Bill Charlton was not only a gifted amateur footballer but he was studious enough to go up to Oxford University in 1930 where he duly won his soccer blue while qualifying to be a teacher. He turned out for those famous itinerant clubs, the Corinthians and Middlesex Wanderers before signing on as an amateur for Saints during his second year of study. With his university commitments restricting his availability, his opportunities as a centre-forward at The Dell were always going to be limited – even without Ted Drake coming into contention. In a season and a half, he managed but three games for the Reserves and two for the first team, in the second of which he scored in a 5-1 drubbing at Molyneux.

After amateur spells at two more League clubs, he spent a season with Wimbledon, as they again topped the Isthmian League in 1936. And then, having won four amateur caps for England that year, with 2 hat-tricks against Ireland and Wales to his name, he signed pro for QPR. His scoring record in Division III South – 10 goals in 18 appearances – failed to keep him in the professional game and he finished his career back in amateur football.

After the war when he served as a Lt-Commander in the Royal Navy, Bill worked in the oil industry for a while, with Shell Mex, and then became a headmaster in an unknown London school.

He was not, unfortunately, one to elaborate, turning down a request from his Barnes home for an interview in 1988 (see below).