Simon Thomas Charlton (born 25 October 1971) is an English football coach, former player and radio summariser.

Simon Charlton
Personal information
Full name Simon Thomas Charlton[1]
Date of birth (1971-10-25) 25 October 1971 (age 53)[1]
Place of birth Huddersfield,[1] England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Huddersfield Town 124 (1)
1993–1998 Southampton 114 (2)
1997–1998Birmingham City (loan) 5 (0)
1998–2000 Birmingham City 67 (0)
2000–2004 Bolton Wanderers 120 (0)
2004–2006 Norwich City 45 (2)
2006–2007 Oldham Athletic 34 (1)
2009–2010 Mildenhall Town 2 (0)
Total 512 (6)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Mildenhall Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

As a player, he was a full-back who notably played in the Premier League for Southampton, Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City. He also played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City and Oldham Athletic. Over his career he made more than 500 league appearances combined.[3][4] Although primarily a left back he could also play as a left-sided central defender or occasionally in midfield. During 2012 he earned an international cap for Sealand national football team, a micronation who are not recognised by FIFA.

Following retirement he returned to Norwich City as a youth team coach before managing Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town. He has since appeared as a co-commentator and summariser on Bolton Wanderers games for BBC Radio Manchester.

Club career

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Charlton was born in Huddersfield and began his career at his home-town club Huddersfield Town where he played over a hundred games for the Terriers before moving to Premiership club Southampton for £250,000 in 1993.[5]

From Southampton he was initially loaned to Birmingham City, before making his move permanent in 1998.[4] In May 2000, Charlton was released by Birmingham[6] before signing for Bolton Wanderers, where he was chosen Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season,[7] and subsequently moved to Norwich City in July 2004.[8]

At the end of the 2005–06 season, Charlton was released by Norwich City. He left the club under something of a cloud, stating his belief that manager Nigel Worthington had made a scapegoat and an easy target out of him.[9]

He signed a one-year deal with Oldham Athletic in August 2006. On his first appearance he conceded a penalty, which was saved, and provided the cross for the only goal of the game.[10] He scored once for Oldham, scoring a goal from his own half in a 4–1 win over Gillingham.[11] After his contract at Oldham expired in May 2007, he retired as a player and returned to Norwich City as a youth coach.[8]

International career

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In May 2012, Charlton appeared for and captained the Sealand national football team in a match against the Chagos Islands. The match was held at the grounds of Godalming Town.[12]

Coaching and managerial career

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Charlton became manager of Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town in April 2009.[13] He made his debut for Mildenhall Town as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Haverhill Rovers. He left his post in June 2010 due to "unforeseen circumstances and opportunities."[14]

As of September 2011, he works as a Football Coach for the Global Soccer Network, an organisation which looks after the interests of several UK-based African players and many new talents within the game.[15]

Personal life

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Charlton is a summariser of Bolton Wanderers games for BBC Radio Manchester.[citation needed]

Honours

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Bolton Wanderers

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Simon Charlton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda, ed. (1998). Playfair Football Annual 1998–99. Headline. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7472-5917-6.
  3. ^ "Simon Charlton". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Simon Charlton". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Simon Charlton Norwich City FC". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collections. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  6. ^ Griffiths, Alex (24 May 2000). "Boss Gets Busy". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 17 February 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Charlie Scoops Top Honour". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 4 May 2002. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Simon Charlton". Flown from the Nest. Steve Whitlam. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  9. ^ Lakey, Chris (3 May 2006). "Charlton leaves with a parting shot". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Match Report: Howarth Spot-Kick Stop Seals Win". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 12 August 2006. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Oldham 4 – 1 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 24 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  12. ^ "Ralf Little gets an international cap for Sealand". BBC Sport. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  13. ^ "Charlton in charge". Bury Free Press. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  14. ^ "Mildenhall manager Charlton resigns". greenun24.co.uk. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  15. ^ Iles, Marc (16 September 2011). "Charlton: Davies is still the main man for Wanderers". The Bolton News. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Boro lift Carling Cup". BBC Sport. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
  18. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
  19. ^ "Voting now open for Player of the Year award". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
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