Patcham-born Charlie was first drafted into the side for a wartime game against Watford at the Goldstone Ground in June 1940, aged just 16.
He went on to play 19 times for the Albion before enlisting with the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1942, with whom he served in Egypt, Palestine and France.
He was wounded shortly after D Day in 1944, having volunteered for the Parachute Regiment, and was subsequently invalided out of the Army in May 1945.
Charlie recovered sufficiently to sign professional forms with the Albion that December and went on to play six FA Cup games before spells with Watford and Crystal Palace.
Having made 55 league appearances for the Eagles, he left the game prematurely in 1950 to run a tobacconist shop in Islingword Road and later became a groundsman at Brighton College, then Oxford University, before returning to Patcham following his retirement.
We pass on our sympathies to Charlie's family and friends at this sad time.