In sympathy
Posted : 21st October 2023 at 17:33:14
The sad passing after an illness of legendary former Manchester United and England forward, Sir Bobby Charlton will be mourned by millions of football fans across the United KIngdom and further afield. He was 86.
In the Charlton family, there is a direct Linfield connection as Jackie Milburn, the Blues' player-coach in the 1957-60 period, was a cousin of Bobby's mother Elizabeth Ellen 'Cissie' Charlton (nee Milburn). The Charlton family were for generations a highly renowned footballing family from the coal mining town of Ashington in the north-east of England.
Bobby's elder brother Jack Charlton also played for England and Leeds United and he also managed the Republic of Ireland team.
The much celebrated Jackie Milburn, in his three years as Linfield player coach, led the Blues to nine trophies, including Irish League Championship and Irish Cup successes.
Jackie was leading Linfield goalscorer over three seasons with 55 goals in 1957-58; 56 in 1958-59 and 34 in 1959-60. Linfield supporters who affectionately remember Jackie in a Royal Blue shirt, look back with fond memories at some of the fabulous goals he scored at a pace not normally seen in Irish League football.
In his playing career as a highly prolific centre-forward in the 1940s-50s with Newcastle United, Jackie won 13 England caps. Jackie died sadly in 1988, aged just 64.
Billy Kennedy, Linfield Honorary Vice-President.