The Maryon Park Community Garden has been hit by the pandemic
The Royal Oak on Charlton Lane is holding a pub quiz on Wednesday 24 November to raise funds for the Maryon Park Community Garden. Quizmaster PAUL BREEN explains more…
The Maryon Park Community Garden is a food growing space in a reclaimed area of the park which had previously been neglected and abandoned. Thanks to a group of dedicated local volunteers, steered largely by community stalwarts Tim and Edna Anderson, the food growing space has been radically transformed in the past decade. It is now a thriving social space that brings together people from all parts of our very diverse community. Even through Covid, it has served as a source of social sustenance for members.
Unfortunately, with lockdowns and so on, the garden has been unable to host many open days or public events in recent times. Therefore, this is a very worthy cause and support is very much appreciated. Incidentally, this is also the first pub quiz in The Royal Oak since it came under management earlier this year. New owner Kevin Latta has been very keen to participate actively in the life of the community and is looking forward to welcoming regulars and visitors alike on Wednesday 24th.
The quiz kicks off at 7.30pm with up to five members in each team, at a cost of £5 per player. There is also food available in the pub and people are welcome to come as early as possible. Indeed, in these times, that is probably advisable as every effort will be made to make the venue Covid safe. Quiz attendees are advised to bring masks for use when outside of their seated areas.
And as a taster, what famous 1960s film was shot in Maryon Park? So easy not even any need to answer here! Expect the difficulty of questions to be blown up significantly.
Remembrance ceremonies will be taking place this Saturday at Charlton’s two war memorials, outside St Luke’s Church and at Charlton Cemetery. The Royal British Legion has asked that anyone who attends wear a face covering.
Local ceremonies will take place at:
10.45am: War Memorial at Maze Hill, SE3
11.15am: War Memorial at St. John’s Church, Stratheden Road, SE3
11.45am: War Memorial outside St. Luke’s Church, The Village, SE7
12.15am: War Memorial in Cemetery Lane, SE7
Greenwich borough’s main ceremony will take place in Eltham High Street on Sunday. More details on the Greenwich Council website.
The Addicks notched up their first FA Cup win in three years yesterday – but managed to make hard work of it for much of the match. KEVIN NOLAN breathes a sigh of relief.
Still on the right side of 40, Johnnie Jackson has more than a little of the old school about him.
He’s no dyed-in-the-wool reactionary but comes across as a straightforward bloke who calls it as he sees it. And when he claimed during the week to respect the FA Cup and all it once stood for, he was taken at face value. His own failure to make it as far as the semi-finals apparently still rankles.
For this first-round tie against Havant & Waterlooville, who currently sit in 10th place in the National League South table, Jackson boldly named a side which featured nine changes from the team which went toe-to-toe with Rotherham United three days previously.
Akin Famewo and Jayden Stockley were the sole survivors but all nine newcomers were unarguably first team squad members.
On paper, at least, his team had more than enough about it to see off H&W comfortably. In no way was Jackson showing disrespect to either Saturday’s visitors or the competition itself.
But while the one-sided scoreline ultimately vindicated his judgement, it took Charlton until deep into the second half to demonstrate their pedigree. And until they did, they were bloody awful. Dreadful. Woeful. Pitiful. Lots of other words which fail me now. Provide your own if you like.
Pokerfaced on the sideline, the Addicks’ youthful boss was facing a gauntlet of disapproving hindsight as an inconvenient replay at the romantically named Draper Tools Community Stadium loomed over him.
Then his inspired introduction of Elliot Lee and Ben Watson for the misfiring Albie Morgan and Harry Arter changed everything. Suddenly the clouds rolled away, Charlton clicked and the Hawks abruptly turned into sitting ducks.
🔑 Watch all the key moments from the Addicks' FA Cup victory over @HWFCOfficial with some quick-fire highlights 💥
The tempo changed and so did the mood among 2,991 home fans, a meagre gathering which drew the disapproval of H&W manager Paul Doswell, who had been looking forward to a nice little earner as well as an enjoyable day in the capital. He seemed more disappointed by the gate than the result.
The first half can be dealt with briskly. Possession was hogged by the hosts who passed their way painstakingly over the halfway line, horsed around for a while, then headed back to their own territory where they set up again before repeating the process.
There were innocuous shots at goal from Charlie Kirk, with deputy right back Sean Clare the pick of a poor bunch, Arter and Morgan. But the nearest anyone came to a goal was visiting defender Josh Passley, whose shot/cross caused Stephen Henderson brief concern before drifting harmlessly off target. Rarely was an interval more keenly anticipated.
Jackson’s half-time talk was no doubt slightly salty in tone. It certainly galvanised Corey Blackett-Taylor who, after spending the first session in Joe Newton’s pocket, began to terrorise the left back. Electric acceleration set up a venomous drive which grazed the bar.
And when Stockley headed Arter’s cross tamely wide, the Addicks were showing signs of belated life, interrupted only by the fine save Henderson needed to make from Jake McCarthy’s header.
With the Hawks cheerfully wasting as much time as they dared, a daunting midweek trip to Havant – or is it Waterlooville? – was becoming likely. The visitors in the Jimmy Seed Stand were becoming cheekier by the minute when the roof fell in on them.
The first hammer blow was delivered by Josh Davison, whose task in heading home Kirk’s perfect cross at the far post was simplicity itself. With H&W’s rapidly tiring defence breached, a tide of red shirts flooded through.
💬 "I'm really pleased to win the game, but credit to Havant, they made things difficult for us for long periods."
Watch what Johnnie Jackson had to say following this afternoon's FA Cup victory over @HWFCOfficial…
Old pro Watson had brought with him a sensible, steadying influence; Lee was more dynamic and began to run his bewildered victims ragged. His nimble feet inside the visitors’ penalty area suckered skipper Joe Oastler into lunging in to bring him down and Stockley claimed his ninth goal of the season from the spot.
Nine minutes later, the scorer moved into double figures by prodding home from two yards after Lee’s whiplashed drive crashed off a post and was kept alive by Pape Souare.
The issue was well and truly decided at that point but there was still time for the most romantic conclusion to a troublesome afternoon. It was scored by Mason Burstow, who celebrated the signing of his first professional contract with his first senior goal. He’s unlikely to forget either the goal or the quality of the strike which produced it.
Having replaced Stockley on 86 minutes, 18 year-old Burstow burst over the halfway line, tearing past both exhausted defenders and supporting teammates, with only one thing on his mind. And that was to hammer an unstoppable drive past Mannion into the keeper’s inviting net.
The first of many, we trust… they don’t all have to be so spectacular, Mason.
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Andrew Donkin is up for the award with co-author Tracey Turner and illustrator Libby VanderPloeg
Charlton-based author Andrew Donkin is up for a prestigious book award – but he faces stiff competition from Marcus Rashford and Sir Paul McCartney.
A History of the World in 25 Cities – written by Donkin and Tracey Turner, illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg and produced with curators at the British Museum, is on the shortlist for the Waterstones Book of the Year award.
Aimed at all ages, it takes readers on a tour of the globe, taking them to every continent on Earth, from the walled city of Jericho built over 10,000 years ago, to the modern-day metropolis of Tokyo.
Donkin said he and Turner were “delighted” to be up for the award. The shortlist also includes McCartney’s The Lyrics and Rashford’s You Are A Champion, while previous winners include Sally Rooney for Normal People and Greta Thunberg’s No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference.
He added: “This book has been a labour of love for us both, brought to fruition working with the wonderful curators at the British Museum and Libby. It’s a joy to see it flying off bookshop shelves and being enjoyed by young and old readers alike.
“I love a detailed map to pore over, and what better than 25 beautiful maps packed with facts that plot the development of human civilisation from the very first city, Jerico, through Rome, Athens, Venice, Paris, New York and of course our own London. It’s a book for everyone from 11 to 99.”
Readers can take a trip around the world thanks to Libby VanderPloeg’s illustrations
Asked about the shortlist, he joked: “The shortlist is amazing. It’s slightly surreal to suddenly find yourself up against other full time professional authors like Marcus Rashford and Paul McCartney.”
He said: “Children’s books account for 30 per cent of money taken in bookshops, but get around 5 per cent of feature and review space in newspapers and magazines. Double Booked is a chatty, family-friendly podcast for anyone who likes children’s books, graphic novels, books, bookshops, libraries, librarians, second0hand bookshops or second-hand librarians.”
Charlton’s revival under Johnnie Jackson continued last night with a hard-fought draw against form team Rotherham United. KEVIN NOLAN reports from The Valley.
Fresh from demolishing Doncaster Rovers 4-0 – an impressive result which built on their backs-to-the wall heroics at Sunderland – resurgent Charlton confronted sterner opposition at The Valley on Tuesday in their third test under the youthful stewardship of Johnnie Jackson. Rotherham United were themselves riding a wave of confidence after whipping faltering Sunderland and could justifiably claim to be League One’s outstanding team.
Something clearly had to give unless, of course, they settled for a point apiece. And that’s how it turned out – but not before the dust settled on this full-blooded, often controversial meeting and left both sides with nothing but mutual respect for each other.
Most of the controversy centred around the frankly bizarre refereeing of Scott Oldham, who teetered dangerously close to losing control of a fiercely competitive but never violent encounter. It’s only fair to say that Mr Oldham operated throughout on an equal opportunities basis. His democratic incompetence affected both sides and possibly evened out over a hectic, entertaining evening. If that sounds like damning with faint praise, we’ll settle for that.
Mr Oldham started well, his fifth-minute booking of Jayden Stockley for a lusty challenge on Daniel Barlaser was entirely the right decision. Shame he failed to apply the same letter of the law to Michael Ihiekwe early in the second half for an agricultural challenge on Alex Gilbey. Already booked for an earlier offence, Ihiekwe’s fate seemed sealed to everyone but our understanding official, who contented himself with a stern wigging and a meaningless free kick. Relieved Millers manager Paul Warne reacted by almost immediately substituting his errant defender.
Warne’s South Yorkshiremen edged the first half without particularly troubling Craig McGillivray. Half-chances fell to Barlaser, who drove narrowly wide, then Ihiekwe whose close range header veered off target after Akin Famewo’s unwitting deflection fell kindly to him.
For the Addicks, Conor Washington’s glancing header from Chris Gunter’s cross missed by inches; a crisp volley by Diallang Jaiyesimi, named by Jackson as replacement for injury victim Jonathan Leko, tested Josh Vickers’ handling.
Washington’s tame header at Vickers appeared to have closed out a tense first half which, unhappily for the locals, ended in disaster.
Deep into two minutes of added time, United right-back Wes Harding prepared to deliver the latest in a series of long throws from the right corner flag. Instead, he shovelled a questionably foul throw to Oliver Rathbone, accepted the return and hammered over a cross which came perilously to curving in, then out, of play.
At the near post, centre-back Richard Wood, still upfield in anticipation of a long delivery may – or may not – have knocked the ball back to scorer Mickel Miller with an illegal arm.
All three complaints – the iffy throw, the fluctuating cross and Wood’s dodgy assist – were passionately disputed by a posse of angry Addicks but Oldham was unmoved. By cocking a deaf ‘un, he added another temporary handicap to the fleeting myopia which blinded him to Ihiekwe’s later villainy.
It had been vital that Charlton reached the break still level but Miller’s strike was a discouraging development. United had the goal they intended to defend by fair means and less than fair means where necessary.
Employing every trick in the book and some they’d invented themselves, they reduced the second period to a stop-start, stuttering process. The on-field treatment and painstaking departure of Miller took over three minutes, which made nonsense of Oldham’s award of five added minutes. Timewasting pays. Pass the word.
Clearly playing for their caretaker boss, whose bottom line demands “they play for the shirt, that they give everything out on that pitch”, the Addicks “gave the supporters something to be proud of” as they sought an equaliser. Gilbey’s superb pass sent Washington through but an advancing Vickers did enough to smother his shot, with Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s crucial block of Stockley’s follow-up effort typifying the visitors’ determination to hang onto what they had.
At the other end, McGillivray kept his side in the hunt by smartly parrying Michael Smith’s angled blockbuster, then producing a stupendous effort to keep out Freddie Ladapo’s corner-bound header when it appeared to have already beaten him. McGillivray was to be rewarded for his excellence seven minutes before regulation time expired.
Appreciated by fans for his never-say-die spirit, Washington ran on to Elliot Lee’s lofted delivery and was confronted by Edmonds-Green as he moved over the 18-yard line. At which point, Oldham adopted a “boys will be boys” attitude to the Irishman’s er, let’s say hefty removal of the defender from his path. Possibly feeling he owed Charlton one, he beamed benignly as Washington let fly and found the net with the help of a wicked deflection off Wood.
Bless him, he had no way of knowing what the goal meant to Jackson, his gallant men and a profoundly relieved Valley. No hard feelings, Scott, but don’t hurry back. Once is more than enough.
💬 "The aim is to stay in the team, keep playing and keep scoring."
Two in two for @WashingtonConor in front of the Valley faithful ✌️
He spoke to CharltonTV following last night's draw with @OfficialRUFC…
Jackson, meanwhile, is moulding a group of talented individuals into a smoothly functioning unit. Clearly no tinkerer, he named the same side which routed Doncaster, with Jaiyesimi for the injured Jonathan Leko an enforced change.
Just as clearly, he feels that two games within three days are negotiable for well-paid professionals, with the admirable Jason Pearce making the case with a second, spirited performance against an aggressive, physical side which included the 6’4″ Michael Smith.
Added to which, we might have seen the last of that ponderous playing out from the back. When you can play through energetic midfielders like Lee, Gilbey and George Dobson, it makes sense to trust them, rather than put pressure on defenders to start the ball rolling. Each to his own, so to speak…
Referee: Scott Oldham. Att: 12,592 (371 visiting).
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Full-time rugby has returned to the historic Rectory Field, five years after Blackheath FC upped sticks and moved to Eltham.
Askeans, who play in the Kent 2 league, the tenth tier of English rugby union, have signed a long-term deal with Blackheath Sports Club to move into the ground on Charlton Road, and are already making themselves at home.
Blackheath moved its first-team matches out of the Rectory Field at the end of the 2015-16 season, saying it needed to make the move to ensure its financial stability as it battled for promotion to the Championship, rugby union’s second tier.
The much-loved old ground staged international matches in its heyday, and was also a venue for Kent county cricket until 1972.
Now Askesans’ move brings regular rugby back to the ground – and the club is keen for the community to get involved. DAVID SHUTE takes up the story….
We are delighted that we have now found a permanent home at the Rectory Field in Blackheath. But it’s so much more than somewhere for us to play – we enjoy great facilities – for a start there’s 2 fully licensed long bars (I knew you’d be pleased).
We also enjoy excellent changing rooms, a seriously big stand for spectators, several function areas, a great social side and even a pool table (for anyone who the ref sends for an early bath).
In addition to all that, the ground is steeped in a long and rich history starting way back in the 1880s.
It was originally developed for cricket, football and lawn tennis and was, for many years, home of Blackheath rugby club. Five years ago Blackheath moved to a new home in Well Hall, Eltham.
For several years the Rectory Field only hosted odd games – a great shame for such a prestigious and first class ground that was once used for international sporting events. England played matches here before Twickenham was developed.
Back in the day the All Blacks, Springboks, Australian and Maori touring sides all graced the Rectory Field pitch. It was also the Kent County home ground.
But the rich history is not just rugby, the ground has hosted senior cricket and county games and is now the home in the summer months for Blackheath Cricket Club.
Other facilities include tennis courts and a new commercial gym.
Most importantly – rugby is back at the Rectory Field.
We have already settled in and we look forward to calling it our home for many years to come.
We’ve also been made very welcome and so will you be – if you’re interested in joining – players of all standards and supporters (of any standard) can call Ian (Director of Rugby) on 07957 280530.
Askeans’ next home match is against Dartford Valley on Saturday 6 November at 2pm: there is no charge for admission.
Johnnie Jackson’s Addicks registered a second successive win yesterday, delivering a convincing demolition of Doncaster Rovers. KEVIN NOLAN reports from a much happier Valley.
It’s probably prudent to dial down the superlatives in describing Charlton’s ruthless destruction of Doncaster Rovers, with bang-in-form Rotherham United due at The Valley on Tuesday evening.
Rovers, after all, were one of only two teams below Charlton going into this early season six-pointer and provided solid evidence that they were exactly where they belonged. They were, frankly, feeble and were lucky to head back to South Yorkshire with only a four-goal defeat to show for their puny efforts.
The otherwise excellent Jayden Stockley scored the Addicks’ third goal but should have claimed the match ball for his first hat-trick for the club. His second half finishing, particularly on the end of a couple of early substitute Diallang Jaiyesimi’s precise deliveries, was uncharacteristically wayward.
Rotherham will be a vastly different proposition, especially after mauling Sunderland 5-1 on Saturday. But they will be visiting a side which, under Johnnie Jackson’s stewardship, is gelling into a cohesive outfit featuring genuinely outstanding individuals.
There were several candidates for man-of-the-match, among them the aforementioned Jaiyesimi, chip off a familiar block Elliot Lee and buccaneering midfield marauder Alex Gilbey. Old sweat Jason Pearce, stepping in for long-term absentee Sam Lavelle, also laid claim to the honours but it was George Dobson, a forgotten man by Nigel Adkins, who supplied the nuts and bolts of a near perfect team performance.
Dobson made a tentative start to his Charlton career and was quickly discarded by Adkins as the team was dismantled and put together again in bewildering fashion week after week. No player seemed certain of his place as the changes were rung and Dobson’s form undeniably dipped. There was an accomplished player in there somewhere and Jackson wasted little time in recognising his talent.
Against Doncaster, Dobson’s was arguably the definitive box-to-box contribution. Never at a standstill, he tackled, intercepted and blocked with seemingly inexhaustible energy, Breaking up Donny’s admittedly limp forays into home territory with almost metronomic regularity, he distributed reliably and sensibly and surely nailed down a starting role in Jackson’s forthcoming plans. It takes one to know one and the caretaker manager, as a dynamic midfielder himself, is hardly likely to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Lee was almost equally impressive and began his afternoon with a cracking volley which left Pontus Dahlberg helpless but was cleared off the line by skipper Tom Anderson. On 21 minutes, Lee’s luck changed for the better when his in-swinging free kick from the left touchline ruffled Stockley’s blond locks before making its untouched way into the opposite corner. Charlton were off and running; before the interval, they doubled their lead. Gliding into enemy territory, Dobson chose his moment to send Gilbey surging into Rover’s penalty area with Anderson in close attendance.
Shaking off his pursuer, Gilbey practically invited an illegal challenge, an outfoxed Anderson duly obliged and referee Tim Robinson, after momentary hesitation, pointed to the spot. Conor Washington decorated another of his selfless performances by burying the penalty in the bottom right corner.
💬 "It was a performance to be proud of…"
Watch Johnnie Jackson's full post-match reaction with CharltonTV…
As the Addicks smelled blood, Ben Purrington set up Washington for a near post blockbuster which Dahlberg bravely blocked, then fired a chance engineered by Dobson and Washington, wastefully straight at the overworked keeper. Shortly after the break, the twinkle toes of Jaiyesimi stepped inside Kyle Knoyle near the touchline and delivered a left-footed centre, which was headed wastefully into Dahlberg’s grateful hands by Stockley.
Rovers were continuing to live precariously and Matt Smith’s foul on Lee near the left touchline gave his victim the opportunity to whip another of his wickedly dipping free kicks into the goal area. Dahlberg awkwardly shovelled the ball against the predatory Stockley and Charlton’s top scorer claimed his sixth league goal of an already productive season.
Sure by now of only their fourth victory, the Addicks turned the screw on their outclassed victims. An almost gratuitous fourth goal was added by Purrington, a sound defender who is, himself, no stranger to the scoresheet. Closing in stealthily as Jaiyesimi floated over his latest killer cross, the left back looped a header back across Dahlberg and in off the keeper’s left hand post.
Charlton were still insatiable and Stockley’s diving header, from yet another of Jaiyesimi’s inch-perfect deliveries, was miraculously conjured against his bar and safety by Dahlberg. And even Jackson’s rampant side had to settle for what they had – a four-goal thumping of comprehensively beaten visitors, who failed to engage Craig McGillivray even once.
It’s unlikely that fellow-Yorkshiremen Rotherham will be such a soft touch. Two weeks ago, they would have been warmly favoured to comfortably conquer Adkins’ stuttering side. But two weeks in football is a long time. Something tells me Charlton might – just might – be into something good.
Charlton: McGillivray, Gunter, Famewo, Pearce, Purrington, Dobson, Gilbey, Lee (Clare 78), Leko (Jaiyesimi 15), Stockley,
Washington (Davison 84). Not used: Henderson, Blackett-Taylor, Watson, Elewere. Booked: Purrington.
Referee: Tim Robinson. Att: 16,449 (589 visiting).
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The Charlton Champion 