Charles John Hurley was born in Cork but moved with his family to Essex when he was seven months old.

His professional football career began with Millwall, who then languished in the English Third Division and he played 105 games for the London club.

While he was there he made his international debut against England in a World Cup qualifying tie at Dalymount Park on the 19th of May 1957.

After that international baptism of fire, Hurley went on to represent his country on 40 occasions and scored two goals.

Hurley was always proud to pull on the green jersey of his country on a Sunday afternoon at Dalymount - just 24 hours after an English First Division game and then after that an often stomach-testing ferry trip over the Irish Sea to Dun Laoghaire.

Hurley is best known for his long career at Sunderland, where he was named the Black Cats' "Player of the Century" by their fans on the occasion of the club's centenary in 1979.

Nicknamed 'The King', Hurley ended his playing career at Bolton Wanderers and was later manager of Reading.