MORE THAN 100 years after Charles Roach was scoring goals for Southall on a regular basis, the club welcomed his grandson and great grandson as guests during their 2017-18 Spartan South Midlands League Division One title-winning season.
Charles, who was also known as ‘Wag’ on account of his love of telling jokes, holds the record for most goals in a season for Southall (57).
As part of his 75th birthday celebrations, Brian Roach, the Great Grandson of Southall's goalscoring legend Charles Roach, was presented with a framed Southall shirt by chairman Sanjeev Sharma. In the background is the club’s title-winning captain Adam Louth.
On 14 October 2017, Charles’ grandson Brian Roach attended Southall's Division One home game against Brimsdown at Burnham FC’s The Gore.
Brian, who grew up in Southall and watched the team play at Western Road, was at the game as part of his 75th birthday celebrations with his son Mark (Charles' great grandson).
Southall dedicated two pages of their match programme to Charles (above)
He talked to the Southall players in the dressing room before the game and the club presented him with a framed Southall FC shirt on the pitch prior to kick-off.
Southall beat Brimsdown 5-1, on their way to winning the 2017-18 Division One title.
Brian is a former Reading FC director and was agent for former Chelsea and England striker Kerry Dixon, Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon, Chelsea, Liverpool and Scotland striker David Speedie, and Arsenal winger Brian Marwood.
A Southall FC postcard from 1911-12 featuring Charles Roach
Charles Roach (above) and a newspaper obituary in May 1970 (below)
