Former Aston Villa scout and Shropshire football legend Charlie Walker dies
Shropshire has lost a true giant of grassroots football. Charlie Walker passed away at home on Tuesday 17 February, four days after his 88th birthday. He was surrounded by his family.
Charlie was a well-known figure across the county. He spent years spotting and nurturing young talent. He was the longest-serving scout for Aston Villa and ran their youth training academy.
His eye for talent was unmatched. He helped discover stars like Dalian Atkinson and more recently, he played a role in the career of Ryan Giles.
The Aston Villa club magazine previously honoured him for his service. They described him as a much-loved scout when he eventually retired.
Charlie spent the last five years fighting dementia. He remained a respected name in the sport throughout his life. He also organised international tournaments in Holland to give local kids a taste of professional experience.
A celebration of his life will take place on Tuesday 10 March. The service is at Aston House in St Georges. This will be followed by a gathering at the Wrekin Golf Club in Wellington.
