A GOALSCORING legend who played for three of the North-East's professional football clubs has died at the age of 84.

Charlie Wayman starred for Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Darlington in a career which spanned more than ten years and 250 goals.

Born in Chilton, County Durham, the diminutive striker also played for Southampton and Preston North End and passed away on Sunday.

He signed for Newcastle in September 1941, aged 18, after scoring countless goals in local football while working down Chilton colliery.

"He wrote a letter to the chairman after a shift down the pit," said his youngest son, Paul. "They gave him a trial and in the end, he cost them a £10 taxi fare."

He became one of the great Newcastle number nines, scoring 71 goals in 124 appearances before moving on for £10,000.

He joined Southampton and then, after three years, Preston. He scored in every round as they reached the FA Cup final in 1954, topped the league goalscoring charts twice and became the first winner of the golden boot award, but somehow never played for England.

He returned to his North-East roots as his career wound down, signing for Boro and then Darlington where, at the age of 37, he scored 14 goals in 23 games.

"He was such a lovely man, never big-headed about anything," said his son. "He used to say to me there were players down the pit just as good as he was, but all he wanted to do was be a footballer."

Following his retirement, he became a sales manager for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.