When Bobby Charlton gave ‘examples of his genius’ against Finn Harps

Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest English footballers of all time, was laid to rest this week.

A World Cup winner with England in 1966 and a European Cup winner with Manchester United two years later, Charlton - a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 - scored 249 goals in 758 appearances for United.

Charlton, who scored 49 goals in 106 games for England, won the Ballon d'Or in ’66. Charlton continued his playing career after leaving United in ’73 and, in January 1976 he signed for Waterford United.

His contract at Kilcohan Park depends on whether or not other clubs would pay a percentage of gate receipts when Waterford visited.

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Charlton played just four times for Waterford - two of which were against Finn Harps.

On February 1, 1976, a crowd of 6,000 watched as Waterford defeated Harps 3-1 by the Suir. Manager John McSeveney had predicted ‘a record gate’. While the 6,000 attendance was short of being a record, Charlton impressed and scored.

The Donegal Democrat recalled that Harps were overtaken in the table when losing ‘to a Waterford team that was undoubtedly strengthened by the inclusion of Bobby Charlton’.

Brendan Bradley put Harps 1-0 up, but Parkes and McCarthy turned the tables to put Waterford in front.

Charlton scored a third, with the Democrat reporting: “Hall projected a deep cross to the six-yard area. Tony O’Doherty and McGlhinney got their calls mixed up and there was Charlton in splendid isolation waiting to turn the ball into an empty net. It was a perfect ending for a crowd of some 6,000 who braved the snow and sleep to give homage to the venerable Charlton.”

Bobby Charlton during his time at Waterford United. (Limerick Leader)

On Charlton’s contribution, the Democrat added: “Charlton executed the basics superbly, loosed at least two thunderbolt shots reminiscent of another era and paced himself so well that he was going strongest in the last quarter.”

The Democrat reporter was also impressed by the display of Terry Harkin, Charlton’s marker on the day. The report said Harkin ‘looked every bit as good a player on the day and at 34 managed to strike a consistently higher work-rate than the former English international’.

Two weeks later, Waterford arrived in Ballybofey for an FAI Cup clash with Harps.

The Waterford team, including Charlton, stayed overnight at the Ballyraine Hotel for their trip to Donegal. A pre-match training session at Leckview Park on their arrival also attracted a large interest in Letterkenny.

Harps managed to avenge the previous defeat as they recorded a 3-0 win with Brendan Bradley scoring twice alongside an own goal. Gerry Murray was back in the Harps goal and saved a penalty from Mick Leech in the second half.

The Democrat reported: “On several occasions during the game, Bobby Charlton gave the huge attendance which paid over 1,900 at the gate examples of his genius.”