He had everything and yet.............

[Random in Duquesa]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

I went in there sometime around 69/70 to buy football socks. I wanted Cardiff City ones which they didn't have, so ended up with Man Utd ones (please forgive me Sludgey I was only 9 or 10!) He took the time to talk to me about football, and about both Cardiff City and Man Utd.

Did anyone on here go to the John Charles Testimonial game in the early part '72 to raise funds for John? From memory it was Wales v Leeds Utd. Leeds won 7-6 (I think!). Tosh scored the opening goal in front of the Grange End, who went mad, with chants of "We Want Toshack back", as he was at the time hitting the highlights with Liverpool.

I was there, it was an all stars team v Leeds.
Including Tosh", Ian St John, Ian Gibson amongst others. Put into Google and the programme and full teams come up.

[B. Oddie]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

It true that he went his whole career without a sending off or even a yellow?

[Des Parrot]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

I trained with & played a couple of games for Hereford reserves in the late 70’s. Although he’d left many years before, he was still around the club doing social & corporate events. He always had time for everyone, you’d would never have guessed that he was a superstar. Humble, quiet, unassuming.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

I went in there sometime around 69/70 to buy football socks. I wanted Cardiff City ones which they didn't have, so ended up with Man Utd ones (please forgive me Sludgey I was only 9 or 10!) He took the time to talk to me about football, and about both Cardiff City and Man Utd.

Did anyone on here go to the John Charles Testimonial game in the early part '72 to raise funds for John? From memory it was Wales v Leeds Utd. Leeds won 7-6 (I think!). Tosh scored the opening goal in front of the Grange End, who went mad, with chants of "We Want Toshack back", as he was at the time hitting the highlights with Liverpool.

I was at that game and thought it was a 7-6 defeat for Leeds, because they were at the height of their powers then and no one believed me when I told them I’d seen them concede seven in a game.

[Moodybluebird]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

Although I vaguely remember seeing him play for the City when I was a nipper, my overriding memory of the great man was when when he officially opened Llanrumney High School's sport's hall in the late 60's. He wore a light grey suit and looked every inch the superstar he was.

[Keyser Soze]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

Looking at and listening to John Charles in this video, it seems hard to find a fault with him, but I can remember how my parents used to hint at him having plenty of problems in later life without going into details. Since then, I've heard stories about him, basically, being too trusting and generous with his money, but I wish I'd wish I'd seen him in his pomp and can't help but think he'd be a huge star if he had played a few decades later.

https://x.com/Yorkshire_Tales/status...40801061503135

My grandfather’s favourite player. Wasn’t just a star in Wales but a legend in Italy where he is still remembered. Grandad said the 1958 World Cup was dubbed “Pele v Charles”.

I never knew what he looked like until around 1997-98 when he was outside the corner of Mill Lane and a friend of mine said “That’s John Charles!”. Thought he was winding me up but it was real. My friend had his camera and got a photo with the three of us. Got the photo developed by post and shared it with my grandad and he welled up with a tear. Made hia day at least.

[Mr Soul '68]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

I was at that game and thought it was a 7-6 defeat for Leeds, because they were at the height of their powers then and no one believed me when I told them I’d seen them concede seven in a game.

Bob, you could be right maybe the John Charles All Stars did win 7-6, not lose. The match was a long time ago

[cityhammer]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

Just reminded me of a bit of trivia I acquired a few years ago. The creator of the game wanted to call the game Hobby but was refused a trademark under that name. So he resubmitted it using the the name Subutteo, which is the Latin name for a Hobby, which is a small Falcon. And this was accepted.

As a lover of trivia i heard this about 20 years ago and it's still my favourite bit of trivia that i tell people about whenever the opportunity arises.

[Cleve van Leef]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

It true that he went his whole career without a sending off or even a yellow?

yes.

[Cleve van Leef]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

I was there for his City debut against Norwich when he scored a really flukey goal. He took an indirect free kick just inside City's half which was a bit overhit but it bounced and went in off Kevin Keelan's shoulder. If he hadn't touched it, a goal kick would have been the decision.

[NYCBlue]

Re: He had everything and yet.............

Leeds fan.