37: Gary Charles, Aston Villa, Merlin’s Premier League 99 Official Sticker Collection

Once again we are in the capable hands of Richard Allinson for today’s post and, for a change, we move outside of Lincolnshire’s premier seaside resort. Besides recognising Gary Charles as the smiling face that heralded yet another double, I knew nothing of the story below. Apart from the Gazza tackle bit of course.

When you think of English international fullbacks from the 1990s it is easy to default to the big names. Gary Neville, Stuart Pearce, Barry Venison. One player who earned two international caps for the Three Lions, but is often overlooked, is Gary Charles. Have a discussion about him and the conversation inevitably gets round to something that he had absolutely no control over i.e. an over enthusiastic Paul Gascoigne destroying his own knee with a wildly reckless challenge on Charles in the 1991 FA Cup final.

Gary Charles had a long career at the top level with significant spells at Nottingham Forest, Derby and Aston Villa. He made the PFA Team of the Year in 1993/94 and won the League Cup in 1996. He also had a brief spell at Benfica when Graeme Souness decided to sign a load of British players with little to no success. Step forward Brian Deane, Scott Minto and Steve Harkness. Souness also reportedly declined to sign a young lad called Deco, plumping for Mark Pembridge instead. Apologies for the digression, back to Mr Charles. After his time in Portugal he subsequently returned to the top flight of English football with West Ham before his playing days, that were blighted by injury, drew to a close in 2002.

This impressive career doesn’t tell the half of Gary Charles’ story. Shortly after being called up to the national side for the first time he was involved in a road traffic accident in which a young man sadly lost his life, the inquest verdict being one of accidental death. He went on to play for Nottingham Forest that same evening, preferring not to tell anyone in an attempt to block the incident out. He also endured a battle with alcoholism reportedly linked to his ongoing injury struggles, shyness and racism that he had experienced throughout his career. He first went to Alcoholics Anonymous in his mid-twenties but reportedly received no offer of counselling during his playing days. Then, only two years after the end of his playing career, he was sentenced to four months in prison for drink driving. I'm not going to go into detail here but the incidents do sound a bit odd.

Thankfully Gary Charles has managed to come through the other side of his issues with alcohol and has turned his experiences into a force for good. An article from 2019 outlined that he had been sober for twelve years and now, through his own companies, helps others, both in and out of sport, with addiction problems. He also has a Diploma in Counselling. And is Director of a sports management company. And is Sports Ambassador at a rehab centre. And is a motivational speaker. And was Director of Football at the University of Nottingham. And attained his UEFA A coaching license. And had a spell as manager of Nuneaton Town. And acted as a recruitment consultant at various professional football clubs. So he has done quite a lot really and it is pretty bloody impressive.

Unfortunately stories of footballers from Charles’ generation struggling with alcoholism are not uncommon, the aforementioned Gazza being the most obvious and famous example. Although society and culture has changed a lot in the last twenty years in general, the efforts of the PFA, FA and the associated leagues are seemingly helping to ensure that players are given the guidance and support that they need. And that can only be a good thing.