When I was growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s and began to follow the beautiful game of football at a professional club and international level, I had two stand out heroes from an English perspective – Jimmy Greaves, who died two years ago, and Bobby Charlton, who died earlier in the week.

According to Wikipedia: “Sir Robert Charlton CBE (11 October 1937 – 21 October 2023) was an English professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, and left winger. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d’Or. He finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting in 1967 and 1968. He played almost all of his club football at Manchester United, where he became renowned for his attacking instincts, passing abilities from midfield, ferocious long-range shooting from both left and right foot, fitness, and stamina. He was cautioned only twice in his career; once against Argentina in the 1966 World Cup, and once in a league match against Chelsea. With success at club and international level, he was one of nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the European Cup and the Ballon d’Or. His elder brother Jack, who was also in the World Cup–winning team, was a former defender for Leeds United and international manager”.

We all have to go sometime and now there is just one from the 1966 World Cup winning team (that I remember so well) left. Words like “legend” and “great” are easy to band around but in the case of Bobby Charlton that would not be an exaggeration. As well as playing for England, where he was one of, if not its main star, there was his contribution to the fortunes of the club that he was to be associated with for most of his life, including being a true sportsman and exemplar of the values and traditions of the club.

Following the Munich air disaster in 1958, the then 20-year-old Bobby, who was one of the survivors (8 players had died in that crash) was to go on and play a major role. Ten years later, he helped Manchester United to win the European Cup, in a team built around the survivors. The other memory etched on my mind was that of a footballing statesman, from after the time he retired from playing until his death. Besides playing the game and being an example that I would hold up to any young footballer, his participation in the resurgence of Manchester United as a top club that won major trophies under Alex Ferguson, was an outstanding one. Along with his talent as a football player, was the dignified way he conducted himself, on and off the field, being a mentor to some of the modern legends of the game and that as its widely respected ambassador.

We thank you for the memories and we salute you Sir Bobby.