Date / Year of birth: 9th October 1974

Position: Goalkeeper

Season of first appearance: 1996/97

Season of last appearance: 2006/07

Also played for: Thamesmead Town, Dover Athletic, Gillingham (1,0), Gravesend & Northfleet, Welling United, Folkestone Invicta, Hastings United, Faversham Town, Thurrock, Cray Wanderers, Croydon Athletic, Maidstone United and Leatherhead

6' 2" tall laid-back keeper born in Woolwich who started his senior career with Thamesmead. Charlie made his first team debut for the London club on 6.9.94 aged 19 and played around 50 games before being signed by Dover in March 1996. The transfer involved the first fee that Thamesmead had ever received.

Charlie made his debut for Dover in a 2-1 home win over Welling in the Conference on 26.3.96 and made a total of five appearances before the end of the 1995/96 campaign. He couldn't break into Dover's side at the start of 1996/97 and in September 1996 Charlie joined Margate on loan.

Manager Chris Kinnear brought him in to replace Kevin Hudson and Charlie had an eventful debut on 28.9.96 as Margate made the long trek to the Isle of Wight to take on Newport. After 15 minutes he committed a foul that resulted in a penalty for the home side but Charlie instantly redeemed himself by saving the spot kick. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. He went on to play in 10 of Margate's next 12 matches, sitting out two cup ties, before briefly being recalled by Dover at the start of December 1996. Charlie only missed one Margate game and his reappearance in a 3-2 defeat at St.Leonards Stamcroft on 11.12.96 started a run of four more matches in Margate's number one shirt. The last of them was a home game against St.Leonards on 26.12.96 and Charlie was carried off after 55 minutes with a twisted ankle. He then returned to Dover having made 15 appearances in all in which he kept seven clean sheets. The Thanet Times said he'd "certainly stabilized the defence and played a key role" during his time at Hartsdown Park.

Charlie didn't make any first team appearances for Dover during 1996/97 but the 1997/98 season saw him play seven times although only twice in the Conference. He really established himself at Crabble during the 1998/99 campaign and made 41 Conference appearances, only missing one game. After making two more appearances for Dover at the start of the 1999/00 season Charlie was signed by Gillingham for a five-figure fee in October 1999.

On 7.12.99 he made his debut as the Gills lost 3-0 to Torquay in a Full Members Cup tie at Priestfield but it turned out to be Charlie's only first team appearance during an 18 month spell with the club. A fractured spine suffered in a car crash meant that he was unavailable for much of this time with the Gills and he was released at the end of the 2000/01 season.

In the summer of 2001 Charlie returned to Margate and Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He's a very good keeper, and at 26 he's still young for the job. We want Lee Turner to stay because we want two quality goalkeepers to choose from. I've got no preconceptions about who will be first-choice and they've both got something to fight for." On 11.8.01 Charlie started the opening match of the 2001/02 campaign as Margate beat visitors Worcester on penalties to win the Southern League Championship Match after a 1-1 draw. It was his first appearance for the club since 26.12.96. On 18.8.01 he played in Margate's first-ever Conference game - a 1-0 win at Boston - and the Thanet Extra praised Charlie for an "excellent injury time save" that preserved Margate's lead. He then started each of the next 13 matches with Lee Turner having to settle for a place on the subs bench.

The Isle of Thanet Gazette said Charlie "had to be in top form on a number of occasions to keep the visitors at bay" as Margate drew 1-1 with Dagenham & Redbridge at Hartsdown Park on 21.8.01 and the Nationwide football website said he made "a number of excellent stops" during a 1-0 win at Woking on 11.9.01. The site noted that one save in particular stood out as Charlie somehow got down to hold a venomous close-range effort "when a goal looked certain" and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said it had been a "simply heroic effort" from him. In its report on a 2-1 home win over Stevenage on 18.9.01 the Gazette said that he made a "great save" to push a firm header round the post but on 29.9.01 Charlie had to go off with a groin injury during the second half of a 1-0 defeat against Barnet at Hartsdown Park. Lee Turner replaced him and Charlie missed Margate's next three games due to his injury. He was fit again by mid-October but by then Turner had reestablished himself as Margate's first-choice keeper and Charlie found himself amongst the substitutes for five matches.

He returned to action on 13.11.01 when he played in a 3-1 win over visitors Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup but Turner took over again for Margate's next match and on 20.11.01 Charlie suffered a recurrence of his groin problem during a reserve team game against Ramsgate. Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "Something will have to be done about it. We're not sure when he's going to be fit." and Charlie didn't play for the first team again until 5.1.02 when he featured in a 2-1 win over Farnborough at Hartsdown Park. Charlie then played in Margate's next nine matches and the Thanet Times said he was "in good form" in a 3-0 defeat at Hereford on 19.1.02 and "produced a great pointblank save". The paper said that Charlie "made the save of the match when he extended his right arm to take a one-handed hold" during a 2-0 home win over Leigh in the FA Trophy on 2.2.02 and in a 3-1 defeat at Stevenage on 2.3.02 Charlie pulled off a great stop to deny future Margate striker Jean-Michel Sigere a goal.

Charlie's run of games ended on 5.3.02 when he was sent off in injury time as Margate won 2-1 at Braintree in the FA Trophy. His dismissal followed a brawl in the immediate aftermath of the home side pulling a goal back and trying to retrieve the ball quickly. Charlie missed one match due to suspension and then sat out another due to a hip problem before taking over from Lee Turner for an FA Trophy quarter final tie against Morecambe at Hartsdown Park on 16.3.02. Unfortunately Charlie's hip injury flared up again and he had to go off at half-time as Margate went down 2-1. The injury, sometimes reported as a thigh problem, finished Charlie's season and he missed Margate's last 12 games of the campaign. He'd made 25 appearances and in its end of season round-up the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Charlie had been "pretty much faultless...but his struggle to recover from a thigh injury may be a concern for the Margate management".

In the summer of 2002 Charlie was released as he was due to move to Sheffield and start a new job so new signing Phil Smith started the 2002/03 campaign in goal. But a couple of weeks into the new season Charlie rejoined the club after his relocation fell through and he immediately took over from Smith as Margate's first-choice keeper. He made his first appearance in a 2-2 draw with Barnet at Margate's adopted home in Dover on 3.9.02 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Charlie was "pretty much faultless". He was a fixture in the side for the next few months and started 25 consecutive games.

In its report on a 2-1 win at Gravesend & Northfleet in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on 26.10.02 the Thanet Times said Charlie "commanded his area well" and the KM Extra newspaper said he was "equal to everything thrown at him" in a 1-1 draw with Telford at Dover on 9.11.02. On 16.11.02 Charlie played as Margate drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup and he also featured in the replay at Dover on 26.11.02 that Margate won 1-0.

The BBC's 'Match of the Day' cameras were at Dover to record highlights of Margate's FA Cup 2nd Round tie with Cardiff on 7.12.02 and just before half-time Charlie came out of his goal to clear a back-pass, swung at the ball and completely missed it. The ball rolled just past the post and when the BBC replayed the moment that night the memorable caption was "Mitten has kittens". Margate lost 3-0 but the KM Extra said Charlie's "handling and shot-stopping were impeccable".

On 14.12.02 Margate won 3-1 at Stevenage in the Conference and the Thanet Times said Charlie "bounced back with a confident and assured display" after his lapse against Cardiff. The paper said he "probably didn't have the video recorder set to tape the Cardiff highlights". Charlie's run in the side continued into 2003 and the KM Extra said he made an "excellent reflex stop" to prevent an early goal as Margate won 2-0 at Dulwich in an FA Trophy tie on 11.1.03. Seven days later things turned sour for Charlie when he inexplicably fumbled a speculative 35 yard shot from player-manager Jimmy Quinn into the net as Margate entertained Northwich at Hartsdown Park. The game ended in a 4-4 draw and Charlie was dropped afterwards.

He sat out Margate's next 15 games as Phil Smith became first-choice keeper and in February 2003 Charlie twisted his ankle after falling down a flight of stairs. His only other first team outing came in a 3-0 win at Erith & Belvedere in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final on 1.4.03 but Smith then took over again and Charlie finished the season having played 26 times - exactly half of Margate's fixtures.

He featured in some of Margate's friendlies ahead of the 2003/04 campaign but with Phil Smith firmly established Charlie became a permanent fixture on the subs bench as Margate's final Conference season unfolded. On 29.11.03 he finally made his first appearance when he came on as a substitute for the injured Smith after 70 minutes of a game at Chester and the Thanet Times said Charlie made "some good saves" although Margate lost 3-0. It was his only first team outing and in February 2004 Charlie joined Gravesend & Northfleet. He hadn't been under contract at Margate and joined the club's Conference rivals after they'd made a seven day approach for his services. Margate's assistant manager Kevin Raine said "Charlie's not had an opportunity, but he's stood by us and been there when we've needed him. He's done well for us, both when we were trying to get in the Conference and in it. He's been good for us and there's no animosity between us and Charlie."

He became Gravesend's back-up keeper and Charlie stayed with the club until November 2004 when he moved on to Welling. He'd only played seven first team games in his nine months with the Fleet.

Charlie was released by Welling in May 2005 and in July 2005 he rejoined Margate.

Charlie was the club's first signing after a transfer embargo was lifted and he put pen to paper on a two-year contract. Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He had other offers but he's been with us before and a signing like this helps fill everyone with confidence that our problems are behind us, because there has been a little bit of doubt. Charlie's still only 30, could do a job in the Conference and I wouldn't think there will be many better than him in the Ryman League." Kinnear also said "He's got all the experience we need really, he's a top notch goalkeeper. Charlie's more than good enough to play a couple of leagues higher."

He made the first appearance of his fourth spell with Margate in a 2-0 defeat at Ramsgate in a match played for the Kent Messenger Cup on 13.8.05 and Charlie then played in a 1-0 win over Maldon in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 20.8.05. It was Margate's first game back at the temporary version of Hartsdown Park after three seasons of groundsharing at Dover and Ashford. The Thanet Times said Charlie "came into his own in the latter stages and pulled off a great diving stop" as Margate drew 0-0 at Harrow on 27.8.05 and the paper said he "caught everything" in a 0-0 draw with visitors Redbridge on 29.8.05.

Charlie's good form continued and the Thanet Times praised a "superb late save" in a 1-1 draw at Worthing on 3.9.05 whilst the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he turned in "the complete performance" during a 1-1 draw with Fisher at Hartsdown Park on 6.9.05. In its report on a 1-0 home win over Carshalton in the FA Cup on 24.9.05 the Thanet Times said Charlie was "by no means 100 per cent fit following a thigh strain" and as the weeks passed it became clear that he was being hampered by injury although it didn't directly affect Charlie's form.

At the start of October 2005 he had a spell as captain following the departure of Mark Green and Charlie's first game as skipper was a home match against Billericay on 4.10.05. The Thanet Times said he made "a brilliant save at full stretch" to claw away a header from Ricay's soon to be Margate striker Danny Hockton early in game and the paper also praised Charlie's "immaculate handling". On 22.10.05 he denied the prolific Richard Jolly with what the Thanet Times said was "a superb diving save" as Margate beat Wealdstone 1-0 at Hartsdown Park and on 12.11.05 Charlie headed over the bar from an injury time corner in a 1-0 home defeat against Dartford in the FA Trophy. The Thanet Times said he "proved the hero" after making a "brilliant save" to push a late free-kick over as Margate won 1-0 at Windsor & Eton on 19.11.05 and the paper praised Charlie for "two top saves" in a 3-2 win over Hampton & Richmond at Hartsdown Park on 26.11.05.

Throughout the first half of the season Charlie had been troubled with niggling injuries but only missed one of Margate's first 30 matches and at the end of 2005 he was diagnosed with having a problem with the nerves in his back which had been causing other symptoms. After finding out about Charlie's damaged nerves Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "I'm not surprised playing behind our defence !"

After playing in a 3-1 defeat at Redbridge on 2.1.06 Charlie was rested to aid his recovery and he sat out the next eight games before having to come on as a substitute 60 minutes into a 4-0 win over Wealdstone at Northwood on 25.2.06 when his loanee replacement Darren Behcet was injured. Behcet then suffered a recurrence of his injury in the warm-up for Margate's next game at Chelmsford on 3.3.06 so Charlie had to play and he made a blunder which led to the only goal of the game. He allowed a tame shot to squeeze between him and the post and Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "I saw the shot, thought 'Oh, he's got that covered', then I looked back and saw it in the net."

Despite not being fully fit Charlie started the next three matches too but after a 1-0 defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet in the Kent Senior Cup on 21.3.06 he was able to have another break and missed two games before returning in a 1-1 draw with Windsor & Eton at Hartsdown Park on 4.4.06. That match turned out to be Chris Kinnear's last in charge. Charlie kept his place for the next three games and the Thanet Times said he made "two excellent saves" in a 0-0 draw with visitors Worthing on 15.4.06. He then played in a 1-1 draw at Folkestone on 17.4.06 but in the last minute Charlie had to be stretchered off after injuring himself whilst clearing the ball. He missed the last two matches of the season and ended the campaign having made 38 appearances (one as sub), keeping ten clean sheets.

Charlie featured in some of Margate's pre-season friendlies in the summer of 2006 as he gradually regained his fitness but in July 2006 trialist keeper Paul Nicholls impressed new player-manager Robin Trott who declared his intention to sign the former Chelsea player. Trott told the Thanet Times "I'm not knocking Charlie Mitten because he's a decent keeper. He's just been unfortunate in that he's had a couple of injuries." Nicholls ended up going elsewhere but Margate did sign young keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens and at the start of August Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "To be quite honest I don't know if I've seen any progress in Charlie's injury. He's not had a good rehab and the injury has remained stagnant. Hopefully it will improve because he's a decent keeper."

On the eve of the new season Trott again spoke to the Gazette about Charlie and described him as being "very quiet" but "a big presence" as well as a "good shot-stopper who comes and collects crosses." He was fit for the start of the 2006/07 campaign but Scott Chalmers-Stevens started the season as first-choice and Charlie didn't feature until 14.10.06 when he came on as a substitute three minutes from the end of a 2-1 home defeat against Potters Bar in the FA Cup after Chalmers-Stevens was sent off.

With Chalmers-Stevens suspended Charlie made his first start of the campaign in a 4-0 win at Leyton in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 28.10.06 and before the game Robin Trott had told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "Scotty's out and if Charlie does well he can keep his place - that's the way it is." Charlie made what the Thanet Times called a "magnificent save" in the first half and he then started six of Margate's next seven matches, only missing a Kent Senior Cup tie at VCD on 8.11.06 which didn't involve any regular first team players.

His run in the side ended after a 4-2 home defeat against Staines on 28.11.06 and Chalmers-Stevens then took over as first-choice once again. Charlie sat out six games before being recalled for a 3-0 win at East Thurrock on 23.1.07 and played in the next two matches before being dropped after a 4-4 draw at Harrow on 3.2.07.

After missing five games Charlie again took over from Chalmers-Stevens as Margate lost 1-0 at Staines on 17.3.07 and he then started each of the next eight matches. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he made "three brilliant saves" in a 1-1 draw with Horsham at Hartsdown Park on 27.3.07 and the Thanet Times praised him for an "outstanding save" from a free-kick in the first half of a 3-0 home win over Walton & Hersham on 31.3.07.

Charlie's good form continued and the Isle of Thanet Gazette's report on a 0-0 draw with visitors Billericay on 3.4.07 was headlined "So how did Charlie manage that save ?". The paper said he'd made a "wonder-save" by somehow keeping out what it described as a "bullet header" after changing direction in mid-air to tip the ball over. The Times said it was the "save of the season without any doubt" and added that Charlie later "followed up his heroics with another smashing stop in a one-on-one". On 14.4.07 Charlie made what turned out to be his last-ever appearance for Margate in a game at Chelmsford. He went off injured after 37 minutes to be replaced by Chalmers-Stevens and Margate won 3-1. Charlie missed the last two matches of the campaign and finished the season having played 20 times (once as sub). He kept six clean sheets.

In May 2007 Charlie was released and Robin Trott told the Thanet Times "It's been difficult because I've had two very good goalkeepers here. Scott Chalmers-Stevens made an excellent start coming down from full-time football and adjusting to our level. Charlie took his time then was absolutely excellent for us. Goalkeepers have longer careers than outfield players and Charlie's got a long way to go. But Scott's only 20, has ambition to go full-time and he's the one with the price-tag around his neck."

In the summer of 2007 Charlie signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Folkestone but was hampered by injuries throughout 2007/08. In March 2008 he broke two bones in his hand after falling down some stairs and missed the rest of the campaign as Folkestone were relegated. At that time manager Neil Cugley told the Kentish Football website "He's an all round excellent goalkeeper and he's been there and done it and he doesn't feel any pressure and he's the sort of experience that we need in this team. People don't realise just what a quality keeper he is and he is certainly one of the best I have had in my time as a manager." Charlie had managed to make 24 appearances before injury cut his season short.

He started the 2008/09 campaign with Folkestone too and Neil Cugley told Kentish Football "You will struggle to find a better keeper than Charlie in non-league football." He made 21 Division 1 South appearances before being released in January 2009 as Folkestone trimmed their squad due to financial cut-backs. Cugley told Kentish Football "He has been excellent and has such a calming influence and he has been great to have around the club."

Charlie linked up with Welling for a second spell shortly after leaving Folkestone and soon became the Conference South outfit's first-choice keeper. He went on to win the Wings' 'Player of the Year' award for the 2009/10 season and stayed with Welling until September 2010 when he was released due to budget issues. By then Charlie had made 56 first team appearances for the club.

Later in September 2010 he joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Hastings and at that time Charlie's former Margate rival Scott Chalmers-Stevens was also on the books of the Sussex club. Charlie only made one appearance for Hastings before moving on to Faversham towards the end of October 2010.

His spell with the Isthmian League Division 1 South club was very brief and after making his debut in a 3-0 home win over Corinthian Casuals on 26.10.10 Charlie didn't play again.

At the start of November 2010 he signed for Thurrock where he played in the Conference South before linking up with Cray on a short-term deal later in the month.

Charlie joined the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit as their regular keeper was injured and he went on to make four appearances for Cray including one in a 2-0 win at Margate on 27.12.10.

At the start of January 2011 Charlie joined his sixth club of the 2010/11 season when he signed for Croydon Athletic and on 8.1.11 he played as they won 2-0 at Margate. It was Margate's first home game since the 2-0 defeat against Cray so that meant Charlie had been in goal for two different opponents in two consecutive Margate matches at Hartsdown Park.

In February 2011 Maidstone made a seven-day approach for Charlie's services but he turned the Stones down and spent the remainder of the 2010/11 campaign with Croydon as they were relegated. Charlie made 20 appearances for the club and was chosen as 'Player of the Year'.

In June 2011 Charlie did sign for Maidstone and the Isthmian League Division 1 South club's player-manager at the time was former Margate star Jay Saunders. Charlie was the Stones' first-choice keeper for the first few months of 2011/12 but in November 2011 he picked up a hip injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season having made 13 league starts.

Charlie stayed with the Stones for the start of the 2012/13 campaign and on 14.7.12 he was an unused substitute as Maidstone lost 5-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the club's first-ever match at their new stadium in James Whatman Way. In August 2012 the Stones announced that Charlie had been appointed as the clubs player-goalkeeping coach and he was their first choice keeper for the opening months of the season before breaking his arm in a 1-0 home win over Leatherhead on 8.12.12. He was back in the Maidstone side by the end of the campaign and played as they beat Faversham 3-0 in the Division 1 South Play-Off Final on 4.5.13 to win promotion to the Premier Division. In all Charlie made 11 league appearances during the season and he stayed with the Stones for 2013/14, celebrating his 39th birthday during the early part of the campaign.

At the end of March 2014 Charlie left Maidstone to join Division 1 South club Leatherhead.