Finding jack

[WTF11]

Have not seen this programme yet but I've read lots about Jack Charlton as the player,manager and the man.Also have read many stories about him from former players which offer opinions across the board.

One player Charlton got the best out of was Irishman Paul McGrath who reached unimaginable lows in his life.I read a lot of books and McGrath recalled that at his worst in his autobiography (Back from the Brink) as being when so desperate for a drink he decided to drink Domestos before slashing his wrists when at Villa in the 1990s.

Harrowing stuff - but a world that unless you have experienced you can't and have no right to understand.Despite drink issues revolving from a shocking childhood,racism and depression from a young age McGrath for 90 minutes on a football pitch playing for Big Jack was utterly sublime but off it was sadly a tortured soul.

Charlton appeared to have a tremendous endearing warmth which often illness cannot take away no matter how brutal and likewise the shy McGrath with his private mental health demons.Both characters which lessons can be taken from in moving forward through ones life - for me anyway.

Look forward to seeing the telly documentary on Jack.

Jack was something that you don't get much of in today's game, at the levels he worked at anyway, honest. "Played it with a straight bat" to use a cricketing analogy. Met a few Yorkshiremen with a similar approach, son to one such, world is a poorer place for the lack of same.

Agreed on the work Jack did with McGrath, but that was what he did and what he was, and illustrated by another of the notes "Support your own". To do that, you need to be able to know who they are, a rare skill.

[bathlad61]

Top programme, from a true, down to earth family, but what a shocking, terrible disease - just slowly destroys, leaving really just an empty shell. Very sad for all concerned