Dead at 83, third 1966 star to fight Alzheimer’s
RAY Wilson – a 1966 World Cup winner with England – has died after a 14- year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Wilson was the third man who played in the final against West Germany at Wembley to be diagnosed with dementia – after Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters – leading to fears the disease was caused by years of heading heavy leather footballs.
The oldest player in the 1966 team at 31, Derbyshire-born Wilson was regarded as the best left-back of his generation and won 63 caps.
His death at 83 was announced by his former clubs Huddersfield and Everton.
Wilson is the fifth member of the Cupwinning squad to die, after Alan Ball, Bobby Moore, Jimmy Armfield and John Connelly.
He was universally known as Ray, although he was christened Ramon – a tribute to Hollywood actor Ramon Novarro. After retiring from football he worked as an undertaker in Huddersfield.
Wilson spent his final years being cared for at home by his wife of 62 years, Pat, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2004.
Last night the Alzheimer’s Society paid tribute to the former footballer, saying: ‘We’re deeply saddened to hear of Ray’s death following his long battle with Alzheimer’s and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.’
Wilson’s death will reopen the debate over whether repeatedly heading heavy footballs has done lasting damage to the brains of former professional footballers.
Huddersfield is arguably the Town most FC successful said: ‘Ray and best-known player ever to pull on a Huddersfield Town shirt.’ Wilson made 283 appearances for the club between 1952 and 1964, before joining Everton and playing 154 games.
In 2008, he was inducted into the National Football Museum’s English Hall of Fame.
Huddersfield told how ‘until very recently’ Wilson was a regular supporter of the team at home games along with his eldest son Russell. ‘The thoughts of everyone at Huddersfield Town are with Ray’s wife Pat, his sons Russ and Neil and the rest of his family and friends at this difficult time.’
So highly was Wilson regarded in the game that on July 30, 2016 – 50 years to the day after England won the World Cup – Huddersfield released a ‘second change’ kit for their forthcoming season.
The red shirt – in tribute to the 1966 England team strip – carried the words ‘Legends Are Rarely Made’ and had Wilson’s signature in white beneath the collar and below the badge on the chest.
Everton FC said Wilson – who was a member of the Toffees’ 1966 FA Cup-winning side – was ‘unquestionably one of the finest footballers to wear the royal blue jersey’. England team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton said: ‘Ray was an excellent team-mate at international level for many years and a close friend. We shared some wonderful memories throughout our career and I had the pleasure of being his room-mate.’
Former England striker Jimmy Greaves added: ‘We had some laughs and some very late nights through the years and even with your illness you carried on coming with us and keeping us on our toes until about six years ago.
‘In many people’s eyes, the best English left-back ever. Goodbye, old friend.’
BBC Match of the Day host Gary Lineker tweeted yesterday: ‘Sorry to hear that Ray Wilson has passed away. One of our very few World Cup winners.’