ENGLAND | MANCHESTER UNITED
Surprisingly Bobby Charlton was encouraged to play football by his mother (Cissie). He joined Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1953 and survived the Munich Air Disaster (1958). He went on to lift the World Cup with England in 1966 and the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968.
1967 | 1965 | 1957
1968
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1966
Bobby (Robert) Charlton was born into a mining family in Ashington, a small town located in Northumberland, approximately 15 miles from Newcastle. The town had strong links to the beautiful game. John ‘Jack’ Milburn the famous Leeds United player hailed from the town and a statue of him still stands outside the local train station today. Sir John Hall, Life President of Newcastle United Football Club, was also born on the town’s outskirts.
Charlton’s father worked in the local mines. Somewhat strangely for the period, Bobby’s mother encouraged his interest in football. Cissie Charlton was a member of the Milburn family which produced the famous Leeds left-back Jack Milburn and Newcastle United striker Jackie Milburn. The Charlton brothers were related to the celebrated Newcastle player via Cissie. Growing up, Bobby practised his football skills with older brother Jack, both idolising their local club Newcastle United.
Interestingly, neither Bobby nor Jack played for their beloved Newcastle United during their careers. Speaking to MAG website, Jackie Charlton explained why they never signed for the Club.
I could have had a trial with Newcastle, but my mother never let us go there because she said that Newcastle would get kids to sign a form which meant they’d never be able to go anywhere else to play football.
She wouldn’t have anything to do with them.
Bobby came to the attention of Manchester United’s chief scout, Joe Armstrong while playing for East Northumberland Schools team. On 1 January 1953, he signed for Manchester United at the age of 15.
Bobby signed for Busby’s Manchester United on schoolboy terms. The Scottish manager was in the process of reviving the clubs’ fortunes. United had won the 1948 FA Cup under his guidance and landed the league title three years later. It seemed Bobby had joined at the right time.
In October 1954, Charlton signed professional terms with the Old Trafford outfit. This ended the electrical engineer apprenticeship that he’d started on his arrival in Manchester. For the next two years, Bobby worked his way up the youth team structure.
In 1954 he was part of the team which won the newly formed ‘FA Youth Cup’ – the player started the first leg against Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, he failed to score and was left out for the second game. A year later United were back in the FA Youth Cup final. This time they faced West Brom with Charlton opened the scoring on 40 minutes. United went on to win 4-1. Charlton was dropped for the second leg, but his goals were beginning to attract the attention of Matt Busby.
In 1956, Charlton was handed his first-team debut. Ironically it came against ‘Charlton’ Athletic. Bobby scored twice in the 4-2 victory but could not impose himself in the United squad.
At the tail end of the 1956/57 season, he forced his way into the team. Bobby scored 10 goals in 14 appearances and United went on to win the league. He also played in the European Cup Semi-Final against Real Madrid, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. It was becoming harder and harder for the manager to ignore the talented young player.
In the 57/58 campaign, Charlton wasn’t called upon regularly until the Christmas period. Against Leicester on the 21st December, he started and scored. In the next fixture (Christmas Day), Charlton bagged another goal against Luton Town. Three days later, United visited Manchester City at Maine Road. Dennis Viollet and Bobby scored to give the Reds a 0-2 win against the blues.
As the year ended, Charlton now aged 20, was established in Matt Bubsy’s exciting team. It was during this period that he franked his form and developed his characteristic playing style.
He started his senior career playing on the wing but quickly dropped into the ‘deep-lying centre forward’ role. His trademark runs from midfield, and powerful shots thrilled the Old Trafford faithful. Most fans couldn’t tell if he was right or left-footed. When breaking forward at full speed, he was majestic to watch.
To put Charlton’s style in a modern perspective, imagine a combination of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. His passing range was superb, and he could dribble at speed with either foot. Not surprisingly, he became United’s ‘playmaker’. Often described as ‘graceful and well-rounded’ his impact at the club cannot be overstated.
In the winter of 1958, Bobby Charlton was becoming a regular for the team. He was still just 20 years old. On the 1st February 1958, United faced Arsenal away at Highbury. It was described by those who witnessed it as ‘the greatest game ever seen’. United beat Arsenal 5-4. Charlton scored along with Taylor (2), Edwards and Denis Viollet. Little did the 63,578 strong crowd realise at the time, this would be the final time ‘Busby’s Babes’ would be seen together in England.
Just four days following the Arsenal game, United would face Red Star Belgrade in a European Cup quarter-final in Serbia. The game ended 3-3 (5-4 agg) with Charlton scoring two goals in the space of two minutes to send United through to the semi-final.
As Busby’s Babes were reaching their potential, fate was to deal them a cruel blow. On the way back from Belgrade, their plane stopped in Munich (Germany) to refuel. It was a bitterly cold day, snow was falling, ice and slush covered the runway. The team reboarded the aircraft following a brief stopover for the final leg of their journey home.
The aircraft attempted to depart, but engine problems forced the pilot to abort the take-off. Officials authorised a second attempt. However, the engine problems persisted, and the crew abandoned take-off once again. The third attempt ended in tragedy when the plane failed to get airborne. It skidded off the runway, bounced across a road, and hit buildings on the far side of the airport.
In total, twenty-three people died, including eight Manchester United players. Among the dead were players Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam Whelan, and backroom staff Bert Whalley, Tom Curry and Walter Crickmer.
Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg was one of the first passengers to regain consciousness following the crash. His courageous action saved teammates Bobby Charlton and Denis Viollet. Gregg dragged the two players from the fiery wreckage despite being injured himself.
After the crash, Bobby was admitted to the hospital. It was 24 hours before he would learn the full extent of the disaster. A hospital orderly read him a list of players names – Charlton later recounted how the German orderly would simply say ‘Yes’ if the player survived or ‘No’ to indicate they were dead. Thankfully, Bobby’s injuries had not been as serious as many of his teammates. Following a short stay in the Rechts der Isar Hospital, he was discharged and returned to England.
In many ways, Bobby had been fortunate. His choice of seating position on the plane probably saved his life, along with the quick actions of Harry Gregg. However, survivor guilt plagued him for many years, and the deep sense of loss he felt profoundly affected him for the rest of his life.
Unbelievably, just two months following the tragedy, Bobby was called up for his first international cap. On the 19th April 1958, he was selected by manager Walter Winterbottom to face Scotland at Hampden Park. The match ended in a 0-4 victory for England. Charlton scored the third goal of the game on 65 minutes. His England career was off to a great start.
The Munich crash had decimated the United squad, and it was only through the goodwill of other teams that the club had been able to field enough players to complete the 1958 season. Nevertheless, United only won one league game following the crash, finishing ninth in the table.
With Matt Busby still recovering from his injuries, Caretaker manager Jimmy Murphy steered his makeshift team to the FA Cup final. Four of the Munich survivors took to the field that day.
In memory of those who died, the United shirts featured a Phoenix rising from the flames. Despite the whole country willing them on to win, Bolton Wanderers proved too strong and they lifted the cup following a 2-0 victory. Nevertheless, by completing the season’s fixtures, United proved that better days lay ahead.
Matt Busby returned for the 1958-59 season. They finished second in the league with Charlton leading the clubs’ goalscoring on 29. The manager was slowly rebuilding. In 1959-60, United slipped down the table to 7th place. In 1962 the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. United signed talented Scottish International Denis Law, and a youngster from Northern Ireland called George Best. In time, they would become known as ‘The Holy Trinity’.
The first signs of resurgence came in 1963. The club won the FA Cup with goals from Denis Law and David Herd. In ’64 Manchester United finished five points behind league champions Liverpool. Denis Law claimed the clubs’ topscorer honours with 46 in all competitions. Bobby scored 15, and the young Protégé Best weighed in with 6.
The following season (1964-65), United went on to win the league, despite winning just one of their opening six games. Charlton’s contribution was critical to the teams’ success. His stand out performance coming against Blackburn Rovers; Bobby scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 victory over the Lancashire rivals. Winning the league had given United a route back to European football and the chance to land the coveted prize.
On the domestic front, United had a low key season by their high standards. Bubsy’s team finished fourth in the league. However, they enjoyed a great run in the European Cup. Goals from Charlton helped United knock-out Benfica in the quarter-finals. Manchester United played Serbian champions, Partizan in the semi-final. The first leg was away, and United went down 2-0. A single goal from Nobby Stiles in the return leg wasn’t enough to overturn Partizan’s first-leg lead. Bubsy and Charlton had gotten agonisingly close to getting their hands on the trophy, but destiny would have to wait.
One consolation for Charlton was his inclusion in England’s World Cup squad along with brother Jack. The tournament was held on home soil for the first time.
In the group stages, England would face Uruguay, Mexico and France. Bobby and Jack both played in the opening match against Uruguay. The game ended 0-0. In the second game, England faced Mexico, this time Bobby opened the scoring on 37 minutes, and Roger Hunt added a second with 15 minutes to go. Bobby and Jack again featured in the final match. England beat France with two goals from Roger Hunt (38, 75). England had reached the knock-out stages.
Both brothers were selected to face the formidable Argentinians. The game was a bad-tempered affair from the kick-off. The German referee booked Argentine captain Antonio Rattín for a trip on Bobby. Rattín reacted by unleashing a four-minute tirade at the referee. The official decided to send him off for dissent. However, Rattín refused to leave the pitch, causing the game to stop for ten full minutes.
The match eventually restarted, in the 77th minute and Martin Peters produced a brilliant cross which was headed home by Hurst. Bobby Charlton described it as “…the best England goal I ever saw in my time with the squad”. England won 1-0, the referee needed a police escort to leave the pitch, he was punched, kicked and his shirt was torn off by enraged Argentine officials and players.
Alf Ramsey’s England were now just 90 minutes away from a final. Nevertheless, they would need to overcome a talented Portuguese squad.
It was widely considered that England and Portugal had been the two best attacking teams in the tournament. Eusébio was the driving force behind them. In 1965 Eusébio had been named European Player Of Year (Ballon d’Or). On the way to the semi-final, Eusébio had scored eight goals for Portugal.
Alf Ramsey gave Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United teammate Nobby Stiles the role of marking Eusébio. In the early phases of the game, Portugal failed to impose themselves. In the 31st minute, a hopeful long ball was launched towards the Portuguese defence; their keeper rushed from his net, but accidentally pushed the ball into Charlton’s path. Bobby fired it into an empty net from just outside the box to make it one-nil to England.
In the second half, Portugal grew in confidence. However, their captain, Coluña, was too busy tracking Charlton to provide meaningful service to Eusebio. On the 79th minute, England cleared the ball up-field. Hurst laid it off neatly to Charlton. The midfielder found the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box.
When it looked like England were cruising to victory, Bobby’s brother Jack, threw the opponents a life-line. Simões crossed the ball, and Torres outjumped Gordon Banks to send the ball goalwards, only for Jack to stop it with his hand! The referee awarded a penalty, and Eusébio converted it with eight minutes left on the clock. Ultimately England held on and booked their place in the final.
It was no surprise to find both Charlton’s on the teamsheet for the final against West Germany. While Jack didn’t possess his younger brother’s flair, he did add steel to the backline. The brothers are one of two sets of siblings to play in a World Cup Final. Ironically, West Germany’s Fritz and Ottmar Walter (1954) are the other set.
There is little to be added about the ’66 final that hasn’t been said already. Bobby played a blinder and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. After the final whistle blew, Jack ran straight over to his younger brother. Bobby hugged him and said ‘Nobody can ever take this moment away from us’. England won 4-2 in extra-time, and Bobby had reached the pinnacle of every player’s career – he was now a World Cup Winner, but more glory was to follow.
For Bobby, there was another trophy that held just as much prestige and meaning as the World Cup. Following the tragedy of 1958, he and Busby vowed to bring the European Cup home for the lads who didn’t make it back to Manchester.
United’s league success in ’67 gave them the chance to enter the ’68 European Cup. The path to the Wembley final was relatively smooth. It wasn’t until they met Real Madrid in the semi-final that they encountered strong opposition.
Charlton featured in all the games but had still not scored in the competition. Over two legs, United edged past Real Madrid with help from George Best and Bill Foulkes. It was fitting that Foulkes, a Munich survivor, scored United’s final goal in the Santiago Bernabéu in front of the 125,000 strong crowd. Once again, Charlton had failed to find the net, but the club had reached their first European final.
On the 29th of May 1968, the Reds lined up to face Benfica at Wembley Stadium. The first half was tense but uneventful; eight minutes into the second half, Charlton gave United a 1-0 advantage with a brilliant headed goal. Two superb saves from Jose Henrique kept Benfica in the game. However, on the 79th minute, Benfica’s Garca fired home the equaliser to send the game into extra-time.
Both teams remained on the pitch before the start of extra-time as Busby and his backroom staff frantically attempted to rally the exhausted players. It looked like United were a spent force heading into the first period. Three minutes into the half, Goalkeeper Alex Stepney punted a long ball forward, Brian Kidd flicked on, and George Best was there to collect the ball. He beat the last defender, sold the keeper a dummy, and rolled the ball into the open goal. The life visibly drained from Benfica, and now it was United in the ascendency.
On the 94th minute, Brian Kidd capped a brilliant performance with a sublime headed goal. It was 3-1, but the game wasn’t over. In the 99th minute, Bobby Charlton sealed the victory. Picking up a ball on the halfway line, Charlton played a one-two with Kidd. He skipped down the wing and passed it back to Charlton, waiting in the penalty area. From an impossible angle, Bobby hit the ball in the opposite direction from his run. It went flying into the net; the game was over. Charlton had kept his promise.
Speaking after the game, Matt Busby summed up his feelings “When Bobby took the cup, it cleansed me – it eased the pain of the guilt of going into Europe. It was my justification.”
The European Cup success in ’68 marked the high water line for Busby’s team. In the 1968-69 season, they finished 11th in the football league. Charlton scored just 7 goals in 48 appearances. Law scored 30 in 45 games, and Best netted 22. United suffered another crushing semi-final loss in the European Cup, a 2-1 defeat on aggregate to AC Milan. However, Charlton did score in the home leg.
In the 69-70 season, legendary manager Matt Busby finally stood down from his duties. Wilf McGuinness took over the helm at Old Trafford, but his side only managed to finish 8th in the table. Bobby had a sparse season in front of goal, netting 14 in 57 appearances. On the plus side, United made two semi-finals in the FA and League Cup.
The summer of 1970 was poised to be a more exciting time for Bobby. He and the England squad would travel to Mexico to defend their World Cup title. The group draw had been unkind to the cup holders. England would face: Brazil, Romania, and Czechoslovakia.
England won their first game 1-0 against Romania. However, they lost their next match to Brazil (1-0), England manager Alf Ramsey subbed the 32-year-old Charlton on 63 minutes. England would need to win the final fixture to avoid the embarrassment of failing to qualify for the knock-out stages. A penalty converted by Allan Clarke was enough to give them a 1-0 victory over Czechoslovakia.
The quarter-final would be against the old enemy – West Germany. Unfortunately for England, Gordon Banks suffered food poisoning the day before the game. Second choice goalkeeper Peter Bonetti would deputise for the legendary keeper. Bonetti had not played a competitive game since the end of the previous season.
Bobby Charlton started the match and was once again facing Franz Beckenbauer. The game started well for England, at half-time, they went in 1 nil up thanks to a goal from Alan Mullery. On 50 minutes, Martin Peters added another and it looked like England were home and dry.
On 69 minutes, a speculative shot from Beckenbauer squeezed under Bonetti, it changed the whole match. Following the goal, Ramsey once again substituted Charlton for Colin Bell. Having spent an hour struggling in Charlton’s shadow, Beckenbauer was now free to weave his magic. With eight minutes remaining on the clock, Uwe Seeler equalised, and the game went into extra time. Gerd Muller scored on 108 minutes to break English hearts.
Speaking years later, Beckenbauer said of the game “In my own mind I was already on the plane home, but Ramsey made a tactical error in calling off Charlton”.
On the plane home, Charlton asked Alf Ramsey not to consider him for England selection. Brother Jack also did the same. Bobby ended his international career with a record 106 caps and a record-setting 49 goals. It would be 45 years until Wayne Rooney surpassed Charlton’s record.
In the 1970-71 season, United were struggling for goals. Following the departure of Wilf McGuinness in December, Matt Busby was back in charge at Old Trafford. United finished the season in 8th place. The clubs’ top scorer was George Best (21), Charlton managed just eight goals in 50 appearances. The ’71-72 season United lost 13 games and drew 10 – a performance that left them mid-table.
At the start of the ’72 -73, Frank O’Farrell was in charge of United. The club were continually flirting with relegation. The Reds won just 12 games all season. Incredibly, Charlton was United’s top scorer with 7 goals! At the end of the season, Denis Law was given a free transfer after 11 years. George Best was placed on the transfer list, and Bobby Charlton decided to hang up his boots for good – it was the end of an era. A year later, United would be relegated to the second division.
Bobby’s last game in a Manchester United shirt came against Chelsea at Stamford bridge. Brother Jack also retired from professional football (Leeds United) on the same day (28 April 1973). United lost 1-0; it was a brutally sad end to a glittering career.
During his time at Manchester United, Bobby won the following: FIRST DIVISION (’57, ’65, ’67). FA CUP (’63). EUROPEAN CUP (’68). FIFA WORLD CUP (’68). BALLON D’OR (’66) BALLON D’OR – RUNNER UP (’67, ’68).
Following his departure from Old Trafford, Bobby tried his hand at management. In 1973 he took over at Preston North End. Despite bringing in several decent players such as Nobby Stiles, Francis Burns and David Sadler, Preston were relegated in his first season at Deepdale. Proving the hypothesis that the best players often make the worst managers.
Charlton did come out of retirement to play for Preston on several occasions. He turned out 45 times for the club, scoring ten goals.
Bobby eventually fell out with the board over the sale of North End’s centre half and captain, John Bird. He ended his spell in management in 1975.
Bobby enjoyed a brief period at Waterford United (Ireland). He scored one goal in three appearances before heading to Australia where he played for Newcastle, Perth and Blacktown City.
In 1983 he was made caretaker manager of Wigan Atheltic. A year later he was asked to join the board of directors at Manchester United.
Bobby received a Knighthood in 1994, making him ‘Sir Bobby Charlton’. He told reporters he was ‘really, really proud and very honoured’ by his knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
In 2006 it was Manchester United’s turn to honour their hero. The club announced it was to rename the South Stand at Old Trafford after the legendary former player. The new stand was officially renamed on April 2, 2006.
Announcing the stand naming, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward added: “Bobby is, quite simply, the most iconic figure in English football history. A player, a diplomat, a gentleman and a tireless worker for charity, he represents everything that is good about football and Manchester United.
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