Charlie Timmins
Charlie did service in the Royal Engineers in the war and was playing for a Birmingham non-league side, Jack Moulds Athletic, when City manager Harry Storer spotted him. He played for the reserves on the first day of the season in August 1949 and was picked for the first team game at Luton four days later. Charlie played 23 times that season, and was a regular the following season as the team set the pace at the top of the Second division. Promotion looked a strong possibility until the New Year when the team stuttered and finished seventh. However his outstanding performances prompted the media to tip him for international honours with a big money move to Newcastle mooted at one time.
A loss of form cost him his place the following season and with City’s ageing team suddenly looking tired the side suffered relegation to Division Three. Charlie played a total of 165 games for the club between 1949 and 1958 when he was released at the age of 36 and joined Lockheed Leamington, managed by former City colleague Les Latham.
After hanging up his boots he went back to the motor industry and joined Rover at Solihull in the Car despatch division where he spent 28 happy years before retiring in 1986 and lived in the Sparkhill district of Birmingham.Â
Penalties (6 - 5 scored)
1954-55
12 April 1955 v Millwall H, Division Three South, scored (keeper Malcolm Finlayson)
1955-56
24 December 1955 v Norwich City H, Division Three South, scored (keeper Ken Oxford)
11 February 1956 v Swindon Town A, Division Three South, scored (keeper Sam Burton)
1956-57
10 September 1956 v Norwich City H, Division Three South, scored (keeper Ken Oxford)
1957-58
26 October 1957 v Southend United H, Division Three South, missed, wide (keeper Harry Threadgold)
9 November 1957 v Exeter City H, Division Three South, scored, (keeper George Hunter)
