Charles Timmins (29 May 1922 – 13 April 2010) was an English footballer. Born in Birmingham, Timmins signed for Birmingham City before the Second World War. However, his registration papers were lost after heavy bombing in the Birmingham area. In the summer of 1948, Timmins signed for Coventry City. Timmins had given up hope of pursuing a career in top-flight football and was playing for non-league Jack Moulds Athletic in Birmingham when Coventry manager Harry Storer turned up unannounced at the Timmins family home and persuaded him to sign for Coventry City. Timmins spent 11 years at Coventry, including three years as club captain. During the 1955–56 season, Timmins was touted by press as the "best full back outside the top flight" and speculation grew that he would join teammate

Reg Matthews Reginald Derrick Matthews (20 December 1933 – 7 October 2001) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was the most expensive goalkeeper at the time he signed for Chelsea in 1956 for £22,000. Club career In a playing career ...

in the England squad. Coventry turned down a substantial bid from

Newcastle United Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, that plays in the Premier League – the top flight of English football. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End ...

for Timmins during his time at Highfield Road. He played a total of 165 games (161 in the Football League) and scored five goals before leaving Coventry to join Leamington in 1959, aged 37. Timmins then spent the 1960–61 season coaching

Evesham United Evesham United Football Club are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008–09 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Divisi ...

before finally retiring aged 39. Timmins was a member of the Coventry City Former Players Association and was a regular at the club's official 'Legends' Days. After retiring from football, he worked for the Rover service department in Solihull and played for the works team. Timmins was diagnosed with

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

and died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, during the early hours of 13 April 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Timmins, Charlie 1922 births 2010 deaths Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands English footballers Association football defenders Coventry City F.C. players Leamington F.C. players Deaths from prostate cancer Deaths from cancer in England