Death threats, nightclub brawls and dressing room tales

EX-MAGPIE REVEALS ALL IN NEW BOOK

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BIG JACK was a well-decorated man of football a World Cup winner with his brother Bobby and England who went on to gain legendary status all over again when as manager of the Republic of Ireland he led a small nation to great achievements.

However, Jack Charlton was also famously a hunting, shooting and fishing man. A Northumbrian who loved traditional country pursuits.

Witness the waders and boots that cluttered the manager's office when he was in charge of Newcastle United, the occasional gun or dead bird that lay in the boot of his car.

Whatever side of a controversial argument people supported there was no doubt that Charlton's high profile drew the attention of animal and bird protection activists which led directly to one extraordinary occasion when United were playing West Ham at Upton Park in February 1985.

The game was almost postponed amid a threat on Big Jack's life taken 'extremely seriously' by the police.

What occurred is revealed for the very first time in a new book Once Upon A Toon by Paul Ferris who was at the heart of the drama as one of Newcastle's players.

Let Ferris take up the tale: “On the morning of the game two senior detectives with the Met Police interrupted our team meeting to tell us of the threat to Big Jack's life. Broken glass had been scattered on the pitch in protest and the talk was that the game could be off. Eventually, we got the all clear to travel across London, but the gaffer had to lie out of sight in the aisle of the coach as it weaved its way through busy streets.

“Early on West Ham attacked down our left side. I was in the dug-out sitting behind Jack when all of a sudden he stepped outside and started gesturing towards the sky. I took my eyes off the game and started looking towards the sky as well. A flock of geese were flying in perfect V formation over the head of our hunting, shooting and fishing manager. He stretched his arms in open exasperation.