An audience with... Jack Charlton

I began my journalistic career in 1966 and over the years it has developed into more of a hobby than an occupation. Of course ‘66 was the year many Englishmen still crow about and Scots constantly remind them “it was 40 years ago and you were at home and scored a goal that never was”.

It therefore seemed appropriate to start this mini series with a World Cup winner, Jack Charlton.

I met Jack in Tenerife with his wife Pat. He had come to the island to do an after dinner talk. Fascinating character.

John “Jack” Charlton OBE was born in Ashington, Northumberland in 1935 and played for Leeds United and England before going onto manage the Republic of Ireland.

Born into a footballing family Jack’s uncle was the legendary “Wor” Jackie Milburn and his brother Sir Bobby Charlton often overshadowed his career. Bobby signed for Manchester United while Jack was doing his National Service (younger readers will have to ask their granddad’s to explain NS).

Jack went down the pit and later applied to join the police force. Leeds United spotted his raw talent and offered him a trial game which clashed with his interview to be a “bobby”. Jack quipped “I think one Bobby in the family was enough, so I went to the trial with Leeds”. United offered him an apprenticeship and he signed professional forms in 1952.

Jack went on to play more than 750 games for Leeds scoring 96 goals and his testimonial at Eland Road was against Celtic. I was there as I was studying at Leeds University at the time. Of course in the Leeds team where the likes of Peter Lorimer, who played 21 times for Scotland and the legendary Billy Bremner. Billy played 54 times for his beloved country scoring three goals.

Jack was approaching his 30th birthday and thought an international career had passed him by when Sir Alf Ramsey called him up to play against Scotland at Wembley. The match with the “auld enemy” ended 2-2 and Charlton kept his place right through to the World Cup final. The rest as they say is history.

In 1967 he was voted Footballer of the Year and the following year won the League Cup with a victory over Arsenal and the old Fairs Cup. In 1969 he got his hands on the League title. The following year they were going for a treble, the league, FA Cup and European Cup but missed out on all three with Celtic beating them in the semi final of the Euro trophy.

When Jack retired he returned to his native north-east for a well earned rest but was soon back in football when he was approached by Middlesbrough. He led the club to the second division championship in his first season by a considerable margin and was given the Manager of the Year Award, the first manager outside of the top flight to receive the honour. He unsuccessfully applied for the England job and moved to Sheffield Wednesday who he led to promotion too. He had brief spells at Middlesbrough and Newcastle United but resigned from the latter following signs of unrest from the Toon Army. Nothing new there then?

Charlton returned to the tranquillity of Northumberland doing a TV series on coaching and later fishing, his second love before being approached by the Republic of Ireland. Jack immediately researched every player in the country looking for tentative Irish links and added John Aldridge and Ray Houghton for example whose grand parents were from the Emerald Isle.

Ireland qualified for Euro 88 in Germany and were drawn against England. A Houghton goal was enough to beat England 1-0. Ireland drew 1-1 with Russia and lost to eventual champions Holland. Jack was named runner up in the World Manager of the Year.

Charlton developed a love of the Irish people and lifestyle and under him they qualified for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. They defeated Romania and eventually went out to hosts Italy by a single goal. Jack was summoned to the Vatican to meet Pope John Paul II. Jack took the Republic to the 1994 World Cup in the USA where they defeated group favourites Italy but went out again to Holland in the second round. Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 96 and Jack retired.

Since that time he has restricted by his own choice his involvement in the game with the occasional appearance as a television pundit and after dinner speaking which brings me full circle to where we first met.

On 6th January 2008 Jack & Pat Charlton will have been married 50 years. He had many honours in the game plus an OBE, honorary Irish citizenship, Freeman of the City of Dublin and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the beautiful game.
It was a pleasure meeting Pat and Jack Charlton.