Mel Charles

Who is Mel Charles?

Melvyn "Mel" Charles is a Welsh former international footballer. He is the brother of John Charles, a legendary all-round player known as the 'Gentle Giant', and father of former Wales international Jeremy Charles. Like his brother, he could play as both a centre-half and centre-forward, though his preferred position was at right-half.

After a short stint on the Leeds United ground staff, he turned professional with his local club, Swansea Town, in 1952. He spent seven years in the Second Division with the club, before he won a £42,750 move to First Division Arsenal in March 1959. His three seasons at the club were plagued by injury, and in February 1962 he was sold on to Cardiff City for a £28,500 fee. He spent three years with Cardiff, winning the Welsh Cup in 1964, his only domestic honour, before he joined Porthmadog in the Welsh League in 1965. He spent a brief period in the Fourth Division with Port Vale in the 1966–67 season, before he returned to Welsh football with Oswestry Town. He joined Haverfordwest in 1967, where he spent five years before he retired from the game. He scored a total of 121 goals in 381 league games in the Football League.