We sat on the beer patio overlooking the Thames, with the Thames Barrier one way and the Millennium Dome (now sporting a massive Olympic bid advert) the other.
It was a scorching hot day and everyone was in the mood for watching 4,000 Palace fans suffer relegation. Curbishley had upset the locals by saying the Charlton fans shouldn't forget that without the ground share at Selhurst Charlton would have gone bust!
This slightly annoyed many Charlton fans who feel like many of us do about Gillingham! The pub was soon heaving with Charlton, it was soon 2.30 and time to walk up to the ground.
We hardly saw any Palace fans, most arriving by train taken directly to the away end. Lots of pubs in Blackheath had been closed on Police advice so many groups of lads just wandering about.
We were in the West Stand (big main stand), down towards the away fans (which was nice). The girl next to me was a Palace fan and so was the family behind us, which made the day even better.
The game saw Palace desperate for a win, they were the hungrier side and had most of the ball. To be honest they didn't look dangerous until out of the blue Routledge struck a superb shot from about 25 yards which Kiely palmed past the post, fantastic save.
The only real chance before that saw a Charlton defender block a shot after a scramble, Palace should really have scored. So 30 minutes gone and then Charlton went 1-0 up. Hughes latched on to a superb through ball from Kisjishev and somehow his shot was in off the post.
The place went mental, they really did want to send Palace down. The song they then started singing was superb, to the tune of "show me the way to Amarrilo"
they just sang
"tra la la lar la
tra la la lar la
tra la la lar la
we sent the palace down"
So half time and it was looking OK. Southampton and WBA drawing, Norwich relegated, so 2 from 3.
Second half and once again Palace took the game to Charlton. About 10 minutes into the second half and on came Dougie Freeman. 2 minutes later, Fortune heads a Palace goal kick straight up in the air, Freeman is in behind him and as cool as anything lobs Kiely and its 1-1, his first Premiership goal of the season.
The away end is almost on the pitch, before they have finished celebrating the end is lined with riot Police.
Suddenly another big roar from the Palace fans, Southampton are 1-2, now they are singing one goal we only need one goal, WBA are 1-0 up, so its 1 from 2.
Freeman then breaks free, his cross is blocked and the referee decides it was with Fortunes hand. Johnson makes it 2-1 to Palace and Liz and I are tempted to go as Charlton looked uninterested on the pitch, unlike the fans who wanted the players to show commitment in a local derby!
West Brom are 2-0 up but Palace are safe at the moment. The Palace fans are celebrating, they think they have the game wrapped up and are safe. They party more and more and get louder and louder, but
...........Charlton finally get hold of the ball and attack, but it come to nothing, the tension builds, Charlton break again, it's a free kick near the corner flag. The cross is floated in, the Palace keeper in his ridiculous pyjama bottoms flaps and Fortune thunders in a header.
The Charlton fans are on there feet celebrating, the away end is silent. Oh yes, come on Charlton!
Palace attack, it comes to Freeman, he slams in a shot but Kiely saves superbly, the ball is still free but hooked clear. Palace have one last attack but Powell is offside. As the keeper goes to take the kick the Referee blows the whistle.
The Palace fans are silent statues, the Charlton fans mocking them. The girl next to me leaves in tears, the family behind had left at 2-2. Palace were safe with 8 minutes left, but let it slip, what a shame.
The Charlton players came back for a lap of honour which annoyed the Palace fans left in the ground.
So it was back to the pub and Charlton celebrated as if they had won the league. The lads and lasses we know said it was one of the best days ever supporting Charlton, everyone shook our hands and wished us luck against them next season!
Mark R
Final report for 2004-5 and remember "Brighton staying up and Palace going down again....."