[email protected]
Ninety plus 4. Point out these three phrases to a Charlton Athletic fan and they’ll immediately know the second that’s being talked about.
Patrick Bauer. Wembley. The successful purpose within the 2019 League One play-off remaining.
Identical to Clive Mendonca’s hat-trick in 1998 on the outdated Wembley, together with Sasa Ilic’s penalty shootout heroics, it’s carved deeply into the Addicks’ historical past.
Now comes the possibility for a brand new hero to step ahead for the South London membership once they face Leyton Orient on Sunday afternoon.
Bauer was in the suitable place on the proper time to ship them as much as the Championship six years in the past. However this weekend the German defender, freshly launched by Preston North Finish, can be away on his summer time break. He plans to tune in and watch the drama unfold.
The 32-year-old was capable of attend the semi-final second leg victory over Wycombe Wanderers earlier this month.
Bauer was a part of a legends parade that additionally included Lee Bowyer, Chris Solly and Jason Pearce – in addition to members of the 1987 play-off successful staff which defeated Leeds United to remain within the outdated First Division.
Too usually in latest seasons the run-in temper has been moribund at The Valley.
Not this time although.
Towards Wycombe there was a crowd of 25,722 ramping up the amount. Charlton followers had been even housed in a part of the Jimmy Seed Stand, usually simply the area for the visiting help.
Supervisor Nathan Jones made the purpose afterwards that the Addicks might simply have bought one other 4 or 5 thousand tickets.
Charlton’s preliminary allocation of 36,945 tickets for Wembley have been snapped up with an additional 1,400 placed on sale. Demand outstrips provide.
“The environment was unimaginable,” Bauer instructed the South London Press this week when requested in regards to the play-off semi-final second leg.
“Even the present earlier than kick off, with the fireplace, was superb. It exhibits what a terrific fanbase Charlton has to create one thing so particular.
“The play-offs are such large video games that you just wish to win. They’re high-pressure matches and you might actually inform what it meant to Nathan Jones and the gamers (by their full-time celebrations).
“It was a really even recreation. I watched the primary leg as properly and it was fairly comparable – each defences had been fairly stable. There weren’t many possibilities.
“Earlier than Charlton scored the successful purpose Wycombe had a very good probability the place Kayne Ramsay blocked the photographs twice.
“I used to be actually completely satisfied Charlton got here out on prime.
“Each Charlton and Leyton Orient had actually good second halves of the season. They picked up a great deal of factors. I consider it will likely be a really even recreation. The staff who handles the strain higher has a very good probability to win it.
“It’s powerful to foretell the result.
“After we had our remaining we had the personal purpose firstly and that was a giant setback, however we knew there was nonetheless a lot to play for.
“So if Charlton do concede then they should hold a relaxed head – simply belief the method and consider in yourselves. There can be possibilities to equalise or rating a successful purpose.”
Bauer made 135 appearances for the Addicks after signing from CS Maritimo in 2015. The final of these was at Wembley.
“It’s positively the most effective second in my profession,” mentioned Bauer.
“Scoring the successful purpose within the play-off remaining – within the 94th minute – and in entrance of so many individuals was unimaginable.
“I’m actually glad it occurred and this reminiscence positively stays with me without end.
“These days on social media you all the time get reminded about it.
“The final time I used to be in London to look at the darts on the Alexandra Palace it was stuffed with Charlton followers they usually instructed me what a very good second it was, how a lot they appreciated it.
“The moments after that purpose, oh my god, it was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it, actually.
“It’s a lengthy, arduous season with 46 league video games, then the play-offs after which the time that I scored – 90 plus 4 – it was only a sense of aid that was it. That we had made it. There was actually no time for them to equalise.
“It was like a dream come true.”
Bauer’s departure from Charlton was confirmed the next month. He signed for North Finish following the expiration of his contract.
The Addicks had one other key performer go away in Joe Aribo, who moved to Rangers for minimal compensation.
“Preston had been a really established Championship staff on the time whose purpose was to get into the play-offs,” mentioned the centre-back.
“Everybody is aware of how arduous the state of affairs was at Charlton on the time.
“We began the season with 16 gamers within the squad away at Sunderland and Charlton additionally had an proprietor (Roland Duchatelet) who wished to promote the membership, so it was the suitable time for me to maneuver on.
“The scale of Charlton, if you additionally take into account their coaching floor and The Valley, they need to positively be within the Championship.”
Bauer went on to function 105 occasions for Preston.
“I didn’t play a lot soccer the final couple of years – I performed fairly properly in a recreation towards Fulham within the FA Cup however sadly I fell on my elbow and broke it,” he mentioned. “Since then I didn’t get a lot recreation time.
“My contract expires on the finish of June. I’m excited for my subsequent problem. My agent is on it.
“Coming to England was how I anticipated it. It has been taking part in actually good soccer and in stadiums with nice atmospheres. The professionalism in England is unimaginable.”
Charlton’s present backline have saved a membership document 25 clear sheets, together with successive shutouts towards Wycombe within the play-offs.
Bauer mentioned: “It’s a large factor to maintain the doorways shut. In case you have gamers in entrance like Matt Godden, a confirmed goalscorer, who can all the time end one thing then it’s sensible.”
Now comes the category of 2025’s date with future.
Win and matches towards the likes of Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich – to not point out the return of South London derbies towards Millwall – develop into a actuality.
It might additionally finish a five-season keep in England’s third tier.
“They’ll put their names into the historical past books of Charlton Athletic Soccer Membership,” mentioned Bauer. “That’s an unimaginable factor to do – in the event that they obtain it.”
