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

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

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

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He had a little sports shop in Rhiwbina where I bought my subutteo teams. He was a very kind man, always friendly to customers and probably not very commercially minded!

Different days.

:ayatollah:

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Originally Posted by rich munn

He had a little sports shop in Rhiwbina where I bought my subutteo teams. He was a very kind man, always friendly to customers and probably not very commercially minded!

Different days.

:ayatollah:

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Subutteo, that's a thing of the past, although I bet it's still popular, probably a bit of a cult thing now. I had a few sets, kept on changing the players as they were bloody rubbish!

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Subutteo, that's a thing of the past, although I bet it's still popular, probably a bit of a cult thing now. I had a few sets, kept on changing the players as they were bloody rubbish!

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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.

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Originally Posted by Moodybluebird

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.

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Nice one, love bits of Trivia like that 👍

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Subutteo, that's a thing of the past, although I bet it's still popular, probably a bit of a cult thing now. I had a few sets, kept on changing the players as they were bloody rubbish!

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You had Bowler in a set back then?

He was as been said many times, as well as being a Giant as a footballer he was a gentleman and a gentle man, saw him play for Leeds against City before his move to Juventus.

Watched him for Wales v England, 1960 I believe at Ninian Park, he was marking Ray Pointer, the Burnley C/F, Big John was Centre half that day and was left alone as Pointer tried to race past him, he put out his arm and spun Pointer like a spinning top. As last man he would have been sent off today. Fans were hilarious. Amazing player even in his latter days at City.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

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

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My Dad spoke of him in the same way which I always found a bit odd…..

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Originally Posted by olderblue

You had Bowler in a set back then?

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Yup, 70s hair and all that... 👍🤣

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

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

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My father in law played with him and John Charles was his manager.

Basically said he was a lovely bloke off the pitch who was too generous and others took advantage of. He gets upset still by disrespect some showed to Charles during the time they played or was managed by him.

Whilst on the pitch, you would be risking it if trying to 'do him'.

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Originally Posted by rich munn

He had a little sports shop in Rhiwbina where I bought my subutteo teams. He was a very kind man, always friendly to customers and probably not very commercially minded!

Different days.

:ayatollah:

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He had a skip around the back of the shop, I had loads from it almost perfect leather footballs, football shirts all sorts of decent too good to throw away stuff!

I went into his shop too as a kid, he was very humble you would hardly know he was the best player in Wales a few years before.

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Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

He had a skip around the back of the shop, I had loads from it almost perfect leather footballs, football shirts all sorts of decent too good to throw away stuff!

I went into his shop too as a kid, he was very humble you would hardly know he was the best player in Wales a few years before.

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Just in Wales?

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Originally Posted by rich munn

He had a little sports shop in Rhiwbina where I bought my subutteo teams. He was a very kind man, always friendly to customers and probably not very commercially minded!

Different days.

:ayatollah:

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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.

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Originally Posted by splott parker

Just in Wales?

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You are right a bit before my time but he was one of the best in the World in his day :thumbup:

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.

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Originally Posted by Mr Soul '68

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.

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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.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by Mr Soul '68

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

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

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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.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

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.

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

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Originally Posted by Moodybluebird

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by B. Oddie

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

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yes.

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Originally Posted by Cyncoed Slumdog

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.

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:thumbup:

Leeds fan.