The King

[Bigmackem]

@clockstander and @OldArgus. You two gents saw him play. I never saw him play neither have I really got family members that talked about him etc...

I know another poster asked what he was like as player but can I ask you both to add a bit more? I assume from the stuff I have read about him before and again today that he was more than just a lump of a defender? It reads like he could play, especially when fans on here talk about their Dad's saying watch how this lad plays!

If that was the case, would it be fair to say a cb who could play a bit was rarer back then?

I have read numerous times he was a gentleman and can see it in his interviews etc...

It takes a lot more for fans to fall in love and pass stories on for generations about a cb (a striker maybe even a winger or midfielder I can see but cb isn't the glamorous role the goalscorer has imo) so what was it about him?

He had everything you could want in a centre half , height, strength ,physicality , good positional sense, could pass a ball well, could head a ball well as his goals and assists show , good leadership and man management skills , as well as all this he was a really nice and approachable man who was respected throughout the game . All in all he was as near to perfection as you could get and is why he came as close to winning the player of the year award .

 

[OldArgus]

He had everything you could want in a centre half , height, strength ,physicality , good positional sense, could pass a ball well, could head a ball well as his goals and assists show , good leadership and man management skills , as well as all this he was a really nice and approachable man who was respected throughout the game . All in all he was as near to perfection as you could get and is why he came as close to winning the player of the year award .

A very good assessment of his character.
If you can imagine someone with the composure of Van Dijk. the heading power of Haaland and the manners of Bobby Moore on the park, then you are probably getting close. His parents moved to London from Ireland just after his birth, otherwise he would have been acclaimed as one of the greatest English players ever and that's no exaggeration.

 

[Chunksafc]

He had everything you could want in a centre half , height, strength ,physicality , good positional sense, could pass a ball well, could head a ball well as his goals and assists show , good leadership and man management skills , as well as all this he was a really nice and approachable man who was respected throughout the game . All in all he was as near to perfection as you could get and is why he came as close to winning the player of the year award .

My dad would agree, he tells stories of watching Charlie play and I have never heard him speak in such awe of any player.

He is convinced that Charlie would still be a legend if he played now with modern coaching, fitness etc.

The biggest thing I have picked up on today reading people's posts over social media is how humble and grateful he was to the fans and the club.

I hope we sort out a fitting lasting tribute to him at the stadium

 

[RTB]

RIP Charlie - a true legend, forever the king

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[SAFC2403]

I was far too young to have seen him play but still be revered at a club over 50 years since he left speaks volumes for him.

I think it’s about time SAFC named a stand after him or commissioned a statue outside the SOL.

some have tried to imitate but there has only ever been 1 true king. RIP Charlie.

 

[Oldsandy]

Bye, Charlie. You were the best! I’m really, really gutted.

 

[Nig]

RIP Charlie.

 

[Smug in Boots]

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[Monkey69]

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This is awesome just gives me goosebumps

 

[Monkey69]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zgE7smb1nZeGzPCA/
Not sure if already posted but found this on F/Book

 

[Brainy Dose]

I remember standing outside the Roker Park main entrance and seeing Charlie park his car,his wife was lovely blond,oozing style......he was the King....mind you,I was only about 10!
My uncle used to come with us from Consett to the match.....he used to grumble like hell about Charlie's back headers!
Anyone from my era remember them?

 

[cumbrianmackem]

I remember standing outside the Roker Park main entrance and seeing Charlie park his car,his wife was lovely blond,oozing style......he was the King....mind you,I was only about 10!
My uncle used to come with us from Consett to the match.....he used to grumble like hell about Charlie's back headers!
Anyone from my era remember them?

Yes I remember him doing that, he was really protective of Monty, one home game the oppo CF shoulder charged Monty and knocked him flying , Charlie grabbed him by the shirt and manually lifted him off the ground and swung him round stopping short of punching him.
Those things were done as a matter of course then, there wouldn't be enough left on the field to finish a match these days. He really was a top bloke.

 

[John Wick]

Just watched Look North so I could see the coverage and the tributes from people.

I was disgusted, they should be ashamed.

Look North of Sunderland. It's about time something was done about that shower of ****. Black and White daft in every sense of the matter. Abit like that **** football show they have on talking about Newcastle.... unless they get beat that is.

 

[cumbrianmackem]

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.a-love-supreme.com/single-post/rip-the-king?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3NDDyNSCdyg_1ZNmj55pmEK_x3O8kjIuDeyLYAeDR3qP0AMHVbbn2vifw_aem_AfdIbMpJ0FWwQUgsTDvkro9P4XKjhkTAhAqWFjRfxxZNG5hvfQZe7AE4f_HAL4QOu78Bgp48RbRMDMnNOGZCu_XU&h=AT2Agm5vMzJiYzt45t_SRmhA2KR543fA-L3jhKhryzgvWuqjsts8Lu0i7ZtPKvu4r0bPjIo6DyE0d83TtrH2RF8STh52SbHETJd0Zo2tADmRiS5Yt0-msbbJh6qzYqM&s=1
This article was posted by my nephew on Love Supreme site.
Not sure if it’ll work on here but it’s a good read it’s part of my family history of SAFC.

 

[Snaggey]

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.a-love-supreme.com/single-post/rip-the-king?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3NDDyNSCdyg_1ZNmj55pmEK_x3O8kjIuDeyLYAeDR3qP0AMHVbbn2vifw_aem_AfdIbMpJ0FWwQUgsTDvkro9P4XKjhkTAhAqWFjRfxxZNG5hvfQZe7AE4f_HAL4QOu78Bgp48RbRMDMnNOGZCu_XU&h=AT2Agm5vMzJiYzt45t_SRmhA2KR543fA-L3jhKhryzgvWuqjsts8Lu0i7ZtPKvu4r0bPjIo6DyE0d83TtrH2RF8STh52SbHETJd0Zo2tADmRiS5Yt0-msbbJh6qzYqM&s=1
This article was posted by my nephew on Love Supreme site.
Not sure if it’ll work on here but it’s a good read it’s part of my family history of SAFC.

Brilliant read that, thanks for posting.
Absolutely brilliant.

 

[ab65]

Agree Vince,but these things should've been done whilst he was still alive to see it imo.

Like many others on the thread, he was before my time but was my Dad's all time favourite player.

I was at the Hull game back in 2016 with my Dad when Hurley was at the game and my Dad was so pleased to him looking so well at that stage.

Agree with the sentiments on here that either the ground or at least the West stand should be named after him and its a pity it didn't happen in his lifetime. That's not a pop at the current regime, it could have been done years ago.

RIP Charlie lad, we've got a helluva team upstairs, both players and fans.

 

[Blond Bombshell]

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Thanks for sharing.

Top bloke, RIP Charlie lad x

 

[Oldsandy]

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Well done! This had my eyes prickling… me, a cynical old fart! Just shows how much the man was loved.

 

[Oldsandy]

By today’s standards, how much would he cost to buy? Priceless!

 

[Oldsandy]

@clockstander and @OldArgus. You two gents saw him play. I never saw him play neither have I really got family members that talked about him etc...

I know another poster asked what he was like as player but can I ask you both to add a bit more? I assume from the stuff I have read about him before and again today that he was more than just a lump of a defender? It reads like he could play, especially when fans on here talk about their Dad's saying watch how this lad plays!

If that was the case, would it be fair to say a cb who could play a bit was rarer back then?

I have read numerous times he was a gentleman and can see it in his interviews etc...

It takes a lot more for fans to fall in love and pass stories on for generations about a cb (a striker maybe even a winger or midfielder I can see but cb isn't the glamorous role the goalscorer has imo) so what was it about him?

What was it about him? STATURE. Not just physically (though he was a Greek God of a figure) but his sheer presence. His calmness on the ball, his ability to climb above everyone in the penalty area, his ability to head a ball with as much force as some could boot it, the ability to win tackles without ever fowling. As has been mentioned, his naturalness, humility. I’m sure others on here who saw him play can add to this list. While watching him boss the penalty areas we gave little or no thought to the fact that one day we would see his last game for us… which I think was at Roker v mags. He completely negated their centre forward hero ( Barry Thomas?) until landing from a header he aggravated a knee cartilage that had bothered him for some time and had to go off.