CHARLIE Short, who died on Tuesday, aged 77, was arguably the most famous footballer in the sporting history of Penrith through scoring a century of goals in a single season and more than 200 in total.

CHARLIE Short, who died on Tuesday, aged 77, was arguably the most famous footballer in the sporting history of Penrith through scoring a century of goals in a single season and more than 200 in total.

He was a heroic figure in the town team of the immediate post-war years and made a massive contribution to the winning of the Cumberland Cup for the first time in Penrith’s history, the Carlisle and District League and another cup competition, all in season 1946-47.

Only a fictitious hero like “Roy of the Rovers” could have matched Charlie Short’s scoring powers. He kicked the ball with startling ferocity — so long as it fell to his favoured right foot — and he was a powerful header of goals.

He told the story that he joined Penrith FC because of a chance conversation on a Carlisle building site. He was hoping to find a club to play for and a workmate suggested Penrith, as he had been a pre-war player with the club.

INSPIRED DECISION

Legendary success stemmed from those few remarks. The only snag was that Charlie was then a goalkeeper and Penrith did not need one. But they did need a hotshot centre forward — a goal scorer, rather than a shot saver — and, on the suggestion of club chairman Gerald Sykes, the new player agreed to make the positional move.

It was an inspired decision because within a year of becoming the Penrith centre forward, Charlie Short, then aged 26, was almost a legendary figure and the holder of a record that will surely stand for all time.

An early report of his prowess contained this masterpiece of understatement: “The attack has been greatly strengthened by the inclusion of C. Short, a well-built, thrustful centre forward.”

By the close of the season he had made the goal net dance with 102 goals and he took his tally to 220 in a little over three years with the club.

At one point he was invited for a trial with Derby County FC but was considered rather too old to turn professional.

Such was the success of the Penrith side that selection meetings at the Horse and Farrier, then the club headquarters, became very brief. The words, “Same team,” generally sufficed.

So successful was the team which included Charlie Short, Tommy Boustead, Jackie Donaldson, Ronnie Reay, George Landels, Arthur Docker and the Bell brothers, “Ginner” and John, that the club decided to leave local competition to join the much stronger Northern League, centred on Darlington and including classy teams like Bishop Auckland, Crook Town and Willington.

The opening match in the new competition, played in pelting rain in mid-August of 1948, saw the Blues gain a thrilling win over the mighty “Bishops”, with Charlie Short getting the vital goal with a thumping header.

Crowds of 2,000 and more cheered on the Penrith team of that era, made up mainly of local players.

Mr. Short, whose home was in Friars Road, Penrith, had spells with other football clubs — Holme Head (Carlisle), Greystoke and Shap — but he returned to Penrith as trainer and committee-member.

His feat of scoring 100 goals was recognised last year when friends presented him with a commemorative glass bowl. He was a life member of the club.

He was also a keen cricketer, playing first for the Penrith club but mainly with Edenhall. In more recent years he turned to the game of bowls and won a number of trophies on the Friars’ green.

Originally from Beith, Ayrshire, Mr. Short moved with his family to Stourbridge and then to Carlisle, where he was educated and began work for local crane-makers.

TANKER DRIVER

During the war he served with the Army in the Middle East, driving tankers to maintain fuel supplies.

Football having brought him to Penrith in 1946, he worked in the town, initially for building contractor Robert Reay and then as a driver for Regent Oils and, later, the Milk Marketing Board, before retiring about 12 years ago.

Mr. Short married Miss Ethel Main, Penrith, and she survives him with a daughter, Helen, who works for N. T. O’Reilly and Partners, and son Stephen, a tax manager with Armstrong Watson.

The funeral service is being held at Penrith Methodist Church on Monday, followed by interment at Penrith cemetery.

Donations will be divided between Cancer Research Fund and the Methodist Church Building for the Future Fund.