Knocked out of the FA Cup by a League One team beaten in nine of their previous ten games. Thrashed 5-0 by a relegation rival. Hit for six at Hull. Overall score 1-13, and the goal we did score came too late to be of any significance. And that is just the shambles on the pitch. Has it ever been worse?
The nightmare at Hull was our worst defeat in 32 years. But when, on 1st October 1983, we lost 0-7 at Brighton we had at least managed a 0-0 draw at Oldham the previous week. The Brighton debacle was the second time we had shipped seven in 1983. In February we had gone down 1-7 at Burnley but there was the excuse of having two men sent off and five of the goals coming in the last fifteen minutes.
The start of the 63/64 season wasn't too great. The week 24th to 31st August saw us play three games losing 1-6 at Southampton, 1-3 at Preston and 2-4 at home to Bolton. Aggregate of 4- 13 and bottom of Division 2. Amazingly, the team managed a twelve game unbeaten run during the next two months and finished fourth at the end of the season.
The week of 4th-11th October 1975 saw two heavy beatings - we lost 0-5 at Bolton and 0-4 at Bristol City but the team were eventually to finish ninth.
January 1980 wasn't great either. Our 0-6 FA Cup humbling at Wrexham was followed by a 0-1 home defeat by Orient and a fifth consecutive game without a goal. We were to finish five points adrift at the bottom of the second division with manager Andy Nelson acknowledging the inevitability of relegation before the end of March.
Older connoisseurs of disastrous weeks will of course point to the 1956-57 season and, in particular, the week 25th August to 1st September 1956. Having lost their opening two games the team were then beaten 1-2 at The Valley by Luton. On the Wednesday evening they lost 0-4 at Leeds. There would have been little confidence on the journey up to Roker Park on Saturday 1st September and, sure enough, we succumbed 1-8 in Jimmy Seed's last game in charge. Aggregate for the week of 2- 14 but at least this was in the First Division.
November 14th 1959 was a tough day to be a Charlton supporter when we lost 1-11 at Aston Villa. Nevertheless, the previous Saturday we had beaten Sunderland 3-1 and on the following we drew with Lincoln. So, compared to the last seven days, quite a productive week.
What made the pain of Saturday even harder to bear was the news from Ashton Gate of Bristol City's late goal to beat Middlesbrough. Not only three points for a relegation rival, but also a clear signal of the resilience and spirit so lacking in SE7 at the moment. Oh yes, and MK Dons won as well.
In the week when Karel Fraeye became our fifth coaching departure in two years, our only hope would seem to stem from the wise words of our CEO who explained to dumbfounded supporters in November that the appointments and sackings had "proved to be the right decision every time. We always improved our ranking and results". Our breath is held.
On balance, I think last week was the all round worst week ever. But maybe next week can rival it?