was booked for his offence and Ross McCormack stood over the free kick.
McCormack stepped up and hit a right footed shot high past the despairing Hamer into the top left hand corner. 4-2 Leeds with all 4 Leeds goals being scored by McCormack. Charlton rallied again but too late and the game ended 4-2 in the Yorkshire team’s favour.
A quick dash back to the press room and we were waiting for the manager to enter the press room. Chris Powell was the first and summed the game up by saying "It was a strange game because for 70 minutes we were well in there. “But McCormack showed his quality. Conditions play a part but you have to be very diligent when you are defending in your own box. "We showed some character to come back but McCormack was the major difference in the end between two well-matched teams."
Brian McDermott the Leeds manager said "We've been trying to find the best position for Ross because if you give him chances he will score. “I'm delighted for him because when they pulled it back to 2-2 it could have gone either way. "Is he good enough for the Premier League? Absolutely. But we won't worry about that yet - hopefully he can keep doing that for us."
Press conference over it was time to leave. My thanks to Peter Finch and all who made me feel extremely welcome at Charlton Athletic Football Club. I had a marvellous day and learnt a lot about the side of football which no one really knows about. They only see the end results on the television, on the internet or in the newspapers. The Valley is certainly somewhere that I would like to visit again sometime.
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