Charles Mitten was an English football player and manager who came through the junior ranks at Manchester United.
19 Facts About Charlie Mitten
1.
2.
Over his career, Charlie Mitten played for Fulham, Mansfield Town and Altrincham in England, and for Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, where he had a notable stint, and where he and a number of other players left to escape the maximum wage that was imposed for footballers in England at the time.
3.
Charlie Mitten signed with Manchester United in 1936, and was in the junior side with future colleagues Stan Pearson and Johnny Carey.
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Charlie Mitten had two seasons playing for Chelsea and made 22 guest appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.
5.
Charlie Mitten was part of a talented forward line alongside Jimmy Delaney, Stan Pearson, Jack Rowley and Johnny Morris, which became known as the 'Famous Five' of Old Trafford.
6.
Charlie Mitten played in Colombia for a year, scoring fifteen times in 34 games, and United's form suffered in his absence.
7.
Charlie Mitten was offered a contract by Santiago Bernabeu, the manager of Real Madrid, who was in the process of forming the all-conquering team that would feature Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento and Hector Rial.
8.
Charlie Mitten turned down this offer, and later stated his regret at not being able to be a part of the successful Real side.
9.
Now aged 31, Charlie Mitten made 16 appearances and scored six goals in his first season at Craven Cottage, but could not save the club from relegation to the Second Division.
10.
Charlie Mitten made one appearance for England in an unofficial charity match against Scotland in 1946.
11.
Charlie Mitten joined the club in February 1956 and remained there for over two years until June 1958.
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Charlie Mitten played 100 league games, scoring 25 league goals.
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Charlie Mitten's reign was a success and Mitten's side was praised for their entertaining football.
14.
In June 1958, Charlie Mitten left Mansfield and joined Newcastle United.
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Charlie Mitten was allowed to remain in charge and attempt to steer the club back into the First Division, but instead they found themselves fighting relegation to the Third Division, eventually resulting in Charlie Mitten's dismissal a few months into the season.
16.
Several of Charlie Mitten's brothers played professional football, and many male members of his extended family, into the next generation or two, were at least semi-professional.
17.
Charlie Mitten died in January 2002, shortly before his 81st birthday.
18.
Charlie Mitten was a survivor of the Munich air disaster.
19.
Charlie Mitten's great-nephew, Andy Mitten, is a football journalist and has been editor of the Manchester United fanzine United We Stand since the late 1980s, while another great-nephew, Sam Mitten, is on the books at Stockport County.