It is with great sadness that the Western Bulldogs announce the passing of Bulldogs hero Charles (Charlie) Sutton.
Charlie died earlier this afternoon at Western General Hospital at the age of 88.
Charlie achieved a long list of accolades throughout his lifetime including 1954 Premiership Captain/ Coach, Coach of the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century, AFL Hall of Fame inductee and inaugural Bulldogs Hall of Fame inductee and Legend.
Watch Charlie Sutton's Induction Speech from the Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Event on the media player above.
Despite being very frail, Charlie was determined to attend the Western Bulldogs 2012 Hall of Fame ceremony, less than two weeks ago.
The Club sends its deepest condolences to Charlie’s wife - Eileen (affectionately referred to as Chubb) and his children Charles, Dorothy, Pamela, Charlene and Gary and their families.
Our thoughts are very much with them at this time of great sadness.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, coaches, players and Members of the Western Bulldogs Football Club we are deeply saddened by the passing of Charlie,” Bulldogs President David Smorgon said today.
“To me and thousands of Bulldogs fans, Charlie Sutton is ‘The Bulldog’ — typifying the Bulldog Spirit.
“One of our great Club Legends, he will be forever remembered for the massive contribution he has made to the Bulldogs over the past seventy years.
“Captain and Coach of our Premiership side in 1954 and Club President 1978 to 1981 - Charlie had red, white and blue in his heart’.
“There is no doubt that Charlie Sutton is the best example of a Bulldog ‘through and through’ and he will be greatly missed”.
On his induction to the inaugural Footscray - Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2010 Charlie had this to say:
“There is more to football than just football you’ve got to have plenty of guts and plenty of determination…underneath your shirt you have a heart and without heart, you don’t win”.
Charlie will be greatly missed at the Kennel.
The Club will announce further details of how we will acknowledge the great Charlie Sutton later this week.
Charlie Sutton (1924 - 2012)
One of the most feared players of his era, Charlie came to the club from Spotswood in 1942 and was almost certainly the last player signed from the club’s old Williamstown zone before it passed to South Melbourne.
Sutton served in the army, so missed playing during the war years from 1943 to 1945 but, when he returned, became one of the keys to the Dog’s rise up the ladder.
Appointed captain-coach to replace Arthur Olliver in 1951, Charlie oversaw a great period of success for the Club.
Footscray’s 1954 Premiership, the Bulldogs only Premiership, was Charlie Sutton’s crowning glory.
In 1956, Sutton retired after 173 games and was replaced as coach the next year. He returned to coach for a two year stint, in 1967-68, and served as President (1978-81).
He was named as back pocket and coach in the Footscray - Western Bulldogs Team of the Century and was an inaugural inductee into the Footscray - Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame and was inducted as one of the Club’s first Hall of Fame Legends alongside, EJ Whitten.
Career achievements:
Games: 173 (1942, 1946-56)
Goals: 65
Captain: 1951-56
Coach: 1951-57, 1967-68
Best & Fairest: 1950
Leading goalkicker: 1951
All-Australian selection: 1950
State selection: 18 games for Victoria
Footscray Football Club President: 1978-81
Western Bulldogs Team of the Century: Coach, back pocket
AFL Hall of Fame inductee: 1996
Footscray - Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend: 2010
