I've had various heroes, over the years, but I doubt any will come close to how your Dad felt about Hurley. The man had enormous dignity and humility despite his achievements and adoration. We may never see his like again.
Just watched Look North so I could see the coverage and the tributes from people. I was disgusted, they should be ashamed.
Anderson Hurley McNab, Montgomery, Hurley Clough , the latter so short lived , but combinations that still roll off the tongue.
watched the Sunderland vs Spurs match 1961 on youtube he played in that game, must have been amazing that night a legend RIP.
Was there mate, it was an amazing game and the atmosphere unbelievable, Spurs won the double that year and Blanchflower mentioned that game thus “Nothing ever equalled the intensity of that wild roar at Roker Park,” wrote Spurs skipper Danny Blanchflower later. The noise was triggered by McPheat scoring from the mayhem resulting from a hurley thunderbolt header, “
I was lucky enough to see the big man from his first to his last game for us. If I recall correctly we conceded something like 15/16 goals in his first 3 games and most supporters thought he wouldn't last. How wrong we were. He became the most admired and respected footballer ever to wear the red and white shirt and certainly the best club man in my time by a country mile. Consistently great in defence and attack. On top of that he was such a humble man and that was his strength. Thanks for the memories Charlie, you'll never be forgotten and I'm privileged to have witnessed one of football's genuine greats. RIP big fella.
This news has really gotten me down. I never saw him play, I only know stories from my Dad and his brothers. The videos the club have put on social media warm the heart but also make me feel sad. RIP The King x
**** all coverage of it really, got a brief mention. Disappointing, but expected by them lot. They did show the flags outside the SOL at half mast which I thought was quite classy from the club, and very fitting.
Featured in my all time SAFC team - Montgomery, Irwin , Ashurst , Harvey , HURLEY , McNab , Usher ,Herd , Sharkey , Crossan , Mulhall . That team was more than capable of taking on the top teams of the era and giving them a run for their money . King Charles was always and will always be the KING !!!
@clockstander and @OldArgus. You two gents saw him play. I never saw him play neither have I really got family members that talked about him etc... I know another poster asked what he was like as player but can I ask you both to add a bit more? I assume from the stuff I have read about him before and again today that he was more than just a lump of a defender? It reads like he could play, especially when fans on here talk about their Dad's saying watch how this lad plays! If that was the case, would it be fair to say a cb who could play a bit was rarer back then? I have read numerous times he was a gentleman and can see it in his interviews etc... It takes a lot more for fans to fall in love and pass stories on for generations about a cb (a striker maybe even a winger or midfielder I can see but cb isn't the glamorous role the goalscorer has imo) so what was it about him?
Funny how that team just rolls off the tongue even after all these years. 73 Cup final side is another but that's the only 2 out of 60+ years that I can recall so easily.
RIP Charlie Hurley a true true gentleman. I, too, grew up watching Charlie commanding the back line with Stan Anderson et. al. Had the pleasure of speaking to him when l, uninvited, telephoned him at home in Humbledon and he took the call from a total stranger and was gracious as l wished him well in the season to come. A hero to me and a great footballer. A sad day. KTF
