Radford Charlie Image 2 Manchester United 1922

Description

Walsall, Staffordshire born right back Charlie Radford was twice capped for England Schoolboys in 1914 and began his senior football career with hometown professional club Walsall in 1919 after the end of the First World War, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, before signing for First Division club Manchester United in May 1920. However, he was unable to break into either the first team or the reserves as a forward, so he was tried out at right back for much of the 1920-21 Central League season. With the reserves having won the Central League title that year, Radford was given his Football League  debut in the final game of the 1920-21 season in a 3-0 win at home to Derby County on 7th May 1921.

Radford became Manchester United’s regular right back for the 1921-22 season, playing in 26 of their 42 League matches; however, he was unable to prevent them from finishing bottom of the First Division with the worst defensive record in the division. The following season, he missed just eight League matches, and scored his only goal for Manchester United in a 2-1 home win over Blackpool on 7th April 1923. He missed a further 12 matches in 1923-24, including the last eight games of the season, which he missed due to suspension after having been sent off in a match against Nelson on 8th March 1924. His last game for the club, his 96th appearance, came in a 1-1 draw away to Hull City on 22nd March 1924. He never played for Manchester United again as he was killed in a motorcycle accident in Wolverhampton in July 1924.

NB the photograph was taken in a match against Rotherham County at Old Trafford on 2nd December 1922, which Manchester United won 3-0. The Rotherham player is Billy Cook.