Well here he is, one of the Charlton brothers, all Northumbrians who have helped mould the shape to English football. We all know about the Sir Bobby (now 80), big brother Jack, the rangey centre half and fisherman (now 82) BOTH WORLD CUP WINNERS and Tom a minor ex-"miner" who is 71-the babe.
Tom is making the news because he is still playing for the Mature Millers, Rotherham United Walking Football team part of the football club's "Community Trust".
He takes a tumble occasionally and it was a broken leg as a youngster that slowed his progress and then a broken knee cap at 23 years old that stopped him entirely.
Recently walking football has reinvented him, as WF has done for a number of us. I was due to play at Penistone Church FC this afternoon, where a bunch of oldies gather for an hour to relive the past, but snow has wrecked our fun.
We travel to Doncaster Rovers FC once a month to play in a round robin tournament organised by the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA. Rotherham put a side in, so perhaps I have already played against young Tom? Would I have known?
Tom came "south" 33 years ago to work for the Miners' Rescue Service at the South Yorkshire coalfield and as a grand dad of 4 he is still very lively. His pedigree cannot be doubted with his mother a Milburn from Ashington, whose family included "Wor" (our) Jackie, the famed England centre forward (353 apps and 157 goals for Newcastle United) and his brothers Stan, George and Jimmy.
Rotherham oldies meet at the club's facility at Eastwood on Wednesdays at 12.30. Penistone Church FC meet at the Memorial ground Thursday at 4pm, weather permitting! Walking Football will be happening in your area-just get in touch with your local FA.
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