John Charles (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
John W. Charles was an English
professional footballer
. He spent his entire professional career at Blackpool
in the early 1900s, making over 200 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a midfielder
.
-born Charles made his debut for Blackpool in the opening game of the 1912–13 season — a 1–1 draw at Grimsby Town
. He went on to be ever-present in the club's 38 league games and two FA Cup
ties against Tottenham Hotspur
at White Hart Lane
. He scored four goals in the league and both of the club's two goals in the FA Cup (the first in a 1–1 draw that took the tie to a replay; the second in a 6–1 defeat).
The following season, 1913–14, Charles made 31 league appearances and scored seven goals.
In 1914–15, he made 35 league appearances and scored six goals, five of which came in the final seven games of the campaign.
Four seasons of inter–war
football ensued, after which, in 1919–20, Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in Bill Norman
. Charles found himself alternating between the right and left flanks as he made 27 league appearances and scored four goals (including the only goal of the game in a victory over Bury
at Bloomfield Road
on 2 April. He also scored in their 4–1 FA Cup first-round replay victory at Derby County
on 14 January.
In 1920–21, Charles appeared in 33 of the Blackpool's 42 league games, scoring three goals (including two in a 3–2 home victory over South Shields
on 19 March.
Charles also made 33 league appearances the following 1921–22 season, and found the net on two occasions. The first was the only goal in a victory at Rotherham United
on 5 November; the second in another victory, this time the first in a 4–0 result at home to South Shields on 8 April.
A quarter-century of league appearances followed in 1922–23, Blackpool's final season under the guidance of Norman. Charles scored three goals, all in victories (one a single-goal result against Manchester United
at Bloomfield Road on 31 March).
Frank Buckley
was installed as manager for the 1923–24 campaign, and he selected Charles on only six occasions in the league. He managed to score one goal, however, in a 1–1 draw at home to Stoke City
on 15 September. His 241st and final appearance for the club occurred in their FA Cup second-round tie at Southampton
on 2 February. The Seasiders lost 3–1.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He spent his entire professional career at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the early 1900s, making over 200 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Blackpool
CrookCrook, County Durham
Crook is a market town in County Durham, England. It is situated about 10 miles south-west of Durham.Crook lies a couple of miles north of the River Wear, on the A690 from Durham...
-born Charles made his debut for Blackpool in the opening game of the 1912–13 season — a 1–1 draw at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. He went on to be ever-present in the club's 38 league games and two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
ties against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
. He scored four goals in the league and both of the club's two goals in the FA Cup (the first in a 1–1 draw that took the tie to a replay; the second in a 6–1 defeat).
The following season, 1913–14, Charles made 31 league appearances and scored seven goals.
In 1914–15, he made 35 league appearances and scored six goals, five of which came in the final seven games of the campaign.
Four seasons of inter–war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
football ensued, after which, in 1919–20, Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in Bill Norman
Bill Norman (football manager)
William "Bill" Norman was an English football manager.Between 1918 and 1923, he was in charge of Blackpool, who became one of a growing number of clubs to appoint a full-time manager. Before that point, the team selection had been the responsibility of a committee comprising directors, the captain,...
. Charles found himself alternating between the right and left flanks as he made 27 league appearances and scored four goals (including the only goal of the game in a victory over Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on 2 April. He also scored in their 4–1 FA Cup first-round replay victory at Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 14 January.
In 1920–21, Charles appeared in 33 of the Blackpool's 42 league games, scoring three goals (including two in a 3–2 home victory over South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
on 19 March.
Charles also made 33 league appearances the following 1921–22 season, and found the net on two occasions. The first was the only goal in a victory at Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on 5 November; the second in another victory, this time the first in a 4–0 result at home to South Shields on 8 April.
A quarter-century of league appearances followed in 1922–23, Blackpool's final season under the guidance of Norman. Charles scored three goals, all in victories (one a single-goal result against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Bloomfield Road on 31 March).
Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
was installed as manager for the 1923–24 campaign, and he selected Charles on only six occasions in the league. He managed to score one goal, however, in a 1–1 draw at home to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 15 September. His 241st and final appearance for the club occurred in their FA Cup second-round tie at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 2 February. The Seasiders lost 3–1.