Inside Track: Bobby Charlton coached youngsters on a visit to Dundalk

Bobby Charlton made at least two visits to Dundalk, and at one of them wouldn’t appear to have been too impressed with what he saw.  

Our photo was taken at a coaching course he conducted for young hopefuls at the grounds of Dundalk Regional College (now the DkIT), back in the early 1980s.

PIC: Bobby Charlton with a young Aidan Delany at Dundalk Regional College in the early 1980s

One of England’s greatest footballers, Charlton died a fortnight ago at the age of 86. Having survived the Munich Disaster, he won everything the game had to offer, chief among them a World Cup in 1966 and two years later, a European Cup with his long-time club Manchester United. There were also numerous wins at domestic level.

Like many others at the time – Gordon Banks, Rodney Marsh, and George Best, among them – Charlton tried his luck in the League of Ireland as his playing days drew to a close. 

He signed for Waterford, lining out in three games in the 1975/’76 league and one other in a subsidiary competition. His only goal for his new club contributed to his career total of 606.

The older brother of former Republic of Ireland manager, Jack –  who also played on England’s World Cup-winning side –  Charlton joined Preston North End as player-manager after leaving Man United, and in preparation for a new season brought his charges to Oriel Park for a friendly.  

After his short stay over here, he went to Australia, where he played for three clubs before bringing an illustrious career to an end.

He took to coaching after that, and on his trip to Dundalk, put many under-age players through their paces. 

Pictured alongside him above is a young man who went on to carve out a successful career, not at soccer but in Gaelic football, playing with Dundalk Gaels and Louth.

Aidan Delany was a solid defender, figuring on each of his club’s four Louth intermediate championship wins, the first of them in 1991, the last in 2007, when he captained the team in their defeat of Dreadnots. 

Most of his outings for the county came in the National League.

Bobby Charlton will be remembered for his skill, especially around the goals, but most of all for the way he conducted himself on the field.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear he was never sent off.