Wesley Charles

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Wesley Charles

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Wesley Charles

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|12|12}}

| birth_place = Brighton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1991–1994 | youthclubs1 = Brighton All Stars

| years1 = 1998–2001 | clubs1 = Sligo Rovers | caps1 = 61 | goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2001–2006 | clubs2 = Bray Wanderers | caps2 = 134 | goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2005 | clubs3 = → Rostov (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2006–2008 | clubs4 = Galway United | caps4 = 52 | goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2008–2009 | clubs5 = Vancouver Whitecaps | caps5 = 33 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2009 | clubs6 = → Whitecaps Residency (loan) | caps6 = 1 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2010 | clubs7 = Montreal Impact | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2011 | clubs8 = Salthill Devon | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1995–2012

| nationalteam1 = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

| nationalcaps1 = 94

| nationalgoals1 = 4

}}

Wesley Charles (born 12 December 1975) is a Vincentian footballer.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/wesley-charles-league-of-ireland-3401601-May2017/|title='He was like, 'You n***er' and I thought, 'Wow - really?": Wes Charles on Ireland and abuse|first=Eoin|last=O'Callaghan|date=21 May 2017|website=The 42}}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|269570308}} |last1=Weber |first1=Marc |title=All in the family for Whitecaps' Charles; Vancouver fullback credits brothers, sisters for his love of the game |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |date=9 July 2009 |page=C.7 }}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|243916749}} |last1=Constantineau |first1=Bruce |title=Charles in charge of his destiny; Defender targets a remarkable comeback after losing 20 pounds and getting his life together |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date=7 April 2010 |page=C.2 }}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|243849741}} |last1=Atkinson |first1=John |title=A chance to shine; Recent Caps signing aims at first start |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date=23 July 2008 |page=D.1 }}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|243945627}} |last1=Walker |first1=Ian |title=Charles chucked from Whitecaps for second tussle; Defender was valuable in championship win |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date=23 July 2009 |pages=D.2 }}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|338068328}} |last1=Scully |first1=Michael |title=Football: Wes eases Nick's back trouble |newspaper=The Mirror |date=27 January 1999 |page=8 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/soccer/blogs/direct-kicks/2010/04/22/will-wesley-charles-become-a-rhino/2287005/|title=Will Wesley Charles become a Rhino?|website=Democrat and Chronicle}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/othersports/wesley-looks-forward-to-facing-former-club/27829523.html|title=Wesley looks forward to facing former club|date=22 September 2004 |publisher=independent.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/sport/soccer/the-roving-rovers/27533140.html|title=The Roving Rovers|date=21 January 2004|website=Independent.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://thevincentian.com/wesley-charles-speaks-on-racist-encounters-p19928-139.htm|title=Wesley Charles Speaks On Racist Encounters|publisher=thevincentian.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.searchlight.vc/sports/2005/08/05/butu-from-russia-with-love/|title=Wesley Charles - From Russia with Love|date=5 August 2005 |publisher=searchlight.vc}}{{cite web|url=https://footballufo.ru/2013/legioners.html|title=С 2001 по 2012 год цвета ФК «Ростов» защищали 53 легионера из 23-х стран - Футбол ЮФО-СКФО|date=4 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.championat.com/football/article-3299733-coj-min-ho-charlz-bentli-i-drugie-strannye-legionery-rfpl.html|title=Wesley Charles - Championat article}}{{cite web|url=https://leagueofireland.ie/news/five-foreign-players-whove-made-an-impression-/id-1218|title=FIVE FOREIGN PLAYERS WHO'VE MADE AN IMPRESSION}}{{cite web|url=https://www.galwaybeo.ie/sport/soccer/judas-heroes-galway-united-players-5892505|title=From 'Judas' to heroes the Galway Utd players with most men's international caps|first=Vinny|last=Fanneran|date=9 September 2021|website=galwaybeo}} He was born in Brighton.

Career

=Europe=

Charles spent the beginning of the 2000s traveling Europe. His travels started in Ireland, where he first joined Bray Wanderers in November 2000 after spending two seasons with Sligo Rovers, where he was voted Player of the Year in 2003.

In July 2005, Charles signed for Russian Premier League club Rostov on loan for the remainder of their season, with an option to make the move permanent on a two-year contract at the end of it.{{cite web |title=Wanderers wave goodbye to star defender Wesley |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/sport/other-sports/wanderers-wave-goodbye-to-star-defender-wesley-27615746.html |website=independent.ie |publisher=Independent IE |access-date=13 June 2022 |date=7 July 2005}} He then returned to Republic of Ireland and Bray Wanderers. Charles then signed for Galway United in July 2006. He was appointed club captain for the 2007 season. He was released by Galway United in July 2008.

In March 2011, Charles returned to Europe and signed for League of Ireland First Division side Salthill Devon.

=Canada=

On 9 July 2008, he was released by Galway United. Two days later he signed by the Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer Leagues First Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=90b9230c-8ba2-4364-8dec-dc6ab246d9e6|title=canada.com -|accessdate=6 August 2017|via=Canada.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104151011/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=90b9230c-8ba2-4364-8dec-dc6ab246d9e6|archivedate=4 November 2012}} On 12 October 2008, he helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2–1 in Vancouver{{cite web|url=http://www.whitecapsfc.com/schedule/match10120801.aspx|title=Schedule|accessdate=6 August 2017}}

On 30 September 2008, Charles was called up for the USL First Division All-League Team.{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/281332.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |accessdate=2012-10-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610153228/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/281332.html |archivedate=10 June 2011 }} On 18 December the Whitecaps announced the contract extensions of Charles for the 2009 season.

On 22 July 2009, Charles was released by the Whitecaps after a second incident with a teammate in just over a month.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=285376|title=Whitecaps release Charles after 2nd incident with teammate|agency=The Canadian Press |work=TSN |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018000048/http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=285376|archivedate=18 October 2012}} The first incident with a teammate occurred during a home game on 12 June. Charles was involved in an altercation with teammate Charles Gbeke, which both players were fined and handed suspensions as a result. The second incident took place when Charles scuffled with teammate Jeff Parke during a training session on 21 July 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/whitecaps-cut-ties-with-wesley-charles-1.854240|title=Whitecaps cut ties with Wesley Charles|accessdate=6 August 2017}}

On 19 July 2010 Charles signed with the Montreal Impact for the remainder of the 2010 season.

=International=

First appeared on the pitch wearing the national team jersey on 30 July 1995 in a match against Trinidad and Tobago.{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|title=Trinidad & Tobago vs. Saint Vincent & Grenadines|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27550/Trinidad_Tobago_Saint_Vincent_Grenadines.html|access-date=2022-02-02|website=national-football-teams.com|language=en}} Charles has been capped numerous times at International level for St Vincent and the Grenadines. He played in 10 of 12 World Cup qualifiers in 2000, scoring twice. Charles also captained his country's national team in the 2010 Caribbean Cup.

Honors

Vancouver Whitecaps

USL First Division: 2008

Career stats

rowspan=2 width=10%\| Team !rowspan=2 width=7%\| Season !rowspan=2 width=7%\| League !colspan=3 width=10%\| Domestic League !colspan=3 width=10%\| Domestic Playoffs !colspan=3 width=10%\| Domestic Cup¹ !colspan=3 width=10%\| Concacaf Competition² !colspan=3 width=10%\| Total
class="wikitable" style=font-size:90% text-align: center width=75%
align=center\| Apps !align=center\| Goals !align=center\| Assists !align=center\| Apps !align=center\| Goals !align=center\| Assists !align=center\| Apps !align=center\| Goals !align=center\| Assists !align=center\| Apps !align=center\| Goals !align=center\| Assists !align=center\| Apps !align=center\| Goals !align=center\| Assists
rowspan=2 align=center\|Vancouver Whitecaps \|align=center\|2008 \|align=center\|USL-1 \|align=center\|21 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|5 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center\|26 !align=center\|0 !align=center\|0
align=center\|2009 \|align=center\|USL-1 \|align=center\|12 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center\|3 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center
align=center
align=center
align=center\|15 !align=center\|0 !align=center\|0
rowspan=1 align=center\|Montreal Impact \|align=center\|2010 \|align=center\|USSF D2 \|align=center\|8 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|1 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center\|0 \|align=center
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align=center
align=center
align=center\|9 !align=center\|0 !align=center\|0
\| ! Total USSF D2 !! 41 !! 0 !! 0 !! 6 !! 0 !! 0 !! 3 !! 0 !! 0 !! – !! – !! – !! 50 !! 0 !! 0