Joe Dixon’s

Football Memories

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1977

































































































































The Great Charlie Hurley


He doesn’t really need any introduction. Without hesitation he is the Sunderland player that I admired more than any other. He was truly awesome. To really do him justice just read the pages below, taken from his souvenir programme for his magical testimonial matches played on Wednesday Evening, 4th October 1967. I wonder if there were any recordings ever made of these games? The respect and admiration is for all to see especially when you look at the names below of the players who turned out to play in the main match and the ‘Parade of Yesterday‘s Giants‘ match.

Note:- At the end of these pages can be seen the adverts that appeared in this programme. I thought I'd show them as they may just bring back a few memories eg Weatherals (Night Club), Louis of Ryhope etc.









































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I can’t remember exactly what season it was, around 1969, but I was having problems with my knee. I bumped into Jackie Errington one day, the Ryhope CW Secretary, and in our bit chat I happened to mention my knee trouble. Without hesitation he told me to contact Johnny Watters, the Sunderland AFC physio, and he’ll have a look at it for you. He went on ‘just say you play for Ryhope CW and I’ve sent you’. Considering I was playing for Ryhope CA at the time I thought it was a lovely gesture from Jack.


Sure enough I telephoned Sunderland AFC and spoke to Johnny Watters and as soon as I mentioned Jack and Ryhope CW he didn’t hesitate in inviting me to Roker Park. I had a couple of sessions of treatment and I felt very privileged to have access to the changing rooms and treatment tables that all my hero’s had been. At one of these sessions the Sunderland right winger at the time, Bruce Stuckey, was having treatment on the table next to me and in our chat there are 2 things I remember most that he told me :-


1. Every one at the club was in awe of Charlie and when he came into the dressing room there was an instant silence until he spoke and finished speaking. Any other room, when he entered, everyone would turn to look at him. Bruce said that Charlie had this aura about him and no matter where he was he was always the focus of attention.

How I wish he would have walked in when I was there. I would have loved to have shaken his hand and told him how much I admired him. That would have been some memory.


2. Out of possible interest the other thing was that the one player Bruce hated playing against was Eddie McCreadie the Chelsea left back. He was an animal.


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The adverts from Charlies testimonial souvenir match programme. (And no I'll not be making any money from these adverts). They may just bring back a few memories.