It’s really sad.. the last few times I have tried to call him up he’s been unwell

More heartache for brother Tom

United – records that stood for decades – and helped the club win the European Cup in 1968.

His 49 goals for England put him at the top of the list until Wayne Rooney overtook him in 2015.

Up until the end of last season, Sir Bobby regularly attended United games alongside Lady Norma.

Tom, one of the four Charlton brothers, said: “Bob was the best footballer I have ever seen.

“And I’ve seen lots of good footballers who do tricky things and all that but Bob was a complete footballer. He was superb.

“Bob was always a quiet guy, he never looked for limelight. He wanted a quiet life with his family.

“He’s a nice guy, a lovely fella. Bob was always a good brother. I never had a wrong word with Bob or Jack – it’s wonderful.

“I’m the youngest, Bob was second and Jack the eldest. I always looked up to Bob and Jack but in different ways.

Jack was authoritarian and my big brother. Bob has always been a gentleman. Bob would not hurt anybody, he’d rather say nothing than say something nasty.

“I remember him tapping me on the shoulder in the board room at Manchester United and he said ‘I’ve got somebody I want you to meet’ and it was [Dutch footballing great] Johan

Cruyff. I was speechless, stood there with my gob open. Bob had a little laugh at that.

“Bob appreciated just being treated like a brother. I was just his little brother, someone to look after.”

Sir Bobby received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in 2008 – it was presented by brother Jack.

A significant number of other players from that era have also been diagnosed with dementia.

It puts more pressure on calls to further investigate the possible link between football and brain disease.

Talking about the concerns, Tom said: “Heading can’t do you any good.

“The balls hurt when they were heavy, and they were wet as well. On a rainy day they were even twice the weight again. It is a totally unnatural thing to do.

“But Bobby wasn’t one for the heading the ball – Jack was the guy who headed the ball.”

On a pit man’s salary, Tom could not afford to go to Wembley to watch his brothers in the final in 66, so he saw the game on TV. A talented footballer himself, his career was cut short when he broke his kneecap aged 23.

Tom, who lives in Rotherham, South Yorks, hailed his two famous siblings, saying: “I’m lucky to have had two wonderful brothers. Who could be more proud than me?”