Sharon's Off !

The news that Darren, 'Sharon' Ambrose is due to be joining our local friends from Selhurst was greeted by an almost universal shrug of the shoulders.

Nobody can deny that Darren has had a rather tricky time of it when it comes to his relationship with the Charlton support.

He arrived in South London from Newcastle with plenty to prove. Bobby Robson had raided his old club Ipswich for what seemed like a fantastic player for the future. Unfortunately for Darren, the Geordies only seem to be able to wait five minutes before their team, (or manager) are cast aside in favour of the new flavour of the week for failing to deliver their rightful place as supreme beings of the universe.

Both Robson and Ambrose were to leave, Robson being particularly badly treated. So, Darren started off for Charlton with a bang, showing us all what he is capable of, by being sent off during his debut at the Stadium of Light.

I always found it quite ironic that the first experience most of us had of our new pacy player seemed to be of a ruthless hothead who went crashing into rather unnecessary tackles.

We were to wait another two seasons before Darren went in for another 50 : 50 challenge.

He acquired a reputation for being a bit of a softy. He was nowhere near as bad as our greyhound like Danish winger in this respect but no amount of tattoos, marriages or children could rid him of  being compared, unfavourably, to a rather delicate flower by many at the Valley.

We were unfair to Darren. He played through the pain apparently and it wasn't his fault that we expected too much. However, he had the tendency to go missing in games and though obviously a very skillful player, his final ball was sometimes woeful.

I shall remember Sharon for two things. 

Firstly the sublime goal he scored from distance against Manchester United facing the North stand. It was a peach and no doubt figures heavily, from a multitude of angles, on the DVD his agent has for emergencies.

Secondly, I shall remember the reports of him failing to turn up on time for a home game due to being caught in traffic. That's just SOOO Charlton!

Can you imagine that happening to a Manchester United player?

Actually, I've just thought of Rio Ferdinand so scrub that but you get my point. He was like us. He wasn't a fancy superstar. He got caught in traffic. Oh how I laughed!

So, farewell Sharon. It's difficult to say that you will be missed as you have played no more than a bit part in our lives over the last season. I wish you well and have to agree that any player willing to wave his appearance fee to help out his hard up club can't be all bad. 

Darren Ambrose : Casual Rating. 

 I would rate Darren as a Lonsdale polo shirt. On the face of it, not too different from a Lacoste but just not quite 'there'. 

Totally acceptable for taking home to mum but never going to make much of an impact when you need to make that big impression.

Under different circumstances Ambrose may prove to be a more than solid Blue Harbour sweater but he's never going to be the full Pringle.