Jack Charlton in Hong Kong – Derek Currie recalls ‘Big Man’ tales of governor, Pope and attending stranger’s birthday party
- Charlton made several visits to Hong Kong in the 1990s, including as a special guest for the 1995 Lunar New Year Cup draw
- Derek Currie spent time with Jack Charlton in Hong Kong and during the 1990 World Cup and relates some of his stories
Jack Charlton was walking along the streets of Central during one of his visits to Hong Kong in the ’90s. The “Big Man” was a big name in the city, his exploits as manager of Ireland more topical in Hong Kong minds than his 1966 World Cup winners’ medal or his 773 appearances for Leeds United.
At 1.87 metres, he towered over everyone else – whether on a football pitch or on Pedder Street. And the people of Hong Kong were happy to look up to him, greeting him on the street, exchanging pleasantries and treasuring their brief, unlikely moment with Big Jack in the heart of city’s business district.
Former Hong Kong Rangers star Derek Currie recalls a man who made time for people, who loved to laugh and be laughed at and who often gave up his own pleasures to make others happy.
World football is mourning Charlton, who died on Friday, aged 85.
Currie spent time with Charlton during his visits to Hong Kong and during the 1990 World Cup in Italy, relating stories of their visit to the house of former Governor Chris Patten, his meeting with Pope John Paul II and the time he sacrificed one of his beloved Irish fishing trips to attend a stranger’s birthday party.
“Jack visited Hong Kong on a few occasions, along with his wife Pat and you could not meet a more down-to-earth football celebrity, than the Big Man,” said Currie, who invited Charlton to attend the draw for the 1995 Carlsberg Lunar New Year Cup.