Simon Charlton

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Simon Charlton

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Simon Thomas Charlton{{Hugman|3397|accessdate=16 November 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|10|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Huddersfield, England

| currentclub =

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}{{cite book |title=Playfair Football Annual 1998–99 |editor1-last=Rollin |editor1-first=Glenda |date=1998 |publisher=Headline |isbn=978-0-7472-5917-6 |page=23}}

| position = Full-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Huddersfield Town

| years1 = 1989–1993 | clubs1 = Huddersfield Town | caps1 = 124 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1993–1998 | clubs2 = Southampton | caps2 = 114 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 1997–1998 | clubs3 = → Birmingham City (loan) | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1998–2000 | clubs4 = Birmingham City | caps4 = 67 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2000–2004 | clubs5 = Bolton Wanderers | caps5 = 120 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2004–2006 | clubs6 = Norwich City | caps6 = 45 | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2006–2007 | clubs7 = Oldham Athletic | caps7 = 34 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2009–2010 | clubs8 = Mildenhall Town | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 512 | totalgoals = 6

| manageryears1 = 2009–2010 | managerclubs1 = Mildenhall Town

}}

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

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/simoncharlton.html |title=Simon Charlton |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=9 December 2009}}{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=1424 |title=Simon Charlton |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=9 December 2009}} 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

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=38976 |title=Simon Charlton Norwich City FC |work=Football Heroes |publisher=Sporting Heroes Collections |accessdate=9 December 2009}}

From Southampton he was initially loaned to Birmingham City, before making his move permanent in 1998. In May 2000, Charlton was released by Birmingham{{cite news|url=http://www.bcfc.com/99_00/news/000524c.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010217060853/http://www.bcfc.com/99_00/news/000524c.htm |archivedate=17 February 2001 |title=Boss Gets Busy |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |first=Alex |last=Griffiths |date=24 May 2000 |accessdate=7 May 2020}} before signing for Bolton Wanderers, where he was chosen Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season,{{cite web |url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~215480,00.html |title=Charlie Scoops Top Honour |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C |date=4 May 2002 |accessdate=9 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716194309/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~215480,00.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} and subsequently moved to Norwich City in July 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/charlton.htm |title=Simon Charlton |work=Flown from the Nest |publisher=Steve Whitlam |accessdate=9 December 2009}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/sport/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Sport&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=sport&itemid=NOED02%20May%202006%2018%3A47%3A31%3A110 |title=Charlton leaves with a parting shot |first=Chris |last=Lakey |newspaper=Eastern Daily Press |date=3 May 2006 |accessdate=27 November 2009}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0,,10337~881359,00.html |title=Match Report: Howarth Spot-Kick Stop Seals Win |publisher=Oldham Athletic A.F.C |date=12 August 2006 |accessdate=9 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327092005/http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0,,10337~881359,00.html |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} He scored once for Oldham, scoring a goal from his own half in a 4–1 win over Gillingham.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5351670.stm |title=Oldham 4 – 1 Gillingham |publisher= BBC Sport |date=24 September 2006 |accessdate=2 February 2010}} After his contract at Oldham expired in May 2007, he retired as a player and returned to Norwich City as a youth coach.

International career

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.{{cite web|title=Ralf Little gets an international cap for Sealand|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17981522|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=17 April 2013|date=7 May 2012}}

Coaching and managerial career

Charlton became manager of Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town in April 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/sport/Football-Charlton-in-charge.5160291.jp |title=Charlton in charge |newspaper=Bury Free Press |date=9 April 2009 |accessdate=9 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417211802/http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/sport/Football-Charlton-in-charge.5160291.jp |archive-date=17 April 2009 |url-status=dead }} 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."{{cite web|title=Mildenhall manager Charlton resigns|url=http://www.greenun24.co.uk/non-league/mildenhall_manager_charlton_resigns_1_465327|publisher=greenun24.co.uk|accessdate=17 April 2013|date=21 June 2010}}

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.{{cite web|last=Iles|first=Marc|title=Charlton: Davies is still the main man for Wanderers |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/9255692.Charlton__Davies_is_still_the_main_man_for_Wanderers/|publisher=The Bolton News |accessdate=17 April 2013|date=16 September 2011}}

Personal life

Charlton is a summariser of Bolton Wanderers games for BBC Radio Manchester.{{fact|date=June 2022}}

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

Football League Cup runner-up: 2003–04{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3507795.stm |title=Boro lift Carling Cup |website=BBC Sport |date=29 February 2004 |access-date=26 March 2024}}

Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 1991–92 Third Division,{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=149}} 1992–93 Second Division{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=149}}
Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2001–02{{cite web |title=Voting now open for Player of the Year award |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2016/april/voting-now-open-for-player-of-the-year-award/ |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |date=21 April 2016 |accessdate=20 October 2017}}

References

External links

{{NeilBrownPlayers|player4/simoncharlton}}
{{Soccerbase}}
[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/searchresults.asp?ButtonLeap=0&countryLinkDescription=+matching+search+results&FootballHeroName=Simon+Charlton&FootballHeroClubCountry=&FootballHeroDecade=Select+One&SearchButton=Search Stats and photos] at Sporting Heroes

{{Navboxes colour

| title = Awards

| bg = gold

| fg = navy

| list1 =

}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Huddersfield

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players