Win it for Ray
Heroes urge today’s stars to bring back cup to honour all-time great
ENGLAND’S 1966 World Cup heroes said goodbye to team-mate Ray Wilson with the rallying cry: “Let’s win it again for him.”
Five of the legends who were in that side – including Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks – were among the mourners at yesterday’s funeral. Dad-of-two Ray died last month aged 83 after a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Another team member Jack Charlton, also 83, wiped away tears as the cortege arrived. It was the first time in years that he has been seen in public with his brother Sir Bobby, 80, amid a family feud. England’s 1966 goalkeeper Gordon described Ray as “a lovely lad”. He added: “He was very fit and a great player with great speed. He was a
smashing guy, a happy guy and a bit of laugh.
“He would joke and would lighten the mood in the dressing room.
“We were all tense at the final – but then he would take the mickey and it would make us relax, which is what we needed.”
Gordon, 80, went on: “As for this year’s World Cup, it would be wonderful if the boys could go to Russia and win it for Ray. I would love them to bring it back again after all these years.
“It was such a wonderful thing for us to do in ’66 and it would be a fitting tribute to Ray if they could do it again this year.”
Sir Geoff described Ray, who won 63 England caps, as one of the greatest ever fullbacks.
He added: “Ray had a big sense of purpose and professionalism with a really great character.”
Sir Geoff, 76, who scored a hat-trick in the final as England beat West Germany 4-2 at
Wembley in extra-time, said he hoped England would do well at the World Cup starting next week, adding: “It would be nice to win it for Ray.”
Ray – born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, in 1934 and named Ramon after Hollywood heart-throb Ramon Novarro – played most notably for Huddersfield Town and Everton in a career that spanned from 1952 to 1971.
He became an undertaker after retiring from the game and in 2000 he was awarded an MBE for services to football. Big Jack said: “He was always a friend of mine... he was a good lad. He was a super player.”
World Cup final forward Roger Hunt, 79, said: “I was great friends with Ray. It’s cruel what happened to him in later years.” More than 300 people packed Huddersfield Crematorium in West Yorks for the funeral. Canon David Ward had the mourners laughing when he told them that under church law he was obliged to wear a “religious scarf ” – then from under the pulpit pulled out a Huddersfield Town scarf. He said of Ray: “He was a legend of our national game. He was the finest fullback to grace these islands.” At the end of the service they played Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra, who Ray adored. Former England players Norman Hunter, 74, and Mike Summerbee, 75, were among the other football stars who attended the service. Ray was cared for by wife of 61 years Pat throughout his illness. She told the Mirror in 2016 how her husband was still happy despite having Alzheimer’s.
He discovered an artistic streak in later years, and his sketches cover the walls of his home in home West Yorkshire. Pat said Ray could not remember much of his glory days but she added: “I think he still knows he’s done something.”
Ray’s pal Andrew Ward said yesterday: “He was a national hero for his footballing exploits.
“His wife Pat’s a hero for her loving care for him 24 hours a day.”
The Mirror revealed in 2016 that Ray and other 1966 heroes Martin Peters and Nobby Stiles were battling Alzheimer’s. Ex-players think it is linked to heading heavy leather footballs.
Ray’s memories of 1966 may have been lost but yesterday his team-mates ensured the country remembers him as a hero.
He was a great player. And he was a smashing guy, a happy guy and a laugh GORDON BANKS ON HIS 1966 ENGLAND TEAM-MATE