They say he used to light up the pitch too.Very good, but a level below Lamps.
He scored over 100 goals for Juve in about 150 league games. Not sure if he always played centre-forward there.
I suppose the best accolade for Charles was that he was once voted Serie A's greatest ever foreign player. This poll was taken after the era of Gullit, Van Batsten, Platini, Ronaldo etc.
One of the original genuine superstars. And a real gentleman as well. We moved down to England 35 years ago and my then 10 year old son went to one of those week long Ian St John Soccer schools. A few Leeds legends there, including Mr Charles, who my boy said took the time to talk to all the kids.
As an aside, my son got the Player of the Day award one of the days, went up in his Rangers strip to get his prize and Eddie Gray said “If I’d known you were wearing that you wouldn’t have won”! Total absence of malice though. Changed days unfortunately.
Eddie Gray was a gentleman and that would have been said tongue in cheek.
As was his old man. The Grays stayed beneath my paternal grandparents in a close in Castlemilk.
Mr Gray snr told my granda of how Sean Fallon gave it the religious blackmail, when trying to sign him for the filth circa 1964/65ish.
Not verbatim, but near enough and you get the gist.
Mr Gray - How much will you pay for my son signing on?
Fallon - Well nothing, he comes from a good Catholic family.
Mr Gray - Well Leeds (who I think at that time, were in the old second division) have promised Eddie a great signing on fee, so fcuk off.
My old man also told me about Ne'erday 1969. Him, his brothers and my granda got out of a taxi after the game (we beat the yahoos 1-0) at my granny's house to carry on the festivities.
As they were going up the stairs, Mr Gray opened the door and with a bottle of whisky in his hands, he said to my granda 'I'm coming up to sit in with you, she (Mrs Gray) is in with her sisters, so sod that.
Now, believe me, he was in with ome staunch/Rangers company that night and he didn't mind.
Mr Gray snr actually made me a Rangers shield when I was a boy.
Was that not a thing with this chap?Way before my time, but I always remember an episode of Football Italia when they took JC to Turin to talk about his time with Juve.
They were talking away and unannounced Del Piero walks up to him to shake his hand. He looked in awe of Charles.
Him and Sivori, his striking partner, are legends with Juventus, which tells you a lot.
I’ve just repeated this!From what I've read, he was as good a centre half as he was centre forward.
Derek Johnstone was always thought of as versatile as John Charles when he broke through.
And we don't 'big up' or exagerate as a rule.
That’s why I said “total absence of malice” bud. My son said Eddie was brilliant with him.
I’ve just repeated this!
My dad, who was from Leeds, also. He always spoke of him in awe.My dad absolutely cherished this player.
Did many older Bears see much of him? Was he really that good?
He was similar in style to our own DJ, could ply centre half or centre forward, terrific playerAs one of the 'senior' members of the forum, he was even before my time, but yes, was very well regarded and spoken of by my elders. Up there with the best of that time was always said.