Do right by this World Cup hero

■ WORLD Cup legend Jack Charlton’s death reminds us of when our sports stars were real heroes, not prima donnas.

What’s even more saddening and maddening is that Jack and others from the 1966 team didn’t receive the ultimate honour from Her Majesty for our one and only World Cup victory.

Knighthoods seem to be thrown around like confetti if you’re a Tory Party donor or some celebrity.

Only two team members, Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton, along with the manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, were knighted.

It’s a crying shame that the rest are still waiting.

Ash Smith, March, Cambs

■ It was so saddening to read of Jack Charlton’s death and I agree with calls for him to be awarded a knighthood posthumously.

The Government should change the rules so this can happen – and if they refuse to do that they should at least honour those 1966 team members not knighted who are still with us.

M Christopher

Wigan, Gtr Manchester

■ Jack Charlton was an inspiration and a colossus of decency.

He should have been knighted decades ago, along with the whole World Cup team of 1966. Bobby Moore, our wonderful captain at Wembley that day, would have been the first to agree football is a team game and success depends on the performance of every player.

Lifting the prestigious trophy may never be accomplished again by England – but we live in hope.

There’s little doubt the honours system needs radical reform.

It’s been ridiculed time and again for honouring politicians in particular, many of whom have been a disaster.

It makes a mockery of the entire honours system and demeans the awards of those who have genuinely earned them.

Bill Cook, Teignmouth, Devon

■ What an absolute crying shame that another legend has passed away without being properly honoured. I had the pleasure of meeting Jack once and what an absolutely modest and unassuming gentleman he was.

I find it astonishing that all the players from 1966 still haven’t been knighted when these honours are dished out for far less important sporting achievements. It’s about time this wrong was righted. Peter Rochford

South Shields, Tyne and Wear

■ It’s a real shame that Jack Charlton has passed away without

being knighted. I fully agree with calls to award him a knighthood posthumously and believe they should be given to all the giants of 1966 who provided the country with our greatest ever sporting achievement.

Why this still hasn’t happened is baffling to me and I’m sure to millions of others too.

John Dixon

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

■ Big Jack was an absolute legend to everyone in football and not just us Leeds United fans.

He was well respected and loved by so many people in the beautiful game as he was a lovely down-toearth man.

He will be sorely missed by all genuine football fans.

Andrew Nash, Leeds

■ It feels like we are coming to the end of an era with the passing of Dame Vera Lynn, and now Jack Charlton.

It’s very sad because both were national treasures, the likes of which we won’t see again.

Mandy Thompson Pontefract, West Yorks