UNDERDOGS AND "The Bogotá Bandit"

23rd June 2016 was one of the most momentous days in British history – YES!! we voted for Brexit in a referendum. 

It seems that it may have all been Leicester City’s fault! The argument put forward was that with Leicester City being the most successful underdogs ever, having won the Premier League title the previous month, it became acceptable for the public to support the underdog – so we voted for Brexit. Worse still – Leicester’s triumph became well-known the world over and so when the Americans had their Presidential elections in November Donald Trump was voted in for the very same reason, the Yanks supported the underdog. Leicester City have a lot to answer for!!

More associated with our national game, was the transfer of Charlie Mitten  from Manchester United to the Colombian Club, Santa Fe! Mitten, born in Myanmar, had outshone Stanley Matthews when United played Blackpool in the 1948 FA Cup Final (In his four years at United, he helped the club finish as runners-up in the First Division three times and in fourth place once) and as a result the well informed Sante Fe, president phoned Mitten in his New York "tour" hotel room. Neil Franklin and George Mountford had previously been "hooked" from Stoke City by the Santa Fe club. Both players recommended Mitten who was on £8 a week at Stoke (the maximum wage in Britain was £12 a week) and Santa Fe was offering a £10,000 signing on fee. Mitten was also attracted by offer of a new house, maid, chauffeur and car, and couldn't refuse, although he knew that the Colombians were not affiliated to FIFA and so he would become a football "outlaw". 

Mitten flew down to Bogota on June 23rd, from the tour, to seal the deal (£5,000 annual salary, £35 win bonus, passage for family) and when United manager Matt Busby heard of the deal, he was heard to say; "Good God, do they need a manager?"

Mitten scored 25 goals in his first season and also was highly regarded, playing in a "Select" XI against World Cup winners, Uruguay, alongside heroes such as Alfredo di Stefano and Hector Rial (footballing "royalty"), winning 3-1. Sadly for Mitten, FIFA readmitted the DiMayor League with the understanding that "outlaws" would be sent home. Mitten was suspended by United and "sold" with Real Madrid showing an interest, but his wife was "homesick" so he decided to join Fulham instead.

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1950	Manchester United	142	(50)
1950–1951	Independiente Santa Fe	34	(15)
1951–1955	Fulham	154	(33)
1955–1958	Mansfield Town	100	(25)
Total		396	(121)
Managerial career
1955–1958	Mansfield Town
1958–1961	Newcastle United
1962–1963	Altrincham