RIP Jack Charlton

Norman_Conquest said:
Big Jack had a reputation of having short arms and deep pockets. I can remember him being at a boxing night at the Wilton ICI club and being at the bar. When the barmaid told him the price, he tapped his pockets as if he was looking for his wallet and a guy next to him jump in and said 'I will get that Jack.' This happened on another two occasions over the night. :)
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Nah mate,
Sounds like you bumped into a few of my mates.(y)
 
I was luck enough to play alongside Jack when I was only 8 years old. He was such a character as well as a great Boro manager. It is so sad that we can't be at the game today to pay our last respects RiP Jack.
 
I'll always remember my Dad had this Boro MOTD film on VHS which I used to love watching, and can remember the clip of the players running up Roseberry Topping, with Big Jack 'cracking the whip'.

 
Just read a tribute in the Guardian. One of the comments about the 74 era after we won promotion to the 1st Division says "On Boxing day, the next season, Boro were top of the first division. Typically, Match of the Day showed the league table from second on down (they really did). " Does anyone remember this? If so, it is frankly unbelievable, yet, this is Boro we're talking about...
 
Too young to remember him at boro but my late mother who was irish thought the world of him for what he did for the republic. A true giant figure in the game.
 
My earliest memory was when he was being interviewed for Match of the Day and a light bulb shattered close by him. He let out that's ********** it. Loved it so much as an impressionable youngster.
Love the 73-74 season team, moved away from the area soon after, but never lost my love of the Boro.

RIP Jack
 
The last time I saw him at the Riverside, he waved over and approached me asking me how I was doing. He clearly got me mistaken for someone else. :)
 
My 84 year old Dad is devastated by this. After Clough, Big Jack is his biggest Boro hero and being at a similar age it is very poignant.

In my opinion Boro's most significant ever manager.
To win the 2nd Division by 15 points in the days of 2 points for a win was - and is - remarkable.
His team; the development of the players; the transformation in self esteem and belief of the crowd and whole area; the establishment of the club firmly in the top flight; his warmth and charisma are incredible legacies of his too short 4 years at Boro.
I sincerely wish he hadn't gone to Hillsborough and stayed for many more years at Boro.

His achievements in Ireland are also huge and let's not forget just how good a player he was for Leeds and England.

My Dad only ever met his hero in the Barbers in Richmond - Jack loved the Dales. Like a little boy he struggled to get any words out, but I have to say I would have been exactly the same.

RIP Big Jack - a true legend from a time when that had to be earned, not just bandied about.
 
A sad day indeed. Jack and his 73-74 team were responsible for me becoming a Boro fan. I remember having the Gazette's Charlton's Champions poster on my bedroom wall and then another poster for that next first division season where I conscientiously filled in the score after every game. I love watching that documentary that's often linked on here of us celebrating promotion and Jack promising his Manager of the Season whisky to the players if they could win by two goals or more.

I think of him primarily as our manager and it's easy to forget what a magnificent career he had as a player, peaking of course with the WC win. Watching the final again a few weeks ago it was clear how important he was to the team. Bobby Moore had a license to pop up all over the field simply because Jack was disciplined enough to always be there to cover.

Outside of football, it looks like he knew how to enjoy himself. A life well lived. RIP Jack and thanks very much for everything.
 
Hard but fair, tough and uncompromisiong, outspoken and unabashed, fiercely loyal, honourable and passionate. A man who cherished his roots and could be protective of his privacy when he felt it was necessary, but was always willing to join in when celebrations were afoot with his infectious enthusiasm.

Big Jack, a mans man and a players player. A hero and a legend, you earned your place in our hearts.. RIP.

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
 
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