England and Manchester United Legend Sir Bobby Charlton, has died
Charlton who was a key figure in England’s 1966 World Cup victory, died in his sleep on Saturday morning at the age of 86.
He won 106 caps for England and scored 49 international goals – records for his country at the time.
During a 17-year first-team career with United he won three league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup.
Charlton was born in Ashington, Northumberland, England on 11 October 1937 to coal miner Robert “Bob” Charlton. He was related to several professional footballers on his mother’s side of the family
Charlton became one of the famed Busby Babes, the collection of talented footballers who emerged through the system at Old Trafford in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as Matt Busby set about a long-term plan of rebuilding the club after the Second World War. He worked his way through the pecking order of teams, scoring regularly for the youth and reserve sides before he was handed his first team debut against Charlton Athletic in October 1956. Charlton played 14 times for United in that first season, scoring twice on his debut and managing a total of 12 goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 away win over Charlton Athletic in February. United won the league championship
Charlton was involved in the Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of many Manchester United players who were on their way back to the UK after a European match
Charlton suffered cuts to his head and severe shock, and was in hospital for a week. Seven of his teammates had perished at the scene, including Taylor and Pegg, with whom he and Viollet had swapped seats prior to the fatal take-off attempt.
Of the 44 passengers and crew (including the 17-strong Manchester United squad), 23 people (eight of them Manchester United players) died as a result of their injuries in the crash. Charlton survived with minor injuries. Of the eight other players who survived, two of them were injured so badly that they never played again.
Further success with Manchester United came at last when they beat Leicester City 3–1 in the FA Cup final of 1963, with Charlton finally earning a winners’ medal.
Charlton’s last game for Manchester United was against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 28 April 1973, and in appreciation for his services to Manchester United, the club constructed
The “United Trinity” statue of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Bestoutside Old Trafford
