How good was John Charles? (Wales, Leeds, Juventus)
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weebudsbud
Well-Known Member
As one of the 'senior' members of the forum, he was even before my time, but yes, was very well regarded and spoken of by my elders. Up there with the best of that time was always said.
drgriffen
Well-Known Member
Way before my time, but I always remember an episode of Football Italia when they took JC to Turin to talk about his time with Juve.
They were talking away and unannounced Del Piero walks up to him to shake his hand. He looked in awe of Charles.
Him and Sivori, his striking partner, are legends with Juventus, which tells you a lot.
They were talking away and unannounced Del Piero walks up to him to shake his hand. He looked in awe of Charles.
Him and Sivori, his striking partner, are legends with Juventus, which tells you a lot.
Thunderclaw
Well-Known Member
Very good, but a level below Lamps.
BFOne
Well-Known Member
They say he used to light up the pitch too.
Bristol_bnose3
Well-Known Member
He described Northern Ireland's Billy Cush as one of the most difficult players to play against along with Alfredo Di Stefano 
all I know about him really.
all I know about him really.
sheddensbear
Well-Known Member
He could play as a No. 9 or a No. 5. His Leeds career, apart from one season, was in division 2 but his whole career at Juve was in Serie A. 79 goals in 1st 111 games for Juve.
Never cautioned in Italy, he was called the gentle giant. He was tall (6'2") for a player in those days. Won Serie A 3 times in 5 years, also top scorer once.
Never cautioned in Italy, he was called the gentle giant. He was tall (6'2") for a player in those days. Won Serie A 3 times in 5 years, also top scorer once.
wee bud's pit boots
Well-Known Member
From what I've read, he was as good a centre half as he was centre forward.
Derek Johnstone was always thought of as versatile as John Charles when he broke through.
And we don't 'big up' or exagerate as a rule.
senefelder
Well-Known Member
I suppose the best accolade for Charles was that he was once voted Serie A's greatest ever foreign player. This poll was taken after the era of Gullit, Van Batsten, Platini, Ronaldo etc.
One of the original genuine superstars. And a real gentleman as well. We moved down to England 35 years ago and my then 10 year old son went to one of those week long Ian St John Soccer schools. A few Leeds legends there, including Mr Charles, who my boy said took the time to talk to all the kids.
As an aside, my son got the Player of the Day award one of the days, went up in his Rangers strip to get his prize and Eddie Gray said “If I’d known you were wearing that you wouldn’t have won”! Total absence of malice though. Changed days unfortunately.
As an aside, my son got the Player of the Day award one of the days, went up in his Rangers strip to get his prize and Eddie Gray said “If I’d known you were wearing that you wouldn’t have won”! Total absence of malice though. Changed days unfortunately.
wee bud's pit boots
Well-Known Member
MrStruth
Well-Known Member
He played against Scotland at Hampden. In the dying minutes of the game he was clean through on goal with Willie Telfer pursuing him. The fans wanted Telfer to chop him down but he later claimed it was against his ethos and Charles scored to deny Scotland the win.
Telfer would never be selected for Scotland again.
Though he did win a transfer to Rangers. The oldest player to ever sign for the club at that time.
Telfer would never be selected for Scotland again.
Though he did win a transfer to Rangers. The oldest player to ever sign for the club at that time.
wee bud's pit boots
Well-Known Member
Eddie Gray was a gentleman and that would have been said tongue in cheek.
As was his old man. The Grays stayed beneath my paternal grandparents in a close in Castlemilk.
Mr Gray snr told my granda of how Sean Fallon gave it the religious blackmail, when trying to sign him for the filth circa 1964/65ish.
Not verbatim, but near enough and you get the gist.
Mr Gray - How much will you pay for my son signing on?
Fallon - Well nothing, he comes from a good Catholic family.
Mr Gray - Well Leeds (who I think at that time, were in the old second division) have promised Eddie a great signing on fee, so fcuk off.
My old man also told me about Ne'erday 1969. Him, his brothers and my granda got out of a taxi after the game (we beat the yahoos 1-0) at my granny's house to carry on the festivities.
As they were going up the stairs, Mr Gray opened the door and with a bottle of whisky in his hands, he said to my granda 'I'm coming up to sit in with you, she (Mrs Gray) is in with her sisters, so sod that.
Now, believe me, he was in with ome staunch/Rangers company that night and he didn't mind.
Mr Gray snr actually made me a Rangers shield when I was a boy.
tazzabear
Well-Known Member
Was that not a thing with this chap?
He was like Derek Johnstone, some years later, and as comfortable at centre half as centre forward?
tazzabear
Well-Known Member
I’ve just repeated this!
wee bud's pit boots
Well-Known Member
I believed you.
From all accounts, Eddie was always down to earth, but his brother Frank was more of a 'do you know who I am?' sort of character.
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wee bud's pit boots
Well-Known Member
Just read it.
My dad, who was from Leeds, also. He always spoke of him in awe.
The Elland Road West Stand is called the John Charles Stand.
MOT
Northumbeara
Well-Known Member
My father in law started watching football in the 50s and continued to do so till he passed a few years back.
Would always wax lyrical about John Charles as the best player he had ever seen and the auld boy saw a fair amount over the years.
Would always wax lyrical about John Charles as the best player he had ever seen and the auld boy saw a fair amount over the years.
Nikau's Mullet
Well-Known Member
He took some real punishment in games for Juve from opposition players, but he never retaliated.
I think there was a story where he turned down an opportunity to score in the Turin derby as a Torino player was laid out injured. That night Charles was woken in the middle of the night by a group of Torino fans who turned up to thank him for his sportsmanship. He invited them into his house and they drank all his wine in his cellar!
When they asked Jack Charlton to pick his all time 11 he couldn't decide where he would select him ,as a centre half or centre forward as he thought he was that good in both positions.
I think there was a story where he turned down an opportunity to score in the Turin derby as a Torino player was laid out injured. That night Charles was woken in the middle of the night by a group of Torino fans who turned up to thank him for his sportsmanship. He invited them into his house and they drank all his wine in his cellar!
When they asked Jack Charlton to pick his all time 11 he couldn't decide where he would select him ,as a centre half or centre forward as he thought he was that good in both positions.
Elmo-Putney
Member
A great player but not one of "the greats" imo.
Purplestar
Well-Known Member
Probably the fact that you have started a thread about the man in 2024 shows how much that he meant to British and European football mate.
Long before my time but obviously a great player of his time.
Long before my time but obviously a great player of his time.
High Society
Well-Known Member
He was similar in style to our own DJ, could ply centre half or centre forward, terrific player
