The son of a railway worker, Charlie Harbidge was an outstanding wing-half who played for the Civil Service in the Southern League before the start of World War I. He also played for the Corinthians and at the end of the War, whilst serving as a Lieutenant in the Army, he played two games for Tottenham Hotspur in the London Combination. He joined Reading in 1919 and that year was selected for the Southern League representative side. When Reading became one of the founder members of the new third division in 1920, Harbidge had the misfortune of missing their very first Football League game, against Newport County on 28 August 1920, because he was on duty with the Great Britain side against Norway at the Olympic Games at the time. He was rated as one of the best wing-halves in the new third division in its inaugural season which was quite a claim as he only helped Reading out when he could and played just 19 games for them in his one League season at Elm Park. He joined Charlton Athletic, also of the third division, in August 1921 but returned to the Southern League after just six games at the Valley. He won five England amateur caps.
Great Britain