Well back in 1995 Steve Gritt had just left Charlton as joint manager leaving Alan Curbishley solely in charge. Charlton placed several adverts in the press for the position of First Team Coach.
On the 13th July I received a message from an old work colleague, Terry Hughes to check the fax machine. I did and then sat down in shock as to what I had just read.
Dear Sir,
I wish to apply for the job recently advertised in the press for ‘an experienced first team coach driver’.
I am widely experienced in the area of coach driving, having held my PSV licence for over twelve years. My licence is clean, though I did receive an endorsement for taking a Croydon Council double-decker bus under a low bridge at Purley. Luckily no-one was hurt. You probably saw me on the news. August 1992.
Driving is my second love, after supporting Charlton, and I can claim to know the country’s motorways like the ‘back of my head’. I have driven extensively across the country for company’s such as Group 4 and BR (obviously the BR job did not involve much road driving, well none actually). Other driving jobs have included Despatch rider (mountain bike), taxi driver and forklift truck operator (I have excellent reversing skills).
I can also guarantee my services will be available at atny time of day or night, suffering from acute insomnia as I do, and have for the past ten years, ever since the Falklands Crisis (which I was not a part of incidentally). In fact, I have slept only eight times since 1982. The last time being on the approach to a low bridge at Purley.
I’m sure you will agree I have excellent pedigree for the post and I look forward to hearing from you in the not too distant future.
Yours (with crossed fingers)
Mr Timothy (nice but dimothy ) Martin
Two weeks later I received a standard reply from the club but signed by Alan Curbishley.
Dear Mr Martin,Thank you for applying for the vacant First Team Coach’s position at Charlton Athletic Football Club.
Firstly, I must apologise for the delay in replying to your application. This is due to the fact that when I was appointed Manager on 15 June, I immediately went on holiday for three weeks and I did not return to England until 9 July to start pre-season training on the 10th.
I am sorry to inform you that you have not made the short list for this position. However, I hope this does not deter you from applying for a coaching or a managing post with other clubs, and I hope it is not too long before an opportunity presents itself.
Once again, thank you for your interest in our Club, and I wish you all the best for the future.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Curbishley
Team Manager
I seem to remeber that only about 10 people had applied for the job and I was one of them. But now you know the reason behind the legend !
