CHARLIE Vernon has been described as Armagh’s natural successor to Paul McGrane. A hardworking midfielder, he strives to get forward and play a central attacking role at every available opportunity.

Charlie’s life is Gaelic football and in particular Armagh inter-county football.

The quiet, shy and unassuming figure off the field is quite the contrast to his on-field reputation as a hardworking and uncompromising midfielder who loves the chance to play for his beloved Orchard County.

Charlie believes he got his passion for sport and Gaelic games from his parents, both school teachers.

“Sport in general was very big in our house, my parents are both PE teachers so that made a big impact on me. John Morrison took me for Under 8’s in Armagh Harps so my first GAA memory is standing in Mitre boots chasing after a football,” he said.

While Vernon has excelled in the Gaelic football world he has also received attention from the world of Australian Rules football attracted by his ample ability and athleticism.

“Ricky Nixon (Australian sports agent) contacted me a few months ago about attending a trial down in Dublin.  At 22 years of age you would nearly be too old to start a transitional period such as learning the new rules of the game and getting comfortable with the code,” added Charlie.

“I attended the trials purely out of curiosity and to see what kind of deal they had to offer.”

While Charlie is only concerned about Armagh at the moment he did express his desire to play football on a full time basis.

“I suppose it is a lifetime ambition of mine to be a professional sportsman.  To do what I love on a full time basis would be a real dream come true.  So if things go ok for me when I return to the Armagh team I might be attending trials over in Australia.  As it stands I am keeping my options open,” he said.

Charlie missed Armagh’s Ulster Championship defeat at the hands of Tyrone courtesy of a shocking jaw injury suffered during a challenge match against Dublin in early May.

“I initially thought I had lost a tooth as I could feel the void in my gum.  When I got in to the changing room it was only then that I realised that my jaw was broken,” he said.

“The first thought that came to my mind was that I was going to miss the first round of the Ulster Championship against Tyrone and that made me very angry.”

In light of the injury, it would be understandable if Charlie agreed with Mickey Harte’s analysis that challenge matches are unnecessary and dangerous.

However, he feels that the best preparation for any game is always playing.

“I would say that in the run up to Championship football a team needs to prepare themselves for the challenges that will be enviably be thrown at them at this level,” he said.

“There really is no point in wrapping yourself up in cotton wool.  In terms of ‘In House’ games they can be even more furious than real challenge games as a lot of the boys are competing against each other for places.

“At the end of the day you can get injured stepping off a bus or walking down the street so in my opinion challenge matches are there to help us prepare.”

Obviously Charlie was devastated to miss the game against Tyrone but he believes that Armagh have enough strength and depth to cope with his absence.

“In Armagh we believe it is a team game and we are prepared for scenarios like this whereby players can slip in to different positions,” he said.

“Injuries can come at unfortunate times and that is why we have such a strong panel so I have no doubt we can cover all bases no matter who is out injured.”

The midfielder also publicly backed manager Peter McDonnell who has endured a tough time since his appointment.

“I have had experiences with Peter McDonnell through club and county football and he is the best man for the job,” he said.

“He took on a job that perhaps a lot of other managers would have shied away from due to the massive success that Joe Kernan had with the county.  Peter took on a ‘poisoned chalice’ so to speak and he has massive respect amongst all the players involved with the county.”

Armagh have been written off in recent times with some pundits calling them a ‘spent force’ particularly after the defeat by Tyrone, but Charlie feels the Orchard boys could have the last laugh.

“People were writing off Armagh when we were getting to back to back All-Ireland finals and we were written off in 2002 when we lifted the Sam Maguire so in that respect we are comfortable with the title,” he said.

“If truth be told every county panel is in transition but if you look at the age profile of the Armagh panel the average age is around 23-25 years of age with a lot of players under that age which is only a positive thing and very encouraging.”

That said the county have lost a number of hugely influential players like Paul McGrane, Oisín McConville and Paddy McKeever to retirement.

“Players of that calibre would be a big loss to any team in the country.  They were quality players but also quality people off the field,” he said.

“They gave great encouragement to the younger lads on the team and personally I am very grateful to them for the lessons they have given me.  At the end of the day it’s the boys in the panel now who have to stand in the retired players’ boots and do the best that they can.”

He is still suffering some discomfort with the metal pins in his jaw but Charlie is looking forward to pulling on an Armagh jersey again.

“We want to win medals and silverware.  While I will be on the sidelines hopefully for just one match I will be kicking and catching every ball with the lads on the pitch,” he said.