105-year-old Charlton fan Jack Simmons returned to The Valley on Saturday to watch the Addicks' 1-1 draw with Stockport County.
Simmons, who has devotedly followed Charlton for more than 90 years, was presented with a #PrideOfTheValley award back in 2019 in celebration of his 100th birthday.
“It’s very good to be back,” smiled Simmons. “It brings back a lot of memories, most of them good! It’s very nice. The Valley itself is looking great, as I always imagine it does.
“There’s no secrets to it! My sister, who was a couple of years older than me, passed away a couple of years ago at 105. We were both very fortunate. Both she and I had nothing wrong with us until our later years. Some people are glad to see the end of it as they are struggling with health, but both my sister and I were incredibly fortunate.”
Simmons became a Charlton fan at the age of 10, visiting The Valley on a weekly basis where he would head into the ground at the interval as entry was free.
“I had an aunt who lived at the bottom of Charlton Church Lane, opposite the shops. It became a doctor’s surgery and as far as I know it still is one.
"I always enjoyed going there - if I couldn’t afford to get in ahead of kick-off I could always go in at half-time as they opened the gates for us! I used to see the second half, almost every week, for every home game. Nobody challenged me!”
The Addicks return to The Valley on Saturday to host Wrexham. Click here to purchase your tickets.
