'I thought I was dead': Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton knocked unconscious in the middle of a training session
Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have recalled the moment Sir Bobby Charlton was left 'completely gobsmacked' during training.
The deceased, great Charltonwho unfortunately passed away in October 2023, is one of the club's most emblematic players: he scored 249 goals in 758 games.
Despite playing his last United In the 1973 match, the former striker was still present to join the training sessions years later.
He did it with some of the Class of '92, including Butt and Scholasticsalthough one session didn't go as planned for Charlton.
Talking about the Podcast The best eras of footballButt said: “He trained a few times (with us).
“I remember the moment he was knocked out, I thought he was dead.
“I remember the volley, 'Choccy' (Brian McClair) hit a volley, a full volley from five yards, straight at his head, which completely floored Sir Bobby Charlton, who survived the Munich air disaster (February 1958).
“He survived all this, but was almost killed by a volley from Brian McClair.”
Butt added: “You can say that now because you know what Sir Bobby was like, he would be laughing with us if he was still here.
“But no, having people like Sir Bobby and Mick Hucknall (lead singer of Simply Red) warming up with us.
“When you look back, it's strange what happened, really surreal.”
Offering further details of Charlton's appearances at United training, Butt made it clear that class was a permanent fixture with the icon.
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“Even though he was 62 or something at the time, I think early 60s, his playing and his skills were brilliant,” he explained.
“You think, 'A 60-something-year-old man could still do that to elite footballers,' and you think, 'Wow!'”
Butt then revealed another story suggesting Charlton was also handy off the pitch, this time with his golf clubs.
He commented: “I remember, even late, I must have been 68, I retired. I used to play golf at Mere, you used to play golf there.
“He said, 'Would you mind playing golf with us? We're one short.'”
“I thought, 'For God's sake, I've got to go play golf.' I was 37 years old and I was playing golf with three 65-year-olds and I thought, 'I need to get a job.'”
“But I remember he hit the ball on the first drive and beat me by about 30 yards, he loved golf, God bless him.”
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