Born in Craigneuk, a suburb of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Charnley played for Burnbank Athletic before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Football League Second Division in January 1925.
[3] After making 55 appearances in total, scoring once, he joined Midland League team York City in August 1928.
[2] He left after making 55 appearances and scoring five goals to join Dartford in June 1929.
[2] He joined Kettering Town in September, before returning to Scottish football in May 1931.
[2] When Charnley joined Dartford, he secured jobs locally for family members who also moved to Kent; these included his brother and his wife, who were the parents of boxer Dave Charnley, born in the town in 1935.