Jack Charlton’s widow has said a heartfelt thank you to the army of fans who have paid tribute to him.
Pat Charlton, 85, has received “hundreds and hundreds” of cards from around the world since the England football legend’s death on July 10.
The great grandmother, married to the World Cup hero for 62 years, has been inundated with flowers and messages.
Comforted by grandchildren John, 12, Niamh, 10, and seven-year-old Roisin, Pat said: “I have been getting flowers for two weeks now and so many sympathy cards.
“There are mass cards from Ireland. But they have come from all over the country, all over the world, including America and Australia.
“That was Jack,” added Pat, surrounded by bouquets at her home in Dalton, near Newcastle.
“He was the same with everyone, he always had a kind word. There are really special memories from the people he met.”
Pat also expressed her gratitude to the thousands who turned out in Jack’s hometown of Ashington, Northumberland, to pay their respects, including his brothers Tommy, 74, and Gordon, 77.
Floral tributes included one from Sir Bobby Charlton, 82, unable to attend his brother’s funeral due to ill health.
Jack’s son John, 61, said: “We wanted to say thank you to everyone, including all the Mirror readers who expressed their sympathy.”
Jack, who died at 85 from lymphoma, was one himself.
He celebrated his 80th birthday with tea, cake and his favourite Mirror word puzzle. Pat said one of the most memorable messages came from an ex-Little Chef manager.
Jack had walked into the restaurant where Doreen Corner worked near her home in Thirsk, North Yorks.
He explained he had just broken down on his way to a fishing trip nearby. So Doreen, a Leeds United fan, let him borrow her car... and he duly drove off for the day’s outing.
He returned with a £20 gift, the car filled with petrol and his autograph.
“I knew who he was as I watched him on TV with my boys,” Doreen recalled.
“I could not do anything else but let him enjoy his fishing. I am sorry we have all lost him, but he had a fantastic life and was loved by all.”
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
