Charlie Fleming
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Fleming (12 July 1927 – 15 August 1997) was a Scottish
footballer
who played for Blairhall Colliery, East Fife
, Sunderland
and the Scotland national team
. Fleming was nicknamed ’Cannonball Charlie’ for his shooting ability.
Fleming was born in Blairhall, Fife
and joined East Fife from Blairhall Colliery and became an integral part of East Fife's success in the 1940s and 1950s. Fleming won the League Cup
with East Fife in 1949 and 1953 and was part of the side that reached the Scottish Cup
final in 1950
. During his time with East Fife he won his only international cap
, and scored twice in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland
on 3 October 1953.
He moved to English club Sunderland
in January 1955 for £20,000 (plus Tommy Wright in exchange) where he remained for three seasons.
After his playing career he had managerial spells at Bath City
in 1958 and Trowbridge Town
in 1965. At Bath City he signed his ex East Fife team mate, Bobby Black
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for Blairhall Colliery, East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Fleming was nicknamed ’Cannonball Charlie’ for his shooting ability.
Fleming was born in Blairhall, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and joined East Fife from Blairhall Colliery and became an integral part of East Fife's success in the 1940s and 1950s. Fleming won the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
with East Fife in 1949 and 1953 and was part of the side that reached the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final in 1950
Scottish Cup 1949-50
The 1949–50 Scottish Cup was the 65th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated East Fife in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Second Replays:...
. During his time with East Fife he won his only international cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, and scored twice in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 3 October 1953.
He moved to English club Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in January 1955 for £20,000 (plus Tommy Wright in exchange) where he remained for three seasons.
After his playing career he had managerial spells at Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
in 1958 and Trowbridge Town
Trowbridge Town F.C.
Trowbridge Town F.C. are a football club based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, and they play at Woodmarsh on the southern edge of the town. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West.-History:...
in 1965. At Bath City he signed his ex East Fife team mate, Bobby Black
Bobby Black
Bobby Black is a Scottish ex-professional footballer from Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway perhaps best known for his time at East Fife and Queen of the South and was also capped by the Scottish League. Black later was an all England bowls champion...
.