Charlie Paynter

Standing in the gym of the old West Stand at the Boleyn ground, Uncle Charlie as he was known lovingly by the players passes on his years of experience to the first team, including Vic Watson at the front in the middle and Jackie Morton front far left. Charlie possibly can lay claim to being the longest serving members ever of the coaching staff in the clubs history, he joined West Ham in 1901 just a year after we were formed and finally retired in 1950 after holding the positions of trainer, coach, and manager.

Born in Swindon on 28 July 1879 his father word as a ironworker for the great western railway, and it was his trade that brought Charles Snr and his family to West Ham around 1882 to work in the railway industry around the borough. They lived in Blanche street of Hermit Road just a stones throw away from the Thames Ironworks original playing field, in 1901 he lists his occupation as dock labourer though it has been said he worked as an electricians mate as well. It was in 1901 he joins the staff of west ham helping out Tom Robinson the trainer and eventually replacing him after his retirement 10 years later, and there he stayed for another 21 years until after Syd Kings suspension in 1932 and then his sacking in 1933 Charlie finally became manager of the first team. the move I imagined would of been welcomed by the players as Charlie was popular with them. Jimmy Ruffell in an interview with the author Brian Belton in 1973 declared that it was Charlie who took the team day to day and it was he who took them to Wembley in 1923 for the first Cup Final to be played there.

The whole period of Charlie's tenure as manager was spent in the second division and in his first season nearly ended in relegation to the third tier, but in the following seasons he steadied the ship while playing some attacking football with some of the greatest players to play for the club. Vic Watson, Len Gouldon who would win 14 caps for England in this period. Jackie Morton would also appear for England and towards the end of his time another long time servant of the club established himself in the team, Ernie Gregory. He also appointed after the war former player Ted Fenton as his assistant and thus continuing the West Ham way of ex players assisting the manager until they could take over. 

And so in 1950 it was time for him to retire, aged 71, and in gratitude of his service he was granted a testimonial which was against Arsenal at the Boleyn. He stayed close to the club acting in ambassadorial roles and Nine years later the club held a 80th birthday for him inviting back many of the players he and coached and managed. He lived out his life living in Oulton Crescent at Barking, he died in 1970 aged 92.

 

Testimonial line up V Arsenal                   With Syd King