Graham Tutt - or 'Buster' as he was known in those days, was a local lad.
It was dreadful what happened to him as a 19 year old - and from a completely unnecessary and dangerous challenge from Sunderland's Tom Finney.
We now will never how his career could have progressed - maybe playing for one of the big clubs, European competition and England caps. But it was all before the big money in football and he would now be long retired from playing.
It's funny how things work out though.
Without his injury, he probably would never have carved out a hugely successful career in the States.
Had he not been injured it is quite possible that legends like Nicky Johns and even Bob Bolder would never have played for the club.
Not forgetting the underrated Jeff Wood who came from non league football (?Harlow Town in the old Athenian league) straight into our first team following Tutt's tragic injury.
At least sunderland came back and played A TESTIMONIAL for graham tutt, he was a very good keeper who suffered a fractured nose,damaged cheekbone and cuts above and below his eye, a real shame.
Didn't he make a claim for his injury under the PFA scheme which precluded him from returning to play in the Football League? I remember him breaking into the side in the promotion season in 1974/5. He could have broken all 'keeping records for us given he was only 19 when struck down with the injury. Clearly he was able to carry on playing successfully which makes it all the more of a shame that he didn't manage to recover sufficiently before finishing his Football League career. Thanks for sharing that Henry.
He actually suffered blurred and double vision after it for some time, and could not return to playing I know he spent some time in South Africa and played some football out there but was never the same player. A mate of mine was on his testimonial comittee, and on the night a goalkeepers eleven turned out against a Charlton old boys side who if I remember rightly had Malcolm McDonald guesting for them. Some time after the incident Tom Finney played a reserve game at the valley and was kicked off the pitch by a team which was said to have featured Harry Cripps for the occassion.
I saw that reserve match - Finney was playing for Cambridge by then. Charlton put out a team of remaining players from a few seasons before and they took it in turn to really get stuck into Finney - tackles from behind, knee in the back, flailing elbows - and the referee turned a blind eye. Finney was really battered and never came out for the 2nd half.
I saw that reserve match - Finney was playing for Cambridge by then. Charlton put out a team of remaining players from a few seasons before and they took it in turn to really get stuck into Finney - tackles from behind, knee in the back, flailing elbows - and the referee turned a blind eye. Finney was really battered and never came out for the 2nd half.
My brother was playing at Cambridge United at the time. The manager (some bloke called Ron Atkinson) introduced the players to his latest signing, Tom Finney. My brother didn't enjoy having to shake his hand and welcome him to the club!
Went to Cambridge when Finney played and was taking their corners, as most know who have been the away end isn't very large and you are close to the play...He got pelted every time he took a corner.
He actually suffered blurred and double vision after it for some time, and could not return to playing I know he spent some time in South Africa and played some football out there but was never the same player.
A mate of mine was on his testimonial comittee, and on the night a goalkeepers eleven turned out against a Charlton old boys side who if I remember rightly had Malcolm McDonald guesting for them. Some time after the incident Tom Finney played a reserve game at the valley and was kicked off the pitch by a team which was said to have featured Harry Cripps for the occassion.
I'm sure I heard a story that the manager asked if there were any volunteers from he first team that wanted to play in that game and Hales volunteered to play in midfield.
Come to think of it, I think it was Hales who told the story at one of those "evening with ...." events.
I saw that reserve match - Finney was playing for Cambridge by then. Charlton put out a team of remaining players from a few seasons before and they took it in turn to really get stuck into Finney - tackles from behind, knee in the back, flailing elbows - and the referee turned a blind eye. Finney was really battered and never came out for the 2nd half.
I always remember Graham Tutt in the game at Stamford Bridge in 1975. Chelsea through the kitchen sink at us in the latter part of the second half. Tutt totally commanded the goal area like I have never seen any other keeper, he came out to take the ball out of the air so many times and never missed one.
Strange that former England keeper Bonneti helped to gift us 2 goals with a bit of help from Chopper Harris. Killer being the right player to present them too.
2-3 to us, good day that was.
Criminal that his career was ended like that, I still believe he would have made it to the top.
Graham Tutt was similar to Nick Pope. He was ahead of Nick at the same age. What might have been if not for the bellend Finney ?
Tom Finney shared a name with an English football legend. Chalk and cheese in their Careers.
Sounds a bit melodramatic now, but I am sure I remember reading that fragments of Tutt's cheekbone ended up in his eye. Finney was a chunky git and didn't hold back with that swipe at the loose ball as Tutty dived at his feet. I'd like to believe it wasn't deliberately malicious but it was totally reckless at the very least.
I thought Graham looked more assured and commanding than Nick did when he came through, but hey, Nick is an England squad member and has progressed brilliantly. We can only speculate, but Graham looked the real deal. Has to be one of the saddest episodes in Charlton's history
I'm sure Finney was actually related to the great Tom Finney. Must have made him really proud.
Edit - Just dwelling on this now, brought it all back - he was so young and one of our own, made it so criminally fecking sad
I think anyone who saw Graham Tutt play felt he was destined for a career right at the very top. Desperately sad that his career was curtailed in the way it was - if I remember correctly, Killer took over in goal and conceded four. When he played at The Valley, Finney was crucified by the crowd for what he had done. Just another random recollection, there was another player, Vic Groves if I remember correctly who also used to get constantly barracked when he played at The Valley, because he was a decent player, but just a bit flash. Sadly, I seem to remember he passed away whilst still very young.
I think anyone who saw Graham Tutt play felt he was destined for a career right at the very top. Desperately sad that his career was curtailed in the way it was - if I remember correctly, Killer took over in goal and conceded four. When he played at The Valley, Finney was crucified by the crowd for what he had done. Just another random recollection, there was another player, Vic Groves if I remember correctly who also used to get constantly barracked when he played at The Valley, because he was a decent player, but just a bit flash. Sadly, I seem to remember he passed away whilst still very young.
It depends on how you define "very young". He died, aged 82, more than fifty years after his last game for Arsenal and 23 years after his nephew, Perry, played his last game for them.
Mea culpa, it was Alan Groves who played for Shrewsbury, Bournemouth, Blackpool and Oldham. He died in 1978 aged 29.
Great winger for Oldham, thick curly hair, always gave our Paddy a run for his money as the best winger in the Division. Ironically he died suddenly of a heart attack whilst watching the World Cup on TV.
Seen that photo before. Poor sod,if that had been in todays game he'd have been in a neck brace and on oxygen. I sincerely hope that Finneys 'challenge' was more clumsy than malicious because otherwise that would be classed as assault today.
Comments
Good keeper shame what happened
It was dreadful what happened to him as a 19 year old - and from a completely unnecessary and dangerous challenge from Sunderland's Tom Finney.
We now will never how his career could have progressed - maybe playing for one of the big clubs, European competition and England caps. But it was all before the big money in football and he would now be long retired from playing.
It's funny how things work out though.
Without his injury, he probably would never have carved out a hugely successful career in the States.
Eye injury.
Had he not been injured it is quite possible that legends like Nicky Johns and even Bob Bolder would never have played for the club.
Not forgetting the underrated Jeff Wood who came from non league football (?Harlow Town in the old Athenian league) straight into our first team following Tutt's tragic injury.
A mate of mine was on his testimonial comittee, and on the night a goalkeepers eleven turned out against a Charlton old boys side who if I remember rightly had Malcolm McDonald guesting for them.
Some time after the incident Tom Finney played a reserve game at the valley and was kicked off the pitch by a team which was said to have featured Harry Cripps for the occassion.
Come to think of it, I think it was Hales who told the story at one of those "evening with ...." events.
He was ahead of Nick at the same age.
What might have been if not for the bellend Finney ?
Tom Finney shared a name with an English football legend. Chalk and cheese in their Careers.
Strange that former England keeper Bonneti helped to gift us 2 goals with a bit of help from Chopper Harris. Killer being the right player to present them too.
2-3 to us, good day that was.
Criminal that his career was ended like that, I still believe he would have made it to the top.
Finney was a chunky git and didn't hold back with that swipe at the loose ball as Tutty dived at his feet.
I'd like to believe it wasn't deliberately malicious but it was totally reckless at the very least.
I thought Graham looked more assured and commanding than Nick did when he came through, but hey, Nick is an England squad member and has progressed brilliantly.
We can only speculate, but Graham looked the real deal.
Has to be one of the saddest episodes in Charlton's history
I'm sure Finney was actually related to the great Tom Finney. Must have made him really proud.
Edit - Just dwelling on this now, brought it all back - he was so young and one of our own, made it so criminally fecking sad
When he played at The Valley, Finney was crucified by the crowd for what he had done.
Just another random recollection, there was another player, Vic Groves if I remember correctly who also used to get constantly barracked when he played at The Valley, because he was a decent player, but just a bit flash. Sadly, I seem to remember he passed away whilst still very young.
Ironically he died suddenly of a heart attack whilst watching the World Cup on TV.