Charlie Dove

Who is Charlie Dove?

Charles Dove was born in 1879 in East Ham, England. He was regarded as a super-fit footballer, who in 1895 stood at nearly 6 feet and weighed 12 stone, considered large at the time for a sixteen-year-old from a working-class area of Essex. His main position was defender.

He played for many local teams and was a schoolboy player of some repute, winning two medals as a right back with Park School. Upon leaving school he joined Forest Swift Juniors as a centre forward, before moving on to captain Plaistow Melville. Charlie Dove continued to make his name at Upton Park F.C. and with South West Ham, being regarded as an exceptional talent.

Charlie was an employee of Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, working as an apprentice to the riveters and jumped at the chance to play for the newly formed Thames Ironworks in 1895. The half a crown membership would have been a third of his weekly wage.

A local paper featured this following article about Charlie Dove during the 1897-1898 season.

On 31 December 1898 Charlie Dove completed the distinction of playing in every position for the club when he deputised for goalkeeper Tommy Moore in an away game against Maidenhead. He even kept a clean sheet and the Thames Ironworks won 4-0.