Special edition celebrating the life of England's Greatest - Sir Bobby Charlton

02 November 2023 , 17:32

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English footballer Bobby Charlton of the England World Cup team, UK, July 1966. (Photo by Norman Quicke/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The Manchester Evening News has produced a special edition celebrating the life of one of the nation's greatest sportsmen - There's Only One Bobby Charlton! You can pre order your copy here.

One of the heroes of '66, the miner's son from Ashington became a footballing icon world wide.

A Busby Babe at Manchester United, he suffered the tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, but was key to helping rebuild the club as they fulfilled Sir Matt's dream by winning the European Cup at Wembley 10 years later.

We look back at his early days at Old Trafford, how he helped United to the title in 1957 and the aftermath of that devastating night in Germany which saw him lose so many close friends and teammates.

Sir Bobby thought about quitting the game after Munich, but his love of football was too strong and he returned to the pitch to help start a new chapter in the club's story.

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And he became a national hero on that summer's day in 1966 as he and Alf's boys clinched the World Cup at Wembley with an extra-time win over West Germany.

Two years later he became one of only two England players to win both the World Cup and European Cup as the Reds overcame Benfica to lift the trophy.

League titles and FA Cups followed, as did world-wide fame for a man who - humble as ever - never courted it.

Delving into our extensive archives, we tell the story of Sir Bobby's life through words and pictures, as well as reaction from around the game to the death of England's greatest.

You can pre order your copy now, by clicking here.

Pre orders will be posted from Wednesday, November 22 2023.

Chloe Robinson