Jeremy Charles

For the Canadian restaurateur, see Jeremy Charles (restaurateur).

Jeremy Charles
Personal information
Full name Jeremy Melvyn Charles
Date of birth (1959-09-26) 26 September 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1983 Swansea City 247 (53)
1983–1985 Queens Park Rangers 12 (5)
1985–1987 Oxford United 46 (13)
Total 305 (71)
International career
1980–1986 Wales 19 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jeremy Melvyn Charles (born 26 September 1959) is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. Normally a centre-forward, he was equally adept as a centre-half. He played for Oxford United, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers. He is the son of ex-footballer Mel Charles and nephew of Wales striker John Charles.[2]

Club career

Charles began his career at his home town club Swansea City, making his debut as a substitute for Robbie James during 4–1 win over Newport County on the opening day of the 1976–77 season. He went on to become a key member of the squad as they moved from Division Four to Division One in five seasons. Having won promotion, Charles scored Swansea's first ever goal in Division One during a 5–1 win over Leeds United, but his season was disrupted by injury as he underwent two cartilage operations.

With Swansea suffering relegation during the 1982–83 season, Charles joined Queens Park Rangers in November 1983 for a fee of £100,000 where he remained for just over a year before moving on to Oxford United in February 1985, where he was part of the side that won the Football League Cup in 1986, scoring one of his side's goals during a 3–0 win over his former club Queens Park Rangers.[3] However, Charles was forced into retirement soon after due to injury.[4]

International career

Charles made his debut for Wales on 19 November 1980 in a 1–0 win over Czechoslovakia. He went on to win a total of 19 caps, scoring his only goal in a 1–0 win over Bulgaria before making his final appearance on 10 September 1986 in a 1–1 draw with Finland.[5]

International goals

Results list Wales' goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1. 27 April 1983 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales  Bulgaria 1–0 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying

Honours

Swansea City
1981, 1983
Oxford United
1984–85
1986

References

  • Hayes, Dean P. (2004). Wales The Complete Who's Who of Footballers Since 1946. Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-3700-9.
  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ "Mel Charles reveals amazing fate of Pele's World Cup shirt". Western Mail. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  3. ^ Struthers, Greg (11 January 2004). "Caught in Time: Oxford United win the League Cup, 1986". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 January 2010.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Past players". swanseacity.net. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Wales - International Results 1980-1989 - Details". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2010.