For those of us older supporters from the 70s the sad news Charlie passed away. Hard as nails forward who had dodgy knees and was always strapped up. But boy what a great tough forward. Could do with the likes of him today. RIP Charlie
once a black and white always a black and white COYH
Joined: May 02 2010 Posts: 1462 Location: Playing League on The Close
Very sad news. Charlie was one of my favourite players too.
Played most notably during our return to Division 1 in 1979/80, after our 26/26 wins when clinching the Division 2 title the previous year.
I most remember Charlie for his last minute touchline conversion, in front of the Threepenny Stand, to clinch a 20-20 draw v Rovers at a packed 18,000 Boulevard in that top flight season. He was an old style, straight, toe poking kicker and brought the house down. Charlie won the BBC2 Floodlit Trophy in our win over Rovers that December and also played in the all Hull Wembley final the following May.
When we were building a team and had some real stars signed but still some issues in the pack he came in and filled the gap with passion and effort. We all wondered at the time but he never let us down. I remember him as a 100% workhorse who never gave a backward step played prop occasionally, second row and even Loose forward when Knocker was injured. Hard as nails he never ever let us down and as was already said he was an old fashioned torpedo toe prod kicker too. We seem to have lost so many over the last couple of years. Another hero is lost but he'll always evoke some great memories. If only for that Floodlit Trophy win in which he tackled everything after coming on for Boxall and then scored the try that put it to bed as he burst through a posse of Dobbins players and crashed in to set the crowd alight. 18,000 of us in the Boulevard (and the 1000 out on the car Park) loved that moment; thanks Charlie!
R I P Charlie Birdsall!
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