Sir Bobby Charlton: A football legend – and a national treasure. We won’t see his like again

While still buzzing from relegation-doomed Brighton’s thrilling 1-1 draw with Portsmouth I recall the news bulletin that evening with an extensive report of Charlton’s curtain call at the Theatre of Dreams.

Legend is a word thrown around in football far too easily, but in Sir Bobby we’ve lost a footballing legend and a genuine national treasure.

There was a time where you have gone anywhere in the world and pulled out a photo of him and he would have been instantly recognised.

From humble but extremely grounded beginnings in the north east, he arrived at Manchester United as a teenager to begin his legendary career.

An original Busby Babe, he set about rebuilding his career after the tragic events at Munich in 1958.

He played for United 758 times and scored 249 goals in 17 years at Old Trafford, winning numerous honours, including the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley a decade after the air crash that all but wiped out perhaps the most talented club side this country produced.

He played 106 times for England and his record of 49 goals was only broken by Wayne Rooney 36 years later and subsequently by Harry Kane.

His 106th and final England game, the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany, has prompted numerous debates over the decades.

Defending champions England, with perhaps their strongest squad ever to date, were winning 2-0, Sir Bobby had Franz Beckenbauer in his pocket and then Sir Alf Ramsey made perhaps the biggest error of his managerial career.

With 20 minutes left he took Charlton off in preparation for semi-final, Beckenbauer said he couldn’t believe it and the rejuvenated Germans went on to win 3-2 in extra time.

The outpouring of love in the past few days Is testament to the fact that Sir Bobby Charlton was more than just a footballer, he typified everything that was good about our beautiful game and the country.

We truly will not see his like again. Sleep well, legend.