Charlie was their darling by saving sweets for fans
Charlton Athletic celebrated 100 years of playing at The Valley yesterday.
The supporters have seen plenty of characters playing at the famous old ground, but goalkeeper Charlie Wright is one of the greatest.
His early years saw him mysteriously freed by Rangers before becoming Hong Kong’s Player of the Year in between performing for Workington and Grimsby Town.
He was recovering in hospital from a typically full-blooded Third Division clash when he was told of interest from The Addicks.
“You took a lot of punishment during my time in goal,” Charlie recalled. “I suffered a broken nose five or six times, cracked ribs, and a fractured jaw.
“There was no quarter given, and I think some of that’s missing from modern football.
“Grimsby and Walsall seemed to have real dingdong battles, and I was on the receiving end of a forward following through in March, 1966.
“I was in a Midlands hospital, coming round from being knocked unconscious, when I was told by a nurse that a London club wanted to speak to me about signing.
“It turned out to be Charlton, and I enjoyed a memorable five years there. I seemed to have a great affinity with the supporters.”
Charlie was known for chatting to fans behind his goal, and that went down a storm.
He’d swing on the bar and bow to the fans as they chanted: “Sir Charlie Wright”.
He went on: “I didn’t drink or smoke, but I must have told someone I had a bit of a sweet tooth.
“Fans started chucking sweets at me, and I’d gather them up in my bunnet.
“After the game, I’d go up to the kids who were standing at the terracing wall and share them out.
“I suppose it was a bit of public relations before football clubs really thought about that.
“It was one of those little things that made my career so enjoyable.”
The Glasgow-born goalie began his professional career with Rangers, and is still puzzled about his departure from Ibrox in 1958.
He said: “I was asked to go upstairs and see the manager, Scot Symon.
“He told me that he’d received really good reports about me, and that I would have a successful future at the club. I was ecstatic.
“I’d played about 24 reserve games at a time when Billy Ritchie and George Niven were the keepers ahead of me.
“Four weeks later, I got a letter saying I was being freed.”
Charlie had a few offers from English clubs, but was persuaded to join Workington by former Newcastle United player, Joe Harvey.
He said: “Joe told me that he didn’t know the first thing about goalkeeping. But he worked with me two afternoons a week and really improved my game.
“I hero-worshipped Joe.”
Charlie didn’t manage to get a Scotland cap, but did get one taste of international football.
He said: “Everton wanted me but were told I’d left to do National Service two days earlier.
“I served in the Border Regiment and that took me to Berlin and Hong Kong.
“I was picked to play for the Hong Kong team to play Peru.
“They had beaten England the year before and I saved a penalty against them.
“So I was voted Player of the Year.”
A change of management at Workington led to Charlie being told to go to Grimsby and not come back!
After Charlton, he had two years with Bolton Wanderers. He later managed York City then returned to boss Bolton.
Charlie, now 80, went on to run a cafe beside Charlton’s ground.
Yesterday he travelled from his home in Kent to attend the centenary celebrations at The Valley.