The Club was sad to learn of the passing of our former goalkeeper Charlie Wright at the end of last year. Gordon Wilson, who was a regular at Blundell Park in the 1960s, spoke to the Glaswegian stopper in 2022 as he looked back on his long career in the game.
For some, Charlie Wright is Grimsby Town’s greatest goalkeeper in living memory. For 129 games, between 1963 and 1966, he endeared himself to Town followers with his great courage, breath-taking saves, cross-bar acrobatics, and wicked sense of humour. He told me recently how he loved the club and its wonderful supporters, a love that was returned in bucket loads. He enjoyed a special relationship with Pontoonites, often engaging in banter and, in that time when such things were possible, receiving fruit and sweets from younger fans before the pre-match warm-up.
Charlie’s career began with great promise. A winner of the Scottish Under 18s FA Cup with junior club Glentyne Thistle, he soon joined the club his family adored, Glasgow Rangers. Following a Hampden Park debut, he spent three years in the reserves at Ibrox before the deep disappointment of being released, despite compliments about his consistency and progress.
He was brought to Workington Town by former Newcastle legend Joe Harvey, who Charlie remembers with affection. “I loved the guy. He said to me ‘You don’t know the first thing about football but you’re a big guy and can throw yourself about and that’s enough for me.’ So I signed.” he laughs.
During his Workington days, Charlie gained his one international cap, for Hong Kong, where he played for the Army during his National Service duty with The Border Regiment.
He would play 123 games for Workington in Division 4 before moving to Division 2 Grimsby for £6,500 in February 1963, appearing before the Pontoon for the first time in a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic. “I was brought to the club to stop the goals that were threatening relegation. And it worked.” For a year.
Town were relegated in 1964 but threatened an early return over the next two seasons with Charlie ever present. His heroics continued during those campaigns but recovering from concussion in a Midlands hospital after a game against Walsall, he first heard of approaches from Charlton Athletic. “I had imagined I would stay at Grimsby forever. I had a good relationship with players and the fans but it wasn’t to be.”
Bob Stokoe paid £10,000 in 1966 and Charlie began a mini exodus from Town to Charlton, strike-partners Matt Tess and Rod Green following soon after.
For six Second Division seasons he also found love at The Valley where Charlton fans called him “Sir Charlie” and sang “Aye, aye, aye, aye – Charlie is better than Yashin/Matt Tees is better than Eusebio/And Millwall are in for a thrashin.”
Epic cup-ties characterised Charlie’s career. Among his greatest Mariner memories is the 1965 League Cup 2-2 draw with West Ham at Blundell Park and 1-0 defeat in the Upton Park replay.
His first Charlton season featured cup-ties away at Leeds United and Arsenal. “We were a good side that could not score enough goals and those were teams with great internationals.”
A move to Bolton Wanderers brought a Third Division Championship medal in 1973. Burnden Park was also a happy place for Charlie who recalls the privilege of working with legendary Wanderers and England striker, Nat Lofthouse.
“He was a fantastic guy and a brilliant general manager, worshipped by local people with whom he talked easily and often. Charlie enjoyed three years as a Bolton player before a back-injury ended his 535 game career. He coached at Bolton before eventually going into management; with mixed experiences.
After retirement, he opened ‘Charlie’s Place’, a popular cafe and sports bar close to The Valley where Charlton fans recall 15 years of his excellent bacon butties and continuing humour and charm.
Reflecting on his career, he talks of “having thoroughly enjoyed a life under pressure with unfashionable teams. Bobby Moore was the greatest I ever played against. I remember how generous he was in the Grimsby dressing room, consoling and congratulating us on our performance over the two games. I often met him again at Charlton. He was always the same, a true gentleman, the epitome of an international footballer.”
Unhesitatingly, he names Matt Tees as his favourite teammate of all. “He was the greatest header of goals that I ever saw.”
UTM
