Tributes to The King: RIP Charlie Hurley — "the greatest centre half the world has ever seen"

Our writers react to the sad news of the passing of Sunderland AFC's greatest ever player, 'King' Charlie Hurley.

Photo by Barratts/PA Images via Getty Images

Kelvin Beattie says...

"Who's the Greatest Centre Half in All the World Today, Charlie Hurley is his Name", was how the terrace chant used to go, and thats how I think of this Irish giant.

He scared the living daylights out of me in 1966 at my very first game, when I looked up from my perch in the Boys' enclosure of the Roker End to see a colossus running straight towards me to the chant of Charlie Charlie.

I grew to love his presence on the pitch and as I matured, to respect his legacy off it.

He came in 1957 and has never left. A true Sunderland legend.

Rest in peace, the greatest centre half the world has ever seen.

Tom Albrighton says...

Not many of us will have memories of The King but we all know his name and the reputation that follows it.

Being of an age where I never saw Charlie Hurley play, I think the fact that even fans who were born decades after his final appearance for the Lads know exactly who he is speaks volumes for the legacy left behind.

I won't fill this section of bluster and accounts of a man I never saw play for Sunderland, that's more fitting for those who were so in awe of him they dubbed him the greatest defender the world has ever seen, but I will say that when someone leaves a place and the only words shared about them are glowing and filled with an almost teary-eyed fondness - that is the mark of a great man.

Malc Dugdale says...

The word legend is overused these days, but for Charlie Hurley that isn't the case.

Named as our player of the 20th century back when I was a kid in the late 70s, the bloke was a personification of everything that it means to be a Sunderland footballer.

Of Irish origin, like many others who settled at the club after him, his career of over 400 games for the lads typifies what we want from players.

RIP Charlie, mate. A real legend.

Andrew Smithson says...

I'm really upset by the news, as whilst I never saw Charlie play live I did have the good fortune to meet him once or twice and he always came across as a true gent.

Our first interaction was when I was still quite young and a little shy. It was a work related conversation and he could tell I was nervous, so tried really hard to make me feel at ease and at the end made sure I had everything I needed. It spoke volumes about him as a man but was far from a surprise - everybody I know that has ever met Hurley would say similar things I'm sure.

Those that saw him play are equally complimentary too - although he was long since retired when we spoke, he was still a colossus of a man and I could imagine him being an absolute rock to try and compete against. There are loads of stories of him putting his body on the line for the club, but being able to do a bit too, and I think I would have loved watching him.

His association with the club lasted so much longer than when he was part of the team though, and fans of all ages rightly recognise him as one of SAFC's true great. He had all the time in the world for supporters and his absence will certainly be felt.

Rest in peace Charlie, and thanks for everything you did.

Paddy Hollis says...

Charlie Hurley is a name that is synonymous with Sunderland AFC.

Few of us saw him live, but the stories of him as a person and footballer have lived on. Your dad tells you about what he was like because his dad told him about Charlie Hurley.

As someone looking back over history, his impact on SAFC is clear. His reputation as one of the best to ever represent this club will live on as a legacy.

Ask Sunderland fans of a certain age about Charlie Hurley and you'll hear people talk with a child-like idolisation of a man who will live on at this football club.