On this day on 1936, Charlie “The King” Hurley was born. Born in Cork, Ireland, Hurley’s family would quickly make the move over the water to Rainham, Essex.
Hurley got his first professional contract at the age of sixteen for Millwall, a club that would go on to make one-hundred and five appearances for.
Hurley would quickly make an impression at the Lions and would make sixteen appearances in his first season, which would be followed up by making thirty-eight league appearances in his second. On the 26th September 1957, on the back of his impressive form at Millwall, Hurley signed for Sunderland, for a fee of around £18,000. Hurley’s debut didn’t go to plan however, a seven nil away thrashing away to Blackpool would start his Sunderland career.
However, Hurley would soon start to make a big impact on Wearside, giving former manager Alan Brown his infamous nickname “The Bomber.”
Hurley would guide the lads to promotion to the top flight in the 1963/64 season, after narrowly missing out on promotion the two years prior. Hurley is quoted as saying: “That day, when we did our lap of honour, was probably the greatest moment of my entire career. We were all sitting in the dressing room afterwards when Syd Collings, our chairman, came in and as he opened the door and all you could hear was “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie…” and Syd said ‘Look lads, you’ll have to go back out again.” To go out to that kind of call, that kind of support was incredible.”
It would also be a good season for Hurley specifically, as he came second to Bobby Moore in the FWA Footballer of the Year award.
Hurley was part of one of the most settled defences in Sunderland’s history, which included notable names such as: Cecil Irwin, Len Ashurst, Martin Harvey and Jimmy McNab.
The King was known for his headed goals and scored his first goal in a 1-1 Boxing Day draw against Sheffield United in 1960.
Hurley’s twelve year stay on Wearside would come to an end away to Burley in 1969. The Irishman finished his career with two year spell at Bolton Wanderers, making forty-three appearances for The Trotters. Hurley spent five years with Reading where he would gain a promotion with them.
