Big tribute for Big Jack
Cortege will travel along streets where he and Bobby used to play football as kids
A MAJOR tribute to Jack Charlton will take place in Ashington on the day of his funeral.
The World Cup winner died at home aged 85 last Friday and his passing sparked tributes from around the world.
The surviving Charlton brothers will be reunited for the first time in years at Jack’s funeral, amid a clamour for the World Cup winner to be knighted.
Sir Bobby, 82, Gordon, 77, and Tommy, 74, will gather for a ceremony that would have been attended by a line-up of football legends if not for the pandemic.
But the coronavirus restrictions mean that only about 20 close relatives will be allowed into next Tuesday’s service to say a final farewell to Big Jack.
Fans will, however, be given the chance to pay tribute as the funeral cortege passes through his home town of Ashington, Northumberland.
And plans are under way to line the streets to give the local legend a final send off.
It will travel along streets where he and Bobby used to play before becoming the world’s most famous football brothers.
There will be a stop at Hurst Park, where the pair loved a kickaround as boys, close to their old terrace house at 114 Beatrice Street.
His son John, 61, and his Dublin-born wife Deirdre, 44, told how countless fans were touched by his time as Republic of Ireland manager 30 years ago.
Jack died as he had lived – with his loving family close by. He saw his grandchildren, gave John one last thumbs-up, and passed away peacefully with his wife of 62 years, Pat, 85, daughter Deborah Wilkinson, 57, and son Peter, 53, by his side.
“It was just like dad,” said John. “He had a play with his grandchildren on Thursday night, but did not sleep well. He was at home in bed. On Friday, he opened his eyes, then closed them and was gone, it was very peaceful and typical of him, a good way to go, surrounded by his family.
“He had an amazing life and left great memories.
“Some will remember him as a World Cup winner; in that great Leeds United side; or as Republic of Ireland manager. Niall Quinn says it kick started the peace process, people in Ireland looked beyond the troubles.”
As they sat at his bedside in his final hours, his children remarked on how little their dad had changed down the years, a towering figure whose mischievous smile won him an army of fans.
“He did not look that different from his 20s,” added John, of Ponteland.
“His hair has receded, but it was like that way back. People would run to meet him when he was abroad. They recognised him everywhere. He never refused an autograph, and would always stop for a chat. He made so many people happy.”
His father was diagnosed with lymphoma in November. The decision was made not to treat it because of his age.
He had struggled with dementia in later years, though John remains unconvinced that it was caused by heading the ball during his football career.
Jack, a proud grandfather-of-eight and great grandfather-of-two, is the sixth member of England’s World Cup final team to have died after captain Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Gordon Banks, Alan Ball and Ray Wilson.
His funeral takes place on Tuesday, July 21 at 11.45am at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle. The cortege will leave the family home in Dalton, near Newcastle at around 9am to pass through the streets of Ashington.
It will meet a police escort there at around 10am before going along Newbiggin Road, turn right onto North Seaton Road, into the town centre on Woodhorn Road, before turning down Alexander Road, with a stop outside Hurst Park Welfare where he played as a child.
It will take the same journey back, then down the A1 to the crematorium. The family is making details of his funeral public so people can pay tribute – while observing social distancing guidelines.