GO WELL, SIR BOBBY
Sir Bobby Charlton is surely the most important person in Manchester United’s history, eclipsing George Best, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs, Sir Alex Ferguson, Denis Law, Wayne Rooney, Harry Stafford, Sir Matt Busby or anyone else that people mistakenly want to throw into the hat. Charlton’s humble beginnings, his world-class talent, the success that he forged from an unmistakable tragedy and his ever-present impact behind the scenes since making his final appearance for the club in 1973 mean he will never be forgotten at Old Trafford.
There are others who have done and will do a much better job than Football Daily at eulogising Charlton and what he meant to his family, club and country. But his death has seen a few lesser-seen clips bubble back to the surface. Sure, the footage of him banging in two goals against Portugal in the 1966 World Cup semi-final is good, but try to watch his goal in the legendary advert for a famous Tin company – in which Charlton is joined by his brother Jack, Alan Ball, Peter Beardsley, Stuart Pearce, Peter Reid, Chris Waddle, Bryan Robson and a few other England greats to form “probably the best pub team in the world” – without a huge grin across your chops. Yes, Bobby was probably well paid for that day’s work, but it says a great deal that he was willing to strap on some boots at the age of 69 and go and have a kickabout with some old friends on a bleak November day in Barking. Every single person – save for the unfortunate person on the end of a Pearce reducer – looks like they are having a hoot. Football can make us forget ourselves, our age and not even Bobby Charlton is immune to that.
If you fancy a cry, rather than a laugh, try the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, in which Bobby is given a lifetime achievement award by his brother, Jack, after years of estrangement. The latter makes a short but powerful speech. “Bobby Charlton is the greatest player I’ve ever seen. And he’s my brother.” Both weep. There is another clip, from 2000, of Bobby talking about United’s Champions League win in 1999. There is a wonderful naivety in the way he tells the story, recounting the events of that night at Camp Nou with a childlike charm. “As the ball hits the net, for me it was as though the whole world stood still,” he says towards the end of the interview. “I thought, this is what paradise is all about. I honestly do not remember what I did for about five minutes. Suddenly the world was great again and I thought there is nothing ever going to be better than this.” All three clips show different sides to the great man.
There is already a statue and a stand at Old Trafford, but Manchester United have done a fine job of paying tribute to Charlton since his death on Saturday. Flowers were laid and armbands were worn before the win at Sheffield United, before a minute’s silence was held in the press conference on Monday. Before Tuesday’s Big Cup game against Copenhagen, there will be a special pre-match tribute. “Bobby was a legend, a giant, not only for Manchester United but for world football,” said manager Erik ten Hag. “His legacy, what he left were the high standards we have to live every day. First of all, our thoughts are with his family, his wife, his children, his grandchildren. But also what he meant for Manchester United, the standards he set.” Bottom of their Big Cup group after two consecutive defeats, anything but a win would be unfitting of the occasion. Don’t mess it up, United.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
It’s Big Cup night! Join Scott Murray for Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen, while Daniel Harris has updates from Sevilla 2-2 Arsenal – both kicking off at 8pm (BST).
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I could understand [Steven] Gerrard better, but [Jamie] Carragher was incredible. But then, put an English kid in Cádiz with my mates and it would be the same. I liked it a lot; I was happy in Liverpool” – Suso talks to Sid Lowe about the challenges of his Merseyside move as a teenager – including trying to decipher Carra’s accent.
DAVID SQUIRES ON BOBBY CHARLTON
Bobby Charlton won league titles, a European Cup and the World Cup while trying to cope with the aftermath of Munich. See our cartoonist’s tribute to the late England and Manchester United legend here.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
“Can we award David Squires the Pulitzer Prize now? For Bobby Charlton, he has captured the humanity and the grief, as well as the achievement and the fame. Thank you, from all of us for whom Charlton was part of our memories of what football was, and should be” – Charles Antaki.
“James Maddison may be as amusing as Noel’s House Party, but at least he’s having a go. Otherwise, all we have is a series of uninspired touchline reporters asking a series of vigorously media-trained professional athletes how Important something is. To which the answer, apparently, is always Very Important. Just once I’d like to see, say, Max Aarons point out that a late equaliser at Luton is not, on balance, as important as the Treaty of Portsmouth” – Jon Millard.
“After seeing the photo of Son Heung-min and Maddison celebrating by ‘throwing darts’, I hope there will be a VAR check of their foot positions to ensure that they were not encroaching on the oche” – James Boyle.
“Re Clive Francis’ acronym question [Monday’s letters] one answer is CAMEL –Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool at the end of the 2004-05 season. I must admit, the fact that I knew that without looking it up is of some concern to me and my loved ones” – Patrick Fahy.
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Patrick Fahy.
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