Charlton Athletic have sold over 30,000 tickets so far for their League One play-off final against Sunderland at Wembley on Sunday.
It is a remarkable show of support for Lee Bowyer’s men as Addick fans put their concerns over owner Roland Duchatelet to one side to get behind the team in numbers.
The feelgood factor is definitely returning to South London under Bowyer’s effective management. Charlton reached the showpiece final following a 4-4 aggregate draw with Doncaster Rovers at the semi-final stage. The Addicks won the penalty shoot-out with Dillon Phillips the hero between the posts. The victory sparked a jubilant pitch invasion at the Valley from supporters at last tasting success after so long in the doldrums.
The atmosphere is likely to be red-hot at Wembley with Sunderland also set to bring hordes of supporters down to London for the crucial clash. Wembley is well on course for a sell-out with both sides’ striving for a return to the Championship after several troubled years during which both clubs have had there share of off-field problems.
Many Charlton fans soon reacted with excitement and pride at the announcement, with some still trying to get hold of a ticket on overworked phone lines and websites.
Some fans questioned how the numbers betrayed the protests against the owner, but on the whole, most Charlton fans quite rightly seemed to be putting their troubles to one side and enjoying the sense of joy, pride and anticipation that such a big game brings.
Here is a selection of their responses.
https://twitter.com/LTOfficial_93/status/1130439076870590464
Fantastic support what a following! With all that’s going on behind the scenes Charlton fans are the best !
— Kevin Russell (@mgbgtmidnight) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/SwanseaNathan/status/1130533493312765953
https://twitter.com/MillieRExo/status/1130435660630974464
I love my club
— Sam Wheatland (@SWheatlandCAFC) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/OfficialHangryZ/status/1130444342869544961
Leeds would’ve sold more
— H (@Charlton_H) May 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/stevenwpeterson/status/1130545335942696967
Amazing support
— Troy farth (@FarthTroy) May 20, 2019
I love my club
— Sam Wheatland (@SWheatlandCAFC) May 20, 2019
