On This Day – 9th January
It was on this day in 1979 that Charlton Athletic’s Mike Flanagan and Derek Hales were both sent off in an FA Cup tie for fighting one another.
The flare-up occurred in the 86th minute of an FA Cup Third Round tie at home to non-league Maidstone United at The Valley and the score was level at 1-1. Maidstone had gone in front in the 13th minute but Flanagan levelled the score in the 79th minute. Seven minutes later, the striker had gone from hero to villain as he scrapped with fans-favourite Derek Hales on the pitch.
The fight started when Flanagan hesitated before playing Hales through on goal. As a result of the hesitation, Hales made an early run and was called offside. The two began arguing as they made their way back up the field and Hales lashed out at Flanagan, who returned with a punch.
The Charlton Athletic Board of Directors decided to sack Hales for his part to play in the incident. Mike Flanagan was fined £250 but left the club at the end of the month after a disagreement with the club. Hales was later re-instated and instead had to pay a fine of two week’s wages.
At the time of the fight with Mike Flanagan, Derek Hales was in his second spell at the club, having left Charlton for Derby County in 1976. Hales didn’t settle at the Baseball Ground and so moved to West Ham, but within a year was back at Charlton again.
Hales stayed at the club until 1985, finally racking up a total of 168 goals and becoming Charlton Athletic’s all-time record goalscorer.
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