Last Saturday the occupants of row W, block G in the Alan Curbishley Stand celebrated with CAST member Margaret Perkins her 76th year of watching Charlton at The Valley.

Margaret attended her first game as a teenager in October 1950. She was part of a crowd of 63,539 which witnessed a Charlton team including Sam Bartram, Benny Fenton and Charlie Vaughan lose 1-3 to Arsenal.

Revenge was exacted four months later at Highbury when a Charlton team including Hans Jeppson became the first team to score five goals against Arsenal at their home ground since 1928. In front of a crowd of 54,903 Jeppson scored a hat trick in the Addicks' 5-2 victory and, according to Colin Cameron, was presented with the white ball which was used in the second half. Cameron also records that "fighting broke out among the rival fans" but we have no reason to believe that Margaret was involved.

Before the game against Norwich Lin Woolgar-Neil presented Margaret with a bunch of flowers and a card signed by Nathan Jones and the squad. Long-suffering Margaret then watched another disappointing 1-3 defeat but assured us that she will be back in her seat supporting the team at the next home game, whatever the weather.