John Charles (2 Viewers)

OP
Jem83

Jem83

maitre'd at Canal Bar
Nov 7, 2005
22,865
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #10
    "If there was another John Charles anywhere in the world today, I would carry him on my shoulders to Torino."
    Giampiero Boniperti

    "Whenever people ask who was the most effective British player of all time, they think of George Best or Our Kid. But they forget John."
    Jack Charlton

    "I remember looking at him and thinking 'Flipping heck!' I went up with him at one of the goals and I ended up heading his chest. He was so big and had such a terrific leap."
    Jimmy Armfield, Blackpool and England

    "I learned my lesson early in life - that for success in soccer you need a big heart, not a big head" - John Charles

    "One of the great sadnesses is that in Italy he is more revered than he is here. You talk to any Italian fan about football and they'll mention John Charles once they know you're English, whether they saw him or not.

    And he has that legendary status there which sadly has been forgotten here."
    Michael Parkinson
     
    OP
    Jem83

    Jem83

    maitre'd at Canal Bar
    Nov 7, 2005
    22,865
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #11
    "The respect Charles earned from Juventus fans was shown when they voted him to be the best-ever foreign player to play for their team. This is a remarkable feat at a club which has had such foreign stars as Michel Platini in its first team. Even in his later years he found it difficult to walk the streets of Turin without being mobbed.

    He remained greatly honoured in both Britain and Italy. In January 2004 he suffered a heart attack shortly before an interview for Italian television, and required the partial amputation of one foot for circulation reasons before he was returned to Britain. He died in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, early on 21 February 2004."
     

    ReBeL

    The Jackal
    Jan 14, 2005
    22,871
    #12
    City honours Leeds United legend



    A sporting complex in Leeds is being named after one of the city's footballing legends, John Charles.

    The South Leeds stadium, which includes athletics facilities, football pitches and indoor tennis courts, will be known as the John Charles Centre for Sport.

    The Swansea-born star, nicknamed the gentle giant, played for Leeds United from 1948 to 1957 before joining Juventus. He died in February 2004.

    His widow Glenda said the location of the centre was perfect.

    "Although John in his heart was a Welshman, his home was Leeds, where he had come as a young man," she said.

    "The site is perfect, being in the area close to where he first lodged when he came to Leeds, his beloved Leeds United and also where his home was.

    John Charles played for Leeds for nine years before joining Juventus

    "I know that the people who will use the centre who know of John will always remember him fondly, and hopefully, many young people will be able to learn about him too."

    Leeds City Council said it intended the centre's facilities to become renowned for sporting excellence and immortalise John Charles' legacy.

    Leader of the council, councillor Andrew Carter, said: "I can think of no more fitting tribute than to ensure that his name continues as a byword for excellence among the countless people, young and old, who will come to use the centre named after him."

    As well as the existing facilities at the centre, work is under way on a £16.5m project to build a new 50m swimming pool and diving centre, due for completion in the summer of 2007.

    bbc.co.uk
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    Very nice step for John Charles the legend...
     

    ReBeL

    The Jackal
    Jan 14, 2005
    22,871
    #13
    'Gentle giant' in biography list


    "Gentle Giant" footballer John Charles is among five people from Wales added to the online edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB).

    The founder of the Bank of Wales Sir Julian Hodge, rugby player Vivian Jenkins and writers Bernice Rubens and Islwyn Ffowe Elis are also included.

    They are among 211 additions to the dictionary which also features DJ John Peel and serial killer Harold Shipman.

    All the dictionary's new entries died in 2004.

    Published since 1885, the dictionary lists those who have "for good or ill" left their mark on British society.

    Nicknamed "Il buono gigante" - the Gentle Giant - during a successful spell with Juventus in Italy, Mr Charles also played for Leeds, Swansea and Cardiff and was a Welsh international.

    His entry explains what set him apart from other players was his ability to "play brilliantly as a centre-half or centre-forward".

    Sir Julian Hodge's achievements in establishing the Bank of Wales despite growing up with no money, connections or qualifications, are noted in his DNB entry.

    Aberfan-born Vivian Jenkins' prowess with both the rugby and cricket ball are mentioned in his mini-biography which also points out that his debut game for Wales was also the first Welsh victory at Twickenham since the ground opened in 1910.

    Cardiff-born Bernice Ruebens is remembered for novels which recall her Welsh-Jewish upbringing in the Splott district of the city.

    The entry for Welsh language novelist Islwyn Ffowc Elis notes that his books told stories of Montgomeryshire farmers and the effects of the changing social conditions of the post war years.

    Historian Peter Stead, co-author of For Club and Country - Welsh Football Greats, said it was fitting Mr Charles was included in the DNB because he was a world-class player and a lovely man.

    "He achieved world fame," said Mr Stead. "He was Italian player of the year at a time when football was very popular there.

    "But when he came back to Wales in the '60s and '70s he never got recognition.

    "It is fitting that this great institution (the DNB) should recognise a great player like John Charles."

    Accounts of scientists, journalists, actors and broadcasters are also among those added to the DNB, which is published by Oxford University Press and is updated online three times a year.

    The next online update will be published in May 2008.

    BBC
     

    ReBeL

    The Jackal
    Jan 14, 2005
    22,871
    #15
    August 3 – Charles Signs with Juventus

    Welshman John Charles became the first British professional to sign with a foreign club and possibly the most loved British player ever to play outside of the UK when he signed with Italy’s Juventus on this day in soccer history in 1957.

    He signed with the Turin club from Leeds United for a then record transfer fee of £65,000.

    Get in the gear of Juventus. The World Soccer Shop has the best selection of official football jerseys of the 'Old Lady’ and the black and white vertical stripe kit is a classic soccer jersey.

    Il Buon Gigante, or the Gentle Giant as he was known, reversed the fortunes for the 'Old Lady.’ In his five-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Juventus won three Scudetti and two Italian Cups. Charles helped out in the cause scoring 93 goals in 150 games.

    He was equally impressive for his versatility and by the book style of play. Charles started his career as a center back before moving to forward. As a forward he was known to go all out into the attack until he scored and then move to the back to help insure the lone goal stood up.

    And in 528 matches, the Gentle Giant was never shown a yellow or red card.

    Charles was voted the best foreign player by the Juventus fans in 1997 on the occasion of the club's centenary.

    Charles returned to Leeds United but was quickly back in Italy this time with AS Roma. He finished his career with a couple of clubs back in England.

    http://www.soccer365.com/match_reports/story_19809230353.php
     

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