Bobby Charlton was the greatest player England ever had – I feel sorrow for the millions who never saw him in the flesh

SIR BOBBY CHARLTON was an inspiration to his Manchester United and England team-mates and to everyone else who knew him as a man of unimpeachable integrity.

Charlton received his knighthood in 1994.

Because of his brilliance as a player, his high principles and humility on and off the field, he was treated with the kind of esteem worldwide usually reserved for Royalty.

Roy of the Rovers was every schoolboys’ comic hero from the moment he made his unforgettable Manchester United debut in 1956.

It’s pertinent that 17-year-old Charlton, the Geordie boy from the mining village of Ashington, and the real-life version of Roy of the Rovers, signed professional forms for United the very same year.

He pulled United’s famous red jersey over his head on 758 occasions and the one with a Three Lions badge 106 times.

And to emphasise the manner in which he conducted himself as a proud servant of his club and country, Charlton was cautioned just twice.

The first was against Argentina in the 1966 World Cup quarter-final at Wembley.

The second against Chelsea — probably after being on the receiving end of one of Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris’ leather-studded calling cards.

Charlton scored no less than 249 goals for United and 49 for England winning the World Cup, European Cup, First Division championship and FA Cup.

And he also received the Ballon d’Or in 1966 — awarded to the best player in Europe at that time.

He retired in 1973 which means only the fans who are well over 50 had the good fortune to see the midfield maestro in the flesh.

When Charlton was in his prime, football was completely different to what it is now.

It’s like comparing a horse and buggy to a Rolls-Royce.

It seems ludicrous today but back in the 1950s and 60s there was only one game allowed to be seen on TV — the FA Cup final. Match of the Day didn’t even start until 1964.

When I was a teenager the only way I could see the Gods of the English game, superstars of their era like Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Tom Finney, Wilf Mannion, John Charles, Bert Williams, Len Shackleton, Nat Lofthouse and Johnny Haynes was to go through the turnstiles.

Watching the great players on TV is rewarding but there is no real substitute for the thrill of soaking up the atmosphere of a live performance.

That’s why I feel a pang of sorrow for the millions who never had the opportunity to see Charlton racing at defences with the speed and grace of a gazelle — not easy with a ball glued to your feet.

And it was a never-to-be-forgotten sight whenever he finished the run with a rocket shot that flew past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Charlton was the United and England engine room. Everything flowed through him.

He controlled the action because of his intelligent reading of the game and the pin-point accuracy of his passing. He split defences with the ease some football writers split infinitives.

As a West Ham fan I’ve had my own heroes to drool over — Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Trevor Brooking being just three.

When it comes to Charlton, tribalism doesn’t exist. I have no doubt he was the greatest all-round footballer this country has ever seen.

And it’s possible a few Liverpool Kopites might even agree with me.

There isn’t a shadow of a doubt he ranks among the giant talents that majestically plied their trade on foreign fields — Pele, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Johan Cruyff, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

And if anyone needs confirmation about Bobby’s bravery and strength of character the mental fortitude he showed  after the Munich air crash in 1958 is hard to believe.

Pulled unconscious from the carnage by keeper Harry Gregg he spent a week in hospital before going home to Ashington to recuperate.

You can’t imagine the anguish he must have gone through having seen eight of his Busby Babes mates killed. He was only 20.

Yet just 15 days after leaving Munich he played for United in a sixth-round FA Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion.

The modern multi-millionaire stars would probably need counselling for a month before they recovered sufficiently to play again. 

I was lucky enough to have seen most of the 12 goals Charlton scored against the Hammers and quite a few of the 22 he hit for England at Wembley.

But there’s one that stands out. It was as important as it was beautiful.

England were awful in the goalless draw against Uruguay in the opening game of the 1966 World Cup.

They badly needed a win against Mexico.

Picking the ball up in his own half, Charlton went on one of those thrilling runs he was famous for, streaking straight at the heart of the Mexican defence.

With the defenders backing off him, Charlton unleashed a 30-yard right-foot shot that screamed into the net.

Charlton was admired and respected all over this planet.

He was modest and humble to a fault. Wherever he travelled he was recognised and often seemed embarrassed at the adulation he received.

Sir Geoff Hurst, paying tribute to him on his 80th birthday, summed him up perfectly when he said: “He’s a self-effacing individual who didn’t recognise how great he was. He was probably one of the most gifted players of this or any other generation.”

We realise there’s no such thing as perfection — but I humbly submit where Sir Bobby Charlton is concerned he was pretty damned close to it.