Of all the “one-match-wonders” who have qualified for inclusion in this website, Alf Charles has probably generated the biggest word-count elsewhere – at least until Aly Dia had his 53 minutes of fame in 1996. The reason is simple:

Alf Charles was the Saints’ first black player.

Alf was a sportsman of some note in West Indies for, not only was he an excellent cricketer he was also good enough to represent Trinidad at football when the inter-island competitions were played. Unfortunately his footballing career in the Caribbean was to come to a shuddering halt. His club, Everton, repeatedly won the league-and-cup double during his time with them, during which he was

affectionately known as “King Charles”.

He was capable of playing in any outfield position although he was especially at home at centre-half. In September 1933, a clash between Alf and a Casuals opponent triggered an on-pitch battle, in which spectators became involved. Alf was sent off, along with his brother, Frank, and two opponents. When the two brothers each received a three-year ban, Everton withdrew from the League and football across Trinidad inevitably felt the shock. Banned from playing in his native country, Alf made for England, effectively sponsored, according to the Trinidad Mirror, by his friend, Learie Constantine, who not only introduced him to his cricket team, Nelson CC (see scrapbook section) with whom he played for two seasons and met “with considerable success both as a batsman and bowler” but also brought “Mr. Charles’s prowess as a footballer to the notice of English clubs.” The Mirror added a character reference:

Charles was a “non-smoker and total abstainer”.

So, two months after the fracas, Alf boarded the CS Coronado, destination Lancashire. After failing to make the first team at Turf Moor, he bided his time in non-league football – until January 1937 when recommended by a Lancashire scout, he signed for Southampton. He made his debut the following day – at inside-left – but that would prove to be his only appearance in the Football League (see scrapbook section for match report). He had a powerful presence – a Dell contemporary, Bill Moore, has recalled how a ball once hit Alf on the head and ricocheted over the West Stand. Moore also vouched for the way in which this

“modest and religious man”

lived up to the Mirror’s certificate of good character – and, indeed, to his second name of “Pious”. None of which would get him another start in the first team: after a few games for the Reserves, an injury put paid to his League career.

He returned to playing non-league football in the north-west until cartilage trouble forced him out of the game. He could still play cricket, though, even turning out for a West Indies XI v England XI at Lord’s in 1944. After a full season for Lowerhouse in the Lancashire League in 1949, his appearances ceased abruptly in June 1950, just before his 41st birthday. He died in 1977, in Burnley, the town that had granted him footballing asylum 44 years before.

He is commemorated by a plaque at St Mary’s, which also celebrates the contributions of all black Saints, as part of Black History Month 2020.