John Charles honoured by GWR
About FAW
7 March 2018

John Charles honoured by GWR

The Football Association of Wales were delighted to join Great Western Railway (GWR) to pay tribute to two Welsh Sporting legends, John Charles and Sir Gareth Edwards. 

GWR’s new Intercity Express Trains are being named after individuals and organisations that have inspired the regions that they serve.

In honour of the two Welsh idols, GWR named their 800009 train after both John Charles and Sir Gareth Edwards, with their name on either end of the train. The number 9 being the number worn by the two sporting legends. 

Representatives from the FAW boarded the train at Cardiff Central Station travelling the journey to London Paddington with the Welsh sporting great, Sir Gareth Edwards.

At London Paddington the FAW had the honour of meeting with Charles’ widow Glenda along with directors of Charles’ past clubs including Juventus and Leeds United.

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John Charles is rightly remembered as one of Wales’ best footballers and one of the greats of the game.

'The Gentle Giant', as he’s affectionately known by fans, is remembered for ‘scoring goals wherever and whenever he went’, playing for the likes of Juventus and Leeds United in his long career.

Charles is most notably known by Wales fans for helping Wales reach the World Cup Quarter Finals in 1958. 

On John Charles, David Griffiths FAW President said: “John Charles was one of the figure heads of Welsh Football and has been an icon ever since. Not only for the country of Wales is he a well known icon, but for Italy too.”

On what the naming of the train would have meant for John, the FAW President added: “John would be a very proud man, as he was anyway. We all know him as the gentle giant and that’s how we will all remember him.”

The FAW are honoured to have been a part of the occasion, celebrating a Welsh and European football legend.