Charlie started his footballing career as a junior with Dumfries Wanderers and after a short spell at Castle Douglas side, Douglas Wanderers, he decided to move down south, signing for Carlisle City.
[1] Charlie then played for other clubs south of the border, namely Woolwich Arsenal, Chesterfield, Barrow and Queens Park Rangers in a career impacted by World War I.
[1][3][5][6] After coaching jobs at Sporting Clube de Portugal,[5] Reading and Notts County, he became a full-time manager at Wigan Borough.
In 1932, Charlie was the first Marseille manager in the newly founded French professional football championship.
[2] Charlie came back to England in 1935, with Mansfield Town and then managed Bournemouth for three years.