For most of the world, it was the day they said goodbye to a legend of football and one of England’s greatest ever players.
But to Bobby Charlton’s family, it was a time of grief and deep personal loss. The only surviving Charlton brother joined 1,000 mourners celebrating the life of “Wor Bobby” in Manchester Cathedral on Monday. In just three short years, Tommy Charlton, 77, has lost all three of his older siblings – Sir Bobby, fellow England world cup winner Jack and their brother Gordon.
As the world remembered an all-time great for his skill, grace and shooting power, Tommy told of the hero off the pitch. He said: “He never had a bad word to say about anyone and no one had a bad word to say about him. These past couple of weeks, I have had the chance to reflect on his life.
“He was just a wonderful man.” He added: “I know he will be up in heaven and I am sure Jack will see him again.”
He recalled how Bobby bought him a ticket for the 1966 World Cup final, much-prized at 15 shillings. But he gave it away because he couldn’t afford to travel to London. “I wasn’t earning much money then,” recalled Tommy, who was 20 at the time and working at Lynemouth Colliery in his native Northumberland.
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“I decided to give it to the first person who asked and it was my foreman at the pit, known as ‘Old Norman’ Conn. He was in his sixties then but he cycled all the way to London for the final and all the way back again.
“He stayed in youth hostels on the way down. I knew Bob would be impressed. I could not take any money for it. Bob had given it to me. So old Norman got it for nothing.” Tommy added: “The only people I could ask for the money were Jack and Bob, and they were busy.
“My mum and dad went with the Daily Mirror to see the game. The paper paid their expenses so they didn’t miss out.”
Charlton paid for a ticket for his younger brother Tommy to see the clash at Wembley (Popperfoto via Getty Images)Tommy watched on a tiny TV in his home town of Ashington, Northumberland, with a handful of the 32 million worldwide audience. He recalled: “I was with a girlfriend at her house, but they didn’t know a thing about football. Bob and Jack were in the big games week in, week out, so I was used to it. But I was bursting with pride when they won.
“Bob was in tears and Jack just fell to his knees, he was overcome.” The two brothers were later given a civic reception in an open-top Rolls-Royce, which drove them through the streets of Ashington. But Tommy, of Rotherham, South Yorks, added: “Bob never changed. He was just an incredibly nice guy.”
He said Bobby would straighten his tie and check his outfit for him whenever they went out together. “That was him being my brother, and I loved it,” he said. “Our childhood was full of fun, we played football in the street, and Bob was always outstanding. There were grown men who came to the house to play in their team when he was 12 and 13. He was the best player I ever saw.
“When I watched him play for Manchester United, I would see him afterwards and say ‘how did you do that?’” In later life, Bobby’s dementia took its toll. The last time Tommy spoke to him on the phone, they both ended up in tears. “I knew our Bob was upset,” said Tommy. “So we decided it was best not to call again.”
But Tommy admits giving the ticket away as he couldn't afford the train fareSir Bobby was 86 when he died last month; Jack, who also suffered from dementia, died in 2020 aged 85, while Gordon passed away aged 79 in January, also after battling dementia. Current United players Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Tom Heaton were among the mourners, while past stars included Mike Summerbee, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Roy Keane.
Ex-captain Steve Bruce arrived alongside David Beckham ’s mum, Sandra, and Callum Best, son of Sir Bobby’s United team-mate George, was also in attendance. Fan Jim Dippall, 68, said: “I idolised him. I used to get the football pink after the games to read about him.”
Jim was in goal for a Manchester Styal side who came up against an all-star team which included Sir Bobby in 1992. He recalled: “They got a free kick. I was waiting for Bobby to take it, and I was still waiting when it was in the back of the net.”
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Mick Wilcock, 71, said: “To me, Sir Bobby was Mr Manchester United. The European Cup team of 1968 was my team, the final was the greatest night of my life.” Sam Smart, 67, Manchester’s first Black fireman, said: “He played because he loved the game. It is more of a job for players today. Sir Bobby never lost that passion.”
John Williams, 80, recalled: “We saw the all-time greats – Puskas, Di Stefano – at Old Trafford. “Bobby was up there with the best of them. It really was the Theatre of Dreams back then.”
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