Charlie Drinkwater

Charles John Drinkwater (25 July 1914 – 8 April 1998) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic and Watford as an outside left. He later served Ruislip Manor as player-manager.

Club career

Non-League football (1932–1935) Drinkwater began his career at Athenian League club Hampstead in 1932 and failed to make an appearance before moving to Northfleet United in March 1933. He returned to Hampstead shortly afterwards and made his debut for the club in the penultimate game of the 1932–33 season, a 4–1 victory over Uxbridge Town. Drinkwater remained with Hampstead (then renamed Golders Green) for the 1933–34 season and scored his first goal for the club in the opening game of the season, a 2–1 defeat to Walthamstow Avenue. He scored 10 goals in 36 appearances during the campaign and helped the Greens to a third-place finish in the league.

Drinkwater's form earned him a move to Second Division club Brentford as an amateur in June 1934, He signed a professional contract October that year. He instantly made a name for himself when he scored within three minutes of the kick-off. The Straits Times reported that Drinkwater "trapped a centre with the coolness of a veteran, steadied himself and drove the ball into the net". After one further appearance,

Representative career Burns made appearances for touring team Middlesex Wanderers in 1935.

International career Drinkwater won one cap for England Juniors in 1935. 2 36 10

24 7 1 1 12 2 37 10

1934–35 3 37 12 1935–36

2 0

2 0 1946–47 Third Division South 1 0 0 0

1 0

1 0 2 0

3 0

53 16 7 4 23 5 83 25