Simon Charlton


Simon Thomas Charlton is an English former footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing for Huddersfield Town, Southampton, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Norwich City and Oldham Athletic. He played most frequently as a left back, but could also play as a left-sided central defender or occasionally in midfield. Between April 2009 and June 2010 he managed Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town.

Playing career

Charlton was born in Huddersfield and began his career at his home-town club Huddersfield Town where he played over a hundred games for the Terriers before moving to Premiership club Southampton for £250,000 in 1993.
From Southampton he was initially loaned to Birmingham City, before making his move permanent in 1998. In May 2000, Charlton was released by Birmingham before signing for Bolton Wanderers, where he was chosen Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season, and subsequently moved to Norwich City in July 2004.
At the end of the 2005–06 season, Charlton was released by Norwich City. He left the club under something of a cloud, stating his belief that manager Nigel Worthington had made a scapegoat and an easy target out of him.
He signed a one-year deal with Oldham Athletic in August 2006. On his first appearance he conceded a penalty, which was saved, and provided the cross for the only goal of the game. He scored once for Oldham, scoring a goal from his own half in a 4–1 win over Gillingham. After his contract at Oldham expired in May 2007, he retired as a player and returned to Norwich City as a youth coach.

Coaching and management career

He became manager of Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town in April 2009. He made his debut for Mildenhall Town as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Haverhill Rovers. He left his post in June 2010 due to "unforeseen circumstances and opportunities."
As of September 2011, he works as a Football Coach for the Global Soccer Network, an organisation which looks after the interests of several UK-based African players and many new talents within the game.
He currently is a summariser of Bolton Wanderers games for BBC Radio Manchester.

International

In May 2012, he appeared for and captained the Sealand national football team in a match against the Chagos Islands. The match was held at the grounds of Godalming Town.

Honours

;Individual