OTD: CHARLIE HURLEY IN MEMORIAM

One of Sunderland's greatest ever players, Charlie Hurley, sadly passed away at the age of 87 on this day in 2024.

Hurley got his first professional contract at the age of 16 for Millwall, a club he went on to make 105 appearances for. The no-nonsense defender made a huge impression at the Lions and in 2007 was voted their best ever player.

In September 1957, on the back of his impressive form at Millwall, Hurley signed for Sunderland for a fee of around £18,000. His debut didn’t go to plan however, as a 7-0 thrashing at Blackpool would start his Sunderland career. However, Charlie would soon start to make a big impact on Wearside, and was the man who first coined former manager Alan Brown's nickname “The Bomber.”

Hurley guided the lads to promotion to the top flight in the 1963/64 season, after narrowly missing out on promotion the two years prior: “That day, when we did our lap of honour, was probably the greatest moment of my entire career. We were all sitting in the dressing room afterwards when Syd Collings, our chairman, came in and as he opened the door and all you could hear was 'Charlie, Charlie, Charlie…' and Syd said ‘Look lads, you’ll have to go back out again.' To go out to that kind of call, that kind of support was incredible.”

It would also be a good season for Hurley specifically, as he came second to Bobby Moore in the FWA Footballer of the Year award. He was part of one of the most settled, and most famous, defences in Sunderland’s history, which included notable names such as: Cecil Irwin, Len Ashurst, Martin Harvey and Jimmy McNab.

The King was known for his headed goals and scored his first goal in a 1-1 Boxing Day draw against Sheffield United in 1960. He was one of the most loyal and brave players in English football, and stories are still told to this day of his quality,

Hurley’s incredible twelve year stay on Wearside would come to an end away to Burnley in 1969. The Irishman finished his career with a two year spell at Bolton Wanderers, making forty-three appearances for the Trotters. Hurley then spent five years with Reading as manager, where he would gain a promotion with them from tier four to tier three. During his time with the Royals, he would return to Sunderland for a 1973 FA Cup tie. He received a tumultuous reception from the home fans that almost defied belief.

He remains one of only ten players to surpass 400 appearances in red and white. London raised but Cork born, Charlie was a fiercely proud Irishman and he won 40 caps for his country in total, including 38 whilst representing Sunderland.

It was only fitting that on the day of Roker Park's last match, 'King Charlie' was the person who dug up the centre circle which was replanted at the SoL. His final visit to Wearside came in November 2016, with the club coming together to pay tribute on his 80th birthday. He was joined by family members and fellow players from the 1963-64 promotion-winning team which he captained. A man mountain on the pitch and a true gentleman off it, his legacy at SAFC will forever endure.

R.I.P. Charlie Hurley: The King, Sunderland's Player of the Century, and 'the greatest centre half the world has ever seen'.