It is with a great deal of sadness that Aldershot Town can today confirm that former Shots player Charles ‘Charlie’ Mortimore MBE has passed away.
Charles had been unwell for some time but had plenty of friends and family visited him or asked after him during this concerning period. He was a well-known figure throughout non-league, with fans and staff members of a number of sides of allegiance regularly asking after him.
Charles was one of the few amateurs in the professional game, bringing him to his days playing for the Shots, making his debut on 20 August 1949. A performance fans will remember well of Mortimore in an Aldershot shirt came in February 1950 when he scored five goals in a 7-2 win at Leyton Orient. Alongside this performance, Mortimore went on to score 28 goals in 75 appearances for the Shots.
Later Mortimore moved to Woking where he continued to be amongst the goals, going on to become the club’s record goal scorer netting 250 goals in 363 games. This saw him captaining the Cards when winning the Amateur Cup at Wembley on 12 April 1958 on his 30th birthday, in front of 71,000 spectators.
Mortimore also went on to achieve an unbeaten record in Division One, playing his one and only game in the division for Portsmouth on Christmas Day 1953 in a one all draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Following his success, Mortimore represented England 17 times as an Amateur International and went onto pass on his skills to the younger generation of promising footballers.
Pursuing a career as a teacher during his playing days, Mortimore became involved in local boys football at Cove School. The development of their football skills gave Mortimore great satisfaction and he went on to organise Aldershot and District Schools FA, which saw him honoured with an MBE for his services to football and also a 50 years’ Service to Schools Football Medal, as a result of his hard work and commitment.
His final adventure saw him work with Farnborough Town starting in the 1980’s, where he worked his way up to Chairman, served on the Board of Directors and then went on to be appointed Club President.
Mortimore left an exceptional legacy throughout the game and will certainly be someone that future ambassadors will try to replicate too.
Rest In Peace Charles Mortimore MBE.
