ENGLISH FOOTBALL World Cup winner Jack Charlton was in Monifieth yesterday—but revealed that, unlike most football fans, he will not be waiting for this summer’s European Championships with bated breath.

The 73-year-old former Republic of Ireland manager told The Courier he would much rather play golf or go fishing this summer because none of the home nations have qualified for the tournament.

After a round on the Medal Course he told The Courier, “England aren’t in it, Ireland aren’t in it. Nor are Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, so I’m not really bothered.

“I’m happy to come up to the Highlands and play a bit of golf, or go fishing, or drink a little bit of your whisky instead.”

He said he was pleased to be back in Tayside after visiting Dundee for the first time last year—but had not had it all his own way on the links at Monifieth.

“I’ve come up to Carnoustie with friends, for a dinner there and a game of golf or two.

“I always come up to go fishing on the Tay in October as well.

“But I’ve played courses right along the coast as far north as Aberdeen.

“I struggle with the greens up here—they’re so fast that sometimes you’re short and sometimes you’re long and then you’re three or four-putting all the time.

“I like the courses up here —but it’s like back home in Newcastle, it’s whether you get the weather!”

Charlton won an OBE for services to football in 1974, and was given honorary Irish citizenship after he left his job as the Republic of Ireland’s national coach in 1994.