16th November 1900

Little Hulton, Lancashire

Full-Back

A stylish full-back who was selected to tour Australia with a FA XI in 1925, Stan Charlton played for Exeter City between 1923 and 1928 and was a mainstay of the team for several seasons. He joined the club from Rochdale, having earlier been with Oldham Athletic, and later played for Crystal Palace. His son Stan, a successful player of the 1950s, was briefly on the books of Exeter City before playing for Arsenal.

Son of a miner, Stan (senior) began playing with St Paul’s Peel in Bolton before switching to Williams Temperance in the Leigh and District League. He signed for Oldham Athletic in 1920 and, after playing six league matches, moved to Rochdale where he won a regular place and played 38 times. 

On signing for Exeter City in the summer of 1923, Stan was described as a 'quiet but purposeful, a left back with freckles and a businesslike foot.’ Making his debut against Merthyr Town in August 1923, he proved to be a great success and missed very few games thereafter playing 39, 30, 34 and 42 over the next four seasons before playing less-regularly in 1927/28. Whilst at Exeter Stan had the honour of being selected to tour with the Football Association team that went to Australia in 1925 and was captain in all five games. 

Stan eventually left the Grecians in 1928 signing for Crystal Palace where he made 122 appearances before having a single season with Newport County in 1932-33.

He was the father of Stan Charlton who played for Exeter City reserves in the early 1950s and became an England amateur international with Bromley before playing for Leyton Orient, Arsenal and managing Weymouth.

Stan Charlton senior died in Croydon in 1971.

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