Charles Joseph McBride 1925-2013 The West Coast is in mourning for West Coast and New Zealand Rugby League legend Charles Joseph McBride, who passed away last Thursday. Charlie, as he was known to most, was always regarded as a legend among men by his family but it was also on the international rugby league playing fields that he cut his path in the 13-man game. A protege of Johnny Dodd’s crack Blackball club side, Charlie made his senior debut for the Blackball red jersey with the black V in 1945, and such was his rapid ride in the game he was representing the West Coast and South Island after just a handful of games. He made his Kiwi debut the following year against Great Britain, at Auckland’s Carlaw Park, after being outstanding in the epic West Coast 17-8 win over the tourists at Victoria Park, Greymouth. Charlie toured England and France in 1947 after he was the last named in a squad of 29; he returned home a star. In the 1951 tour he was the first named but made himself unavailable due to his wife Marie being a month away from giving birth. NZ league officials flew from Auckland and sat around the McBride kitchen table trying to convince the second row forward to join the touring party. Charlie went to England by plane following the birth of his son Terry, and is regarded as the first New Zealand international sportsperson to fly overseas. He made 21 appearances from 26 games during the 1951 tour and on returning home early in 1952 he retired from the game he loved so much, putting his family and business first. Charlie’s record is impressive. He played 64 games for the Kiwis, including 21 tests, and in 2000 he was inducted into the NZRL Legends of League Hall of Fame. Greymouth-born, Charlie was the second son of Mick and Kit McBride and was raised in the family home in Murray Street with his two brothers Tom and Jim, along with elder sister Margaret. He was educated at the Marist Brothers School and during his working life worked on the Blackball gold dredge for a number of years, and set up a menswear shop in Mackay Street in partnership with Glynn Jones before working at Griffen and Smith in the grocery department prior to taking up a position of house manager at Greymouth Hospital. Charlie McBride had many benchmark qualities. He was a man of character, of principle, integrity but above all he was a strong and supportive family man. Charlie is survived by his wife of 64 years Marie, sons Terry, Paul, Michael and daughter Bridget. West Coast Rugby League president Peter Kerridge said in his eulogy: “What a blessing this extraordinary sporting talent was matched by such strength of character, and a warm engaging personality. This fine gentleman graced our game on and off the field. A wonderful man and a wonderful friend.”
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 09:17:06 +0000
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