Growing up in Consett meant your uncles etc, tried to claim you for R&W or B&W. My Uncle Mervyn gave me a Charlie Hurley rosette when I was 5 and explained who he was. He said Charlie was the King and he'd expect me to do my duty ... ... I obeyed
I can see him now rising like a salmon for a corner or free kick and finding the back of the net. One match the oppo flattened Monty after a goal mouth scramble and Charlie grabbed the offender by the throat and dragged him away nearly strangling him. Took no prisoners did Charlie.
My dad's hero is Charlie Hurley. Dad sings his praises everytime we talk about football. For those that remember him, how good was he?
P I'd like to add that I would love to spend some time with the older fans, a pint and hearing about the teams from the clough era onwards. It seems to be me they were so much more connected with us
My Dad is nearly 80 and remains completely unfazed by footballers of any club and even legends from our 73 team. That changes when Charlie Hurley’s name is mentioned. He speaks of him in hushed tones but raves about him nonetheless. The King was before my time but I was there at the SOL in 2016 when he was at the Hull game and saw the genuine mutual love between him and our supporters of all ages. His reception and the effect it had on him will stay with me forever. Happy Birthday Charlie, you are and always will be a legend. Wish I’d seen you play.
My dad is74 and the light in his eyes when you mention Charlie Hurley is unbelievable. The passion in his voice when he talk about him, I've never heard about another player
Yep, sounds like most of our fan base from that generation remain in genuine awe of the bloke and from everything I hear about him it is entirely justified.
For dad's birthday a few years ago I got him a signed poster of Charlie in his pomp. Dad was made up and spent a good hour singing his praises. I just text him to ask of his thoughts and the response I just got was. "brilliant centre half, world class" That will do for me
When we move back home, I'm going to bring dad to a game I'd love him to meet up with you all before hand and tell his stories of watching the lads he saw some absolute legends
My Dad is mid-70s and does the same. I've never seen him that bothered about football but the day Charlie was on the pitch (v Hull in 2017) he was absolutely bouncing. Never seen him like that
Pity Charlie wasn’t playing on Saturday at Portsmouth. Old school and would have took no prisoners. Snots and fur flying when he was playing. Legend….happy birthday
There was a “happy birthday” tweet a few days ago to “Sunderland legend Gary Owers” Now he was a decent player. Local lad. But legend? Hurley on the other hand, what a player apparently. Too young to have seen him play. Im going to echo the sentiments shown above by those around my generation (early to mid 40s). My dad absolutely gushes with pride at having seen him play. He’s that player to everyone SAFC related of that era.
He was a true legend and was unfortunate to be playing at the same time as the great John Charles otherwise he would have enjoyed a global reputation. Two of the finest footballing centre halfs I ever saw ( and that includes our other great Dave Watson). He had the grace of a ballet dancer the strength of a lion and won just about everything he went for. It was Charlie who introduced defenders going up for corners and by god could he head a ball. But off the field he was a true gentleman and always had time for fans. Funnily my resounding memory of the great man was not football match but seeing him at Wetherells night club in town which he occasionally attended with his wife on a Saturday night. For those who could remember, that place in the sixties, the dance floor was a postage stamp and it was really a tight fit IF you could find room. However when Charlie moved into the floor he always managed to have all the space he needed as others moved out of his way as he held his missus like a China doll. That was all down to respect. I could talk all day about this man and how he was revered by fans and I am simply grateful that I was around at the same time. Happy birthday big fella, you are my SAFC hero to this day.
