Handley Charlie Image 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1923

Description

Edmonton born winger Charlie “Tich” Handley joined Edmonton Juniors in 1920 from where he signed for First Division Tottenham Hotspur, making his Football League debut at Everton in March 1922. In November the same year he broke into the Spurs first eleven and bagged 2 FA Cup hat-tricks in January and February 1924, first in the First Round against Worksop Town, and then in the Second Round in a 4-0 win over Manchester United. He played 35 times that season but this would be the most appearances he’d make in a single season at Spurs, being in and out of favour over the next several seasons, although he did score 11 goals in 25 games in 1926-27, 10 in the League – his best League return. The following season he played 24 games as Spurs were relegated, whereafter he only played once more for Tottenham, in September 1928, before joining Swansea Town in the close season of 1929 after 35 goals in 131 appearances for The Lilywhites.

A single season in South Wales saw 4 goals in 19 appearances before he joined non league Sittingbourne in 1930, also playing for Sheppey United, but he returned to League action in 1931 with Thames Association, playing 29 times, scoring 3 goals, in their final season before they failed to be re-elected. He re-joined Sittingbourne in 1932, spending time at Norwich City in 1932-33 without making a first team appearance, before going to Switzerland to play for Berne later in 1933.

NB in this photograph, taken (most likely) at White Hart Lane on 1st December 1923, Handley is challenged by Tommy Magee of West Bromwich Albion. The match finished as a 0-0 draw. [Note the two teams played a week later at The Hawthorns, Albion winning 4-1, but the backdrop appears to be Tottenham’s ground]