Who is Tommy Charlton? Meet Bobby Charlton’s brother who is leading the tributes at Man United legend’s funeral

• Tommy Charlton is the last surviving brother of legend Sir Bobby Charlton 
• Tommy, 77, believes Sir Bobby has been reunited with their older sibling Jack 
• Man Utd are NOT good enough to have a ball-playing keeper – It’s All Coming Up 

Sir Bobby Charlton’s brother Tommy is leading tributes to the former Manchester United legend ahead his funeral. 

Sir Bobby’s brother Tommy, 77, believes the United and England icon has been reunited with their older sibling Jack Charlton in heaven. 

Manchester will say goodbye to Sir Bobby, who died last month after a fall at a care home where he was suffering from dementia. 

Thousands will line the streets ahead of a memorial service at Manchester Cathedral, where greats of the game and his loved-ones will gather. The funeral procession to the cathedral will pass by his beloved Old Trafford. 

Mail Sport breaks down everything you need to know about Sir Bobby Charlton’s brother Tommy. 

Sir Bobby Charlton ‘s brother Tommy is leading tributes to the former Manchester United legend

Manchester will say goodbye to Sir Bobby, who died last month after a fall at a care home where he was suffering from dementia

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Charlton, 77, is the last surviving brother of Sir Bobby. 

He revealed he played a bit of football growing up at amateur level, but was forced to stop when he broke his kneecap in a friendly game.

Speaking to the Rotherham Community Trust, he said: ‘I never seriously tried to get into the professional game mainly because of the brilliance of my brothers, how can a mere mortal compete with that?’

Tommy was only 12 when he almost lost Bobby, then aged 20, in the Munich air disaster.  

‘It was a terrible time for me and the family,’ he told the Mirror. ‘The strangest thing is that I was quite certain that Bob would come through. I really cannot explain that.’ 

Tommy revealed to Sky Sports that he missed a trip to Wembley to watch his brothers win the 1966 World Cup. 

‘Before the final, Bob managed to get me a ticket to the final,’ he said. ‘And I lived in Ashington and Ashington is a long way from London. I’d never been to London. I’d very rarely been out of Ashington, if the truth was known.

Tommy, 77, says Sir Bobby has been reunited with their old sibling Jack Charlton in heaven

Charlton won the World Cup with the Three Lions in 1966 (pictured: Charlton with the trophy)

‘I didn’t have any money to get there. Nobody in the family had that sort of money, and I didn’t want to ask brother Jack to help me, because they had far too much on the plate at the time.

‘And that was just not the thing that I was willing to do, so I watched the match at home on the TV, and, well, it was actually with my girlfriend at the time – it was at their house

‘But I regret that now. I regret that I should have, actually got a bank loan or something to get there.

‘But to me, it was just my brothers playing a game… it was playing for England again, you know? I don’t know what he probably makes of that.’

Charlton made his England debut at the age of 72 in 2018 in the world’s first walking football international.

He played a key role at Brighton and Hove Albion’s stadium as part of an over-60s side playing Italy. 

Charlton won a place in the team after impressing national selectors during a trial at Burnley earlier that year. 

Prior to his debut, Charlton featured regularly for The Mature Millers walking football club in Rotherham.

Tommy revealed he was unable to make the trip to Wembley to watch Jack and Charlton win the 1966 World Cup

Tommy is a keen walking football player and featured in the world’s first walking football international.

He played a key role at Brighton and Hove Albion’s stadium as part of an over-60s side playing Italy

What has he said on Sir Bobby’s death?

In an interview with the Mirror last month, an emotional Tommy made a heartfelt tribute to Man United legend following his death.

‘If ever there was a place reserved in heaven, it is for Bob. He and Jack were everybody’s heroes. Throughout my life, from being a little boy, I have never felt anything other than pride in both of Jack and Bob.

‘Being the youngest, Jack was a big, towering guy, my big brother, I looked up to him growing up. And I respected Bob’s integrity and intelligence. You could talk to him about any subject.

‘I am a little bit annoyed that football took them away from me when we were young. From the age of 10, I would see them when they came home from their clubs, or we went to visit. Other families were growing up together.’

Tommy added: ‘They were idols to other people. But to me, they were my brothers. That is where my heart is, with my brothers.’ 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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