Wold Cup winners Bobby and Jack Charlton may have hung up their boots but their baby brother is still scoring goals.
Tom Charlton, 71, still displays impressive soccer skills playing with his club, The Mature Millers walking football team in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
‘It’s absolutely wonderful. I score hundreds of goals,’ he told The Mirror.
‘I get goals regularly. I’m not the best player in the world – I do it for fun. But I love scoring goals.’
Recently, a ball flew two feet high in front of him but the height and speed did not deter him.
Tom Charlton, 71, still displays impressive soccer skills playing with his club, The Mature Millers walking football team in Rotherham, South Yorkshire
‘I leapt into the air and volleyed into the top right of the net.’ he said.
‘The trouble is, it was disallowed because both feet were off the ground and I was considered to be running,’ he said with a chuckle.
Although his brother Jack, 82, called him a ‘silly old bugger’ for still playing, Tom, a grandfather-of-four says he loves being part of the walking football team.
His club chairman is thrilled too with his special signing and says Tom still reveals flashes of the famous Charlton class.
The pensioner, who moved from Northumberland to Rotherham 33 years ago to work for the Miners’ Rescue Service, said he has really benefited from getting off his ‘arse’.
Football legends: (L-R) England’s George Cohen, Bobby Moore, Jack Charlton and Ray Wilson (with trophy) celebrate after winning the World Cup in 1966 when England beat West Germany
Champions: England’s Alan Ball is carried on the shoulders of teammate Jack Charlton with Roger Hunt following as England celebrate becoming World Champions in 1966
‘Everybody who has a go, after a few weeks they tell you they feel a lot fitter,’ he explained.
‘You tend to forget your aches and pains.
‘Before I played I had a bad back but I went to play an hour and a half and the pain went. It takes people away from sitting watching TV.
‘I’ve lost weight too. I was getting on 15 stone and now I’m 13.2 stone.’
Tenacious Tom: The youngest Charlton said he still loves scoring goals and enjoys playing with his club in in Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Tom’s own soccer career was cut short when he broke his kneecap aged 23.
‘When I was young I felt I always had to compete with Bobby and Jack and I just couldn’t live up to it.’
‘I realised I was never fast or good enough to compete.’
But he says he is now experiencing the joy of playing all over again.
‘Now I’m the only one of three of us still playing so I guess you could say I’ve won,’ he joked.
England celebrates after beating Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Bobby Charlton holds the trophy with Alan Ball and Bobby Moore by his side