Simon Thomas Charlton (born 25 October 1971) 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.^[1][2] Since April 2009 he has been manager of Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town. He played most frequently as a left back, but could also play as a left-sided central defender or occasionally in midfield.

[edit] 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.^[3]

From Southampton he was initially loaned to Birmingham City, before making his move permanent in 1998.^[2] In 2000, Charlton was transferred to Bolton Wanderers, where he was chosen Player of the Year for the 2001-02 season,^[4] and subsequently moved to Norwich City in July 2004.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] After his contract at Oldham expired in May 2007, he retired as a player and returned to Norwich City as a youth coach.^[5]

He became manager of Eastern Counties League club Mildenhall Town in April 2009.^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• League stats at Neil Brown's site
• Simon Charlton career stats at Soccerbase
• Stats and photos at Sporting Heroes