Ninety plus four – Patrick Bauer on his Wembley heroics and hope that Charlton Athletic can seal return to Championship
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Ninety plus four. Mention those three words to a Charlton Athletic fan and they will instantly know the moment that is being talked about.
Patrick Bauer. Wembley. The winning goal in the 2019 League One play-off final.
Just like Clive Mendonca’s hat-trick in 1998 at the old Wembley, along with Sasa Ilic’s penalty shootout heroics, it is carved deeply into the Addicks’ history.
Now comes the chance for a new hero to step forward for the South London club when they face Leyton Orient on Sunday afternoon.
Bauer was in the right place at the right time to send them up to the Championship six years ago. But this weekend the German defender, freshly released by Preston North End, will be away on his summer break. He plans to tune in and watch the drama unfold.
The 32-year-old was able to attend the semi-final second leg victory over Wycombe Wanderers earlier this month.
Bauer was part of a legends parade that also included Lee Bowyer, Chris Solly and Jason Pearce – as well as members of the 1987 play-off winning team which defeated Leeds United to stay in the old First Division.
Too often in recent seasons the run-in mood has been moribund at The Valley.
Not this time though.
Against Wycombe there was a crowd of 25,722 ramping up the volume. Charlton fans were even housed in part of the Jimmy Seed Stand, normally just the domain for the visiting support.
Manager Nathan Jones made the point afterwards that the Addicks could easily have sold another four or five thousand tickets.
Charlton’s initial allocation of 36,945 tickets for Wembley have been snapped up with a further 1,400 put on sale. Demand outstrips supply.
“The atmosphere was incredible,” Bauer told the South London Press this week when asked about the play-off semi-final second leg.
“Even the show before kick off, with the fire, was amazing. It shows what a great fanbase Charlton has to create something so special.
“The play-offs are such big games that you want to win. They are high-pressure matches and you could really tell what it meant to Nathan Jones and the players (by their full-time celebrations).
“It was a very even game. I watched the first leg as well and it was quite similar – both defences were quite solid. There weren’t many chances.
“Before Charlton scored the winning goal Wycombe had a really good chance where Kayne Ramsay blocked the shots twice.
“I was really happy Charlton came out on top.
“Both Charlton and Leyton Orient had really good second halves of the season. They picked up loads of points. I believe it will be a very even game. The team who handles the pressure better has a good chance to win it.
“It’s tough to predict the outcome.
“When we had our final we had the own goal at the start and that was a big setback, but we knew there was still so much to play for.
“So if Charlton do concede then they need to keep a calm head – just trust the process and believe in yourselves. There will be chances to equalise or score a winning goal.”
Bauer made 135 appearances for the Addicks after signing from CS Maritimo in 2015. The last of those was at Wembley.
“It is definitely the best moment in my career,” said Bauer.
“Scoring the winning goal in the play-off final – in the 94th minute – and in front of so many people was incredible.
“I’m really glad it happened and this memory definitely stays with me forever.
“Nowadays on social media you always get reminded about it.
“The last time I was in London to watch the darts at the Alexandra Palace it was full of Charlton fans and they told me what a good moment it was, how much they appreciated it.
“The moments after that goal, oh my god, it was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it, really.
“It is a long, hard season with 46 league games, then the play-offs and then the time that I scored – 90 plus four – it was just a sense of relief that was it. That we had made it. There was literally no time for them to equalise.
“It was like a dream come true.”
Bauer’s departure from Charlton was confirmed the following month. He signed for North End following the expiration of his contract.
The Addicks had another key performer leave in Joe Aribo, who moved to Rangers for minimal compensation.
“Preston were a very established Championship team at the time whose aim was to get into the play-offs,” said the centre-back.
“Everyone knows how hard the situation was at Charlton at the time.
“We started the season with 16 players in the squad away at Sunderland and Charlton also had an owner (Roland Duchatelet) who wanted to sell the club, so it was the right time for me to move on.
“The size of Charlton, when you also consider their training ground and The Valley, they should definitely be in the Championship.”
Bauer went on to feature 105 times for Preston.
“I didn’t play much football the last couple of years – I played quite well in a game against Fulham in the FA Cup but unfortunately I fell on my elbow and broke it,” he said. “Since then I didn’t get much game time.
“My contract expires at the end of June. I’m excited for my next challenge. My agent is on it.
“Coming to England was how I expected it. It has been playing really good football and in stadiums with great atmospheres. The professionalism in England is incredible.”
Charlton’s current backline have kept a club record 25 clean sheets, including successive shutouts against Wycombe in the play-offs.
Bauer said: “It is a big thing to keep the doors shut. If you have players in front like Matt Godden, a proven goalscorer, who can always finish something then it is brilliant.”
Now comes the class of 2025’s date with destiny.
Win and matches against the likes of Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich – not to mention the return of South London derbies against Millwall – become a reality.
It would also end a five-season stay in England’s third tier.
“They can put their names into the history books of Charlton Athletic Football Club,” said Bauer. “That is an incredible thing to do – if they achieve it.”
