A little story to add to my earlier post. About 25 years ago I was in a meeting at the County Hotel in Durham and I saw Charlie at the traffic lights outside. I quickly excused myself rushed out and went up to Charlie to shake his hand only to find myself in a queue of 4 or 5 other adults about my own age. It transpired that he was up here as guest of the club the following day and he was genuinely embarrassed by the attention from this group of old blokes but nevertheless he stayed until everyone had a word but eventually we had to let him go otherwise we would have created a major the traffic incident in the city centre. Unbelievably those fans, who had never met each other before, stayed around for a further 30 minutes reminiscing about the great man before one chap realised his missus was still waiting for him at the other side of the road! Even in my fifties I went home that day with a spring in my step, so proud that I had met and chatted with King Charlie.
This mirrors my meeting with him. about 15 years or so ago. He is as you say quite an unassuming man, but with a natural ease to go along with his status, a status which you have captured so well on this thread.
The best. Before Charlie, centre half's were defenders and only that. There were two kinds of centre half's, ones like Joe Shaw of Shefield Utd, a smallish lad who converted from half back. He was a 'Footballing type' Then there were the Hard Men. The Ray Daniels types who, without being a clogger, took no prisoners. This was the era when the likes of Chopper Harris, of Chelsea, thrived. Then along came Charlie. Tall, by the standards of his time. A big man in every way. Never known to shirk a tackle, but did it with precision. BUT, most importantly, he was a fooballer. He could dribble. At first this scared the hell out of the fans. Defenders, partiularly Centre Half's were expected to clear their lines by hoofing the ball up the park, (or over stand if playing for time). Charlie often chose to dribble his way out of trouble. His passing was immaculate and he was imperious in the air. The fact that he beat Shack, just, in the vote for our Player of the Century, tells it all. But it was when he started to venture over the half-way line for corners that he changed to way the game was plyed. It was unheard of at the time. It caused alarm and consternation in opposing defences. Lots followed his example of course, but few did it as well. A regular question, asked by those who can't understand that such a player would stick with a side in Division two, was WHY. At the time, Johnny Haynes was acknowledged as the first player to get paid £100 a week. The Uk's highest player, it was claimed. Charlie was happy up here, but it was rumoured that Sunderland were paying one of their players £200 a week. The Club never confirmed this story. But Charlie, many years after his reirement was being interviewed on TV was reminded about this, Was that player you? asked the interviwer. Charlie, with a beatific, innocent smile, replied, 'I couldn't say. I consider myself to have been very fortunate to have watched two such players as Charlie and Len play for us. (As an aside I voted for Len in the Player of The Century poll. But I had no complaim=nts abouit the result).
Oh dear, this thread is bringing back such wonderful memories and thanks to the awful weather in Northumberland, I've got plenty time to sit and enjoy the comments of other folks. I recall a lad who stood beside us in the old Clock Stand and he turned one day and said '..you know, if I caught Charlie in bed with my missus I would tuck him in and tell him just how much honour he's brought to this family..' I'm sure that versions of that story have been repeated many times over the years but at the time it brought a lot of laughter to those around us and some could have even privately shared his sentiments. It's truly difficult to explain to those who never saw him play, exactly how he impacted on the live of fans. Given the ease with which modern players earn superstar status in the eyes of fans, then someone would have to invent a new word to describe Charlie. Suggestions welcome.
Something similar. At Roker park. One of the opposition big blokes took exception to one of our smaller forward (I think it was Nick Sharky) and squared up to him, pushing against him in a threatening manner. Charlie ambled over (can’t remember him ever breaking into a sprint) and got between them. The bully boy deflated like a balloon and trotted off with his head down. Nobody messed with the King and his!
Don’t know how he’d fare in today’s style of play, but I’d guess he would adapt because he had the basics: big and strong, good anticipation, timing, and strong neck that put power into his headers. I can’t remember him being brilliant on the ground but that could be down to my memories are mostly of how good he was in the air. Another king, John Charles I think his name was, who was lauded as the best centre forward in the air in uk and Europe at he time said Charlie was the best centre half in the air he had ever played against.
