ROBERT CHARLTON Born: 11 October 1937 in Ashington (Northumberland). Nickname: Bobby. Position: Left wing, inside forward. Caps: England 105 (1958-1970) / 49 goals League Games: England 607 (1956-1973) / 197 goals Domestic Cup Games: English Cup, 67 (1957-1973) / 20 goals European Cup Games: 46 (1956-1969) / 22 goals European Footballer of the Year: 1960 (7th), 1961 (10th), 1963 (8th), 1965 (5th), 1966 (winner), 1967 (2nd), 1968 (2nd), 1969 (15th) English Footballer of the Year: 1966 (Sport Writers “Footballer of the Year”), 1973 (Professional Football Association`s “Footballer of the Year”) Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup winner : 1966 World Cup participation: 1958*, 1962, 1966, 1970 European Championship: 1968 (3rd) European Champions Cup: 1968 European Champions Cup finalist: - European Cup Winners Cup: - European Cup Winners Cup-finalist: - UEFA/Fairs-Cup Finalist: - World Club Cup winner: - English Champion: 1957, 1965, 1967 English runner-up: 1959, 1964, 1968 English Cup winner: 1963 English Cup finalist: 1957, 1958 Top League Goal Scorer: never *did not play Bobby Charlton was born into a prodigious footballing family in the North East of England in October 1937. His uncle was the great Newcastle striker Jackie Milburn and from an early age he demonstrated that he possessed ability just as great. In 1953 Charlton scored twice in a schoolboy international and alerted all the country’s best clubs to his potential, but Manchester United beat off stiff competition to sign the youngster. Charlton made his debut for United in the 1956-7 season against his namesakes Charlton Athletic, and scored two goals. It was a superb first season for both player and club as United retained the league title. They were though frustrated in their hope of becoming the first club to win the league and cup double in the 20th century as they went down 2-1 to Aston Villa at Wembley. On Feb 6th 1958 one of the greatest disasters in football history occurred as the Manchester United team flew back from a 3-3 draw in the European Cup against Red Star Belgrade and crashed at Munich. Eight of Charlton’s team-mates were killed in the crash, an event that ripped the heart out of the team, but he and team manger Matt Busby survived. The loss of the Busby Babes was an indescribable blow to United but they amazingly managed to make it to the FA cup final for a second year (Charlton scored twice in the first game of the semi-final), only to be defeated again by Bolton. Shortly before that final Charlton had made his England debut against Scotland at Hampden Park and it was the beginning of a remarkable international career. Charlton scored the third goal in a 4-0 victory, and it was a wonderful goal. After Tom Finney had crossed the ball from the left-wing Charlton met it on the volley inside the penalty area and smashed it into the net. Many later described it as the best goal ever scored at Hampden. Charlton’s next game was against Portugal at Wembley and he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory for England. Charlton then faced one of the greatest tests of his career, and it was not on the pitch. England’s next game was away against Yugoslavia in Belgrade, Charlton had to repeat the journey that had seen many of his friends and colleagues killed just months earlier. Despite engine troubles at Zurich the England team made it safely to the game but they needn’t have bothered. England were soundly thrashed 5-0 by Yugoslavia. Charlton was dropped from the side to face the USSR in the final warm up game before the WC. Of the 20 players picked to go to Sweden for the finals only Charlton and Bobby Smith of Spurs failed to play in any of the games. In 1963 Charlton finally got revenge for his two FA Cup final defeats as United defeated Leicester 3-1 and two years later Charlton collected his second league title. In 1966 England hosted the World Cup with a weight of expectation on the shoulders of their leading players. After drawing 0-0 with Uruguay in their opening game England beat Mexico and France, both 2-0 to progress to the quarter finals. There they faced Argentina in a game that did little to promote relations between the nations. England eventually won the game 1-0 through a Geoff Hurst goal to set up an encounter with Portugal. Charlton was the star here, and scored a goal in each half. Despite a late Eusebio goal England clung on to reach the WC final. The importance of Charlton was underlined by the approach of the W Germans, who used Franz Beckenbauer to attempt to mark Charlton out of the game. To some extent they were successful as Charlton didn’t have the impact he had in some other games, but in doing so they negated the threat that Beckenbauer himself posed. Germany led initially through Haller but England soon levelled and then took the lead after goals from Hurst and Peters. With just seconds left Weber scored for the Germans to force extra-time. In added time Hurst smashed the ball against the underside of the bar, and the goal was given although there remains debate to this day over whether it crossed the line or not. Ultimately it was irrelevant, as in the dying moments Hurst latched on to a Bobby Moore through ball and added a spectacular fourth goal. For the first time two brothers, Jack and Bobby, had won the World Cup. The contribution of Charlton throughout could not be overstated, and he was deservedly named as the player of the tournament. Later in the year he was named as European Footballer of the Year, the second Englishman to win the award after Stan Matthews, and had earlier been named English Player of the Year. In 1967 United won the title again, the third of Charlton’s career, and the following season United entered the European Cup in search of their first continental glory. After disposing of the likes of Real Madrid, United were pitted against the Benfica of Eusebio in the final and Charlton, the captain, was the star. Charlton scored the opening goal of the match in the 52nd minute with a header from a Dunne cross, but Graca levelled for Benfica with 9 minutes left. In extra-time Best waltzed through the Benfica defence to put United back in front, while Kidd and Charlton (again) finished the game off. United were the first English club to win Europe’s most prestigious prize and for Charlton it must have been some comfort to pick up the trophy ten years after Munich. Charlton’s international career saw many mixed emotions after the great performances of the WC in 1966. In 1968 England had expected to add the European Championships to their world crown, but had to settle for third after losing to Yugoslavia in the semis. In the 3rd place play off Charlton netted in a comfortable 2-0 win over the Soviet Union. On April 20th 1970 Charlton won his 100th England cap and skippered the side in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland, and he was yet again on target. However, while England entered the WC of that year bullish and boasting possibly their best ever squad they were drawn in a tough group alongside Brazil. After beating Romania 1-0 in their first game, England lost 1-0 to Brazil in one the most famous games of the century. That set up a crucial encounter with Czechoslovakia which they won, again 1-0, to progress. In the quarter finals England faced W Germany, the beaten finalists from four years earlier, in true grudge match. England went 2-0 up thanks to goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, but then the game was turned on its head. After a mistake by Peter Bonnetti allowed Beckenbauer to pull one back Alf Ramsay the England manager took off Charlton and Peters and put on Colin Bell and Norman Hunter. The changes dramatically altered the balance of the game, and W Germany, at one point dead and buried, managed to win the match 3-2. It was to be Charlton’s last game for England. In 1970 Charlton played a landmark 500th game for United and 3 years later he retired from playing to become manger of Preston North End. It was not a happy time for Charlton and he resigned as manager in 1975. In 1994 Charlton was knighted for his services to the game, and he has since played a prominent role in winning England the 1996 European Championships hosting rights and those of the 2012 Olympics for London. He still works for Manchester United as an ambassador. Charlton was a wonderful player blessed with a thunderous shot, a tenacity in the tackle and a superb long passing game. His record of 49 goals for England stands to this day as testament to how important he was as the attacking lynchpin of England's greatest side. Added to his phenomenal performances was the way he conducted himself both on and off the pitch. While Charlton was not averse to physical play he was someone who upheld the sportsmanship of the game. Matt Busby once said of him, “He was as near perfection as man and player as it is possible to be”. He remains a legend within the game both at Manchester United and throughout the globe. Domestic Club Games Season - Club - Games – Goals – [Caps / Goals] 1956/57 Manchester United....................14 / 10 1957/58 Manchester United....................21 / 08 [ 3 / 3 ] 1958/59 Manchester United....................38 / 29 [ 8 / 8 ] 1959/60 Manchester United....................37 / 17 [ 6 / 2 ] 1960/61 Manchester United....................39 / 21 [ 9 / 8 ] 1961/62 Manchester United....................37 / 07 [12 / 4 ] 1962/63 Manchester United....................29 / 07 [ 6 / 5 ] 1963/64 Manchester United....................40 / 09 [ 9 / 3 ] 1964/65 Manchester United....................41 / 10 [ 3 / 1 ] 1965/66 Manchester United....................38 / 16 [16 / 6 ] 1966/67 Manchester United....................42 / 12 [ 4 / 1 ] 1967/68 Manchester United....................41 / 15 [ 9 / 5 ] 1968/69 Manchester United....................32 / 05 [ 9 / 1 ] 1969/70 Manchester United....................40 / 12 [11 / 2 ] 1970/71 Manchester United....................42 / 05 1971/72 Manchester United....................40 / 08 1972/73 Manchester United....................36 / 06 1973/74 ......................….....did not play 1974/75 Preston North End......III. Div International Club Games 1956/57 Manchester United......ECI..........01 / 01 1957/58 Manchester United......ECI..........02 / 03 1963/64 Manchester United......ECII.........05 / 04 1964/65 Manchester United......Fairs-Cup..11 / 08 1965/66 Manchester United......ECI..........08 / 02 1967/68 Manchester United......ECI..........11 / 02 1968/69 Manchester United......ECI..........08 / 02
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It is something I had thought of. Perhaps it is better to learn to walk though before you begin to run.