World Cup winner Wilson dies

Sports Desk: England's 1966 World Cup winning defender Ray Wilson has died aged 83.

Wilson's former club Huddersfield announced his death on Wednesday.

The northern English team said Wilson, who played for the club for most of his career, continued to attend matches despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2004.

"Huddersfield Town is devastated to learn of the passing of World Cup winner Ramon 'Ray' Wilson MBE at the age of 83," the Terriers said in a statement.

"Ray is arguably the most successful and best-known player ever to pull on a Huddersfield Town shirt, having been a key member of England's World Cup-winning team in 1966."

At 32, Wilson was the oldest player in the England line-up that beat West Germany 4-2 in extra time in the final at Wembley Stadium in July 1966.

He made 63 appearances for England from 1960-68 before a knee injury forced the end of his international career.

Wilson started out at Huddersfield in 1952, combining soccer with work on the railways.

He moved to Everton in 1964 and won the FA Cup in five years with the team.

"The thoughts of everybody at Everton Football Club are with Ray's wife Pat, sons Russell and Neil, and all of his family and friends," the club said in a statement.

Wilson finished his career with spells at lower-league Oldham and then Bradford, where he was caretaker manager for a short stint after retirement.

After soccer, he worked for his father-in-law's undertaker business.

Wilson sold his World Cup winner's medal in 2002.

Wilson was just one of England's 1966 World Cup squad who had Alzheimer's.

Team members Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, and Jack Charlton were also suffering from memory loss or dementia.

"It's been widely reported that four of the team have got it," John Stiles, Nobby Stiles' son, told 7.30 in 2016.

"I've been informed that in the squad it's quite a few more."

Source: ABC Online


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