John Charlton called on Labour to abolish the tax measure and likened it to ‘daylight robbery’ after being unable to inherit his dad’s medal – unless he wants to face a huge bill
Jack Charlton’s eldest son could not inherit his dad’s treasured 1966 World Cup winner’s medal due to punitive Government taxes.
John Charlton hit out at the ‘scandalous’ cost of inheritance tax and called on Labour to abolish it in the budget on Wednesday. Big Jack, who died in 2020 aged 85, left his most prized possession to John.
But his son was unable to take ownership because his dad’s estate had already attracted hundreds of thousands of pounds in inheritance tax. It is one of only two 1966 medals still held by the families of the team who achieved our most famous moment of football sporting glory.
Jack and Sir Bobby Charlton kept theirs while the late Roger Hunt donated his to a museum. The HMRC valued Jack’s medal and famous red shirt from 1966 at around £200,000. If he had inherited both, it would have left John with a tax bill of £80,000.
There are inheritance tax exemptions in the UK, including the sale of medals of valour awarded to the families of armed services personnel. But they do not extend to the heroes of 1966.
John, 64, who runs Charlton’s Bar in Cambois, Northumberland, said: “My dad kept his England shirt from the World Cup final. And his World Cup medal should have come to me. But the taxman valued them at somewhere between £100k to £200k, so we have left that in possession of my mum.
“The value of it in gold is not a massive amount of money. It is impossible to say how much it would be worth at auction.” John, a dad-of-three, added: “I think the inheritance tax in this country is absolutely scandalous: who can put a value on that medal?
“I think it is only my dad and uncle Bobby who have not sold theirs. I wonder what would happen if I said that I could not afford the tax on it. Would the Government take my dad’s medal from me?”
His dad’s ‘worldwide profile’ after 10 years as Republic of Ireland manager means his memorabilia is even more valuable. “Most footballers have their medals boxed up and in an attic,” added John.
“But obviously the World Cup medal is something else. My dad and uncle Bobby are still the most famous footballing brothers. I’ve no doubt that would add to the value of the medals.
“It is bad enough taxing people’s money and property, but taxing the medal is absolutely daylight robbery. My dad was down the mines at 14 and went to Leeds Utd at 15. He worked all his life and paid tax all his life and then they come and take it off you.
“Obviously my mum could pay her bill but she could have been left in a situation where she had to sell her house or sell my dad’s medals. My dad made more money out of real estate than football and made more money out of management than as a player.”
Jack’s medals and memorabilia are kept in a bank safe. John added: “I would rather sell my business than sell the medal. It will be passed to my children and hopefully my children’s children.”
Inheritance Tax is paid on the estate of someone who has died, including all property, possessions and money. The standard rate is 40%. It is charged on all the deceased’s estate above the tax-free threshold which is currently £325,000.
John recalled how his dad gave one last thumbs up before he passed away peacefully with his wife of 62 years Pat, now 90, daughter Deborah Wilkinson, 61, and son Peter, 57, by his side four years ago. “It was just like dad,” said John. “He had a play with his grandchildren, it was very peaceful and typical of him, a good way to go.
“He had an amazing life and left great memories. His grandkids will always be able to look at all the photos of him, the TV coverage, and read the reports of what he did. Not many people have that.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual tax affairs.” There is an inheritance tax exemption for decorations, medals or awards when the achievement and service to the country has been awarded ‘by the State or the Crown’.
Where are they now? The medals of 1966
Hat trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, the only surviving member of the 1966 team, sold his medal to old club West Ham for £150,000 in 2001. The first wife of captain Bobby Moore, who died in 1993 at 51, also sold his memorabilia to West Ham, reportedly for more than £1.4m.
Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper, who lost the sight in his right eye in a car crash in 1972, raised £124,750 in 2001; he died in 2019. Legendary midfielder Nobby Stiles, who died in 2020, made more than £200,000 from Man Utd for the sale of his memorabilia in 2010, £160,000 for his world cup medal and another £49,000 for his European Cup winning medal.
Alan Ball, the youngest of the 1966 squad, sold his medal for £140,000 in 2005, also to raise funds for his family. He died in 2007. Full back George Cohen, received £80,000 from his old club Fulham for his medal, and they put it on display at Craven Cottage. His fellow full back Ray Wilson sold his medal for £80,750 in 2002 so he could split the cash between his two sons rather than decide which one to leave it to.
Midfielder Martin Peters sold his medal to West Ham in 2001 for an undisclosed sum. The popular midfielder needed to raise money after being made redundant. Roger Hunt donated his medal to a Liverpool museum in 2003 after keeping it for 37 years.