[3] While still at university, he joined Southampton of the Football League Second Division as an amateur, making two appearances at centre-forward;[3] on 16 January 1932 in a 3–3 draw with Preston North End and on 13 February 1932 when he scored a consolation goal in a 5–1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
[4] Between 1933 and 1936, Charlton was a member of the Corinthian amateur club, for whom he made 20 appearances, scoring 16 goals,[5] including two against Stade Francais in Paris in April 1934.
In May 1936, he signed his first professional contract with Queens Park Rangers[3] and played 20 matches, scoring ten goals, in the Football League Third Division South.
[2] He earned his first England amateur cap in 1936, making four appearances in total and scoring three goals, a hat-trick against Ireland.
After the war, Charlton worked for various Oil companies including Shell Mex before retiring to Barnes, He died in 1998.