RIP, a truly great man. Got me wondering who was the last person to play professional football and first class cricket at the same time. Ian Botham played a few games for Yeovil and Scunthorpe but only dabbled in football.
It was a privilege to have met him many times. He brought his knowledge and expertise to a Charlton board full of fans, invaluable to have an ex-player and manager at that level, something Curbs could do now, perhaps.
And he seemed to know everyone in football, a wonderful, polite, sharply dress man.
Very sad news but he lived a full and fulfilling life.
Derek was also a patron of the Charlton Athletic Museum and we're proud to display his shirt from his only England game.
Going back a few haircuts I was on a train going to an away game (can’t remember where) and I was on a table with none other than Derek himself. I had been in his company before but never really spoken to him at any great length so until then I really can’t say we knew one another. Well, I volunteered to get us some teas and coffees from the buffet car. I can’t remember who else I was with but Derek was travelling alone. On my way back to the table the train lurched and scalding hot tea spilt all over my hand. Derek was most attentive and concerned for me as bit by bit the pain got worse. We got a taxi to the ground and arrived very early, maybe around 1.30ish, whereupon Derek insisted he would help me to get some treatment. So we set off to find the St Johns ambulance team. I can remember walking around the pitch side track, quite how we got there I don’t know. I was slightly embarrassed because Derek would have been on his way to the Directors lounge and yet here he was spending time with me, someone he hardly knew, looking to get me some treatment. I had said to him I’m OK I can find them myself but no, he absolutely insisted. Eventually we found them and he stayed with me while my scalds were treated. And there in a simple short story is the measure of the man Derek Ufton.
A moment of unexpected kindness never forgotten by a fellow Addick.
So sad to hear of this,Derek was the last man standing from the first time I saw Charlton play,a fine player cursed with a recurring shoulder problem,had it not been for the consistency of Billy Wright,I am sure he would have got more than one cap for England.Also enjoyed watching him play for kent at the rectory field Blackheath ,some truly fine matches in the annual visit of Surrey.A true gentleman and a legend,deserves some fitting memorial at the Valley.
Having a cricket mad uncle I knew his name as a Dartford Cricket legend who also played for Charlton lol. Absolute sporting royalty in our house. May he RIP ❤️
RIP a great sportsman and gentleman. I remember chatting to him briefly at a meeting he attended for Charlton supporters at the Bromley and Widmore Working man's club. Sure Henry Irving would have been there. He told a wonderful story about bumping into Bill Shankley at Euston (I think). Shankley had been manager of Huddersfield when Charlton beat them in the incredible 7-6 game. He said Shankley just said to Derek ''I never played him again
Comments
He brought his knowledge and expertise to a Charlton board full of fans, invaluable to have an ex-player and manager at that level, something Curbs could do now, perhaps.
And he seemed to know everyone in football, a wonderful, polite, sharply dress man.
Very sad news but he lived a full and fulfilling life.
Derek was also a patron of the Charlton Athletic Museum and we're proud to display his shirt from his only England game.
RIP
I had been in his company before but never really spoken to him at any great length so until then I really can’t say we knew one another.
Well, I volunteered to get us some teas and coffees from the buffet car. I can’t remember who else I was with but Derek was travelling alone.
On my way back to the table the train lurched and scalding hot tea spilt all over my hand.
Derek was most attentive and concerned for me as bit by bit the pain got worse.
We got a taxi to the ground and arrived very early, maybe around 1.30ish, whereupon Derek insisted he would help me to get some treatment. So we set off to find the St Johns ambulance team. I can remember walking around the pitch side track, quite how we got there I don’t know.
I was slightly embarrassed because Derek would have been on his way to the Directors lounge and yet here he was spending time with me, someone he hardly knew, looking to get me some treatment. I had said to him I’m OK I can find them myself but no, he absolutely insisted.
Eventually we found them and he stayed with me while my scalds were treated.
And there in a simple short story is the measure of the man Derek Ufton.
A moment of unexpected kindness never forgotten by a fellow Addick.
RIP
Absolute sporting royalty in our house.
May he RIP ❤️
at a meeting he attended for Charlton supporters at the Bromley and Widmore
Working man's club. Sure Henry Irving would have been there.
He told a wonderful story about bumping into Bill Shankley at Euston (I think).
Shankley had been manager of Huddersfield when Charlton beat them in
the incredible 7-6 game. He said Shankley just said to Derek ''I never played
him again
As many others have said and done, I met Derek a few times and he was the utmost gentleman to everyone. True legend.
RIP Derek and condolences to his family and loved ones.
PS quite pleased there's no game, so the news can have the prominence on the site it deserves.