Football hero hits the post
JACK Charlton is to be honoured with a special postmark on all letters sent in the UK and Ireland for the next three weeks.
The football hero, whose funeral takes place tomorrow in his home town, is to be recognised by both countries simultaneously for his contribution to their national game.
The postmark bearing his name and an image of a football is the first time the Royal Mail and Ireland’s An Post have had a joint tribute.
His surviving brothers – Sir Bobby, 82, Gordon, 77, and Tommy, 74 – hope to be reunited as fans pay tribute in Ashington,
Northumberland. The town is expected to come to a standstill as Jack, who died 10 days ago aged 85, makes his final journey through the streets where he and Bobby kicked a ball before becoming the world’s most famous footballing brothers.
The cortege will make a circuit around the town, pausing at Hirst Park, near the family’s former home.
The former Leeds United defender, who won a World Cup winner’s medal playing for England in 1966, managed the Republic of Ireland from 1986 to 1996, helping them to their first major tournament finals.
Royal Mail’s Stuart Simpson said: “The commemoration of the life of Jack Charlton is a fitting occasion. We’d like to extend our condolences to his family.”
TRIBUTE Postmark commemorates his 85 years
Jack and, inset, playing for Leeds
what we did.” Former right-back George is one of just five surviving members of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup winning team alongside Sir Bobby, Sir Geoff, Nobby Stiles and Roger Hunt.
The other six, including skipper Bobby Moore, died without being knighted. George was awarded an MBE in 2000 along with Alan Ball, Ray Wilson, Stiles and Hunt. He added: “It took me 34 years to get my MBE, 34 years after we won the World Cup, so who knows what’s going to happen now.
“My wife Daphne would love to be a Lady. She wouldn’t dream of asking, but I think she would be absolutely delighted, as would my whole family.” George said he was devastated when he heard former Ireland manager Jack had died last week at the age of 85. But paying tribute he called the Leeds legend the best defender he played with. WINNER George with medal He added: “I was delighted to have him as a centre-half in the England team, it made my job easier. He got nearly everything in the air. He was a very, very good player. There was nothing fancy about him, nothing fancy at all. He was one of those guys if you were going to have an argument, don’t have an argument with him. “He was never shy in coming forward. Everyone knew him and everyone admired him. It’s such a sad loss.” Crowds are expected to flock to Jack’s home town of Ashington, Northumberland, to pay their respects at his funeral. Just 20 relatives, including his brothers Sir Bobby, 82, Gordon, 77, and 74-year-old Tommy, will attend the service due to Covid-19 restrictions. Despite battles with ill-health, Londoner George was still working in hospitality at Fulham until the lockdown. He claims while foreign players have brought skill and flair to the Premier League, the large numbers of them has left successive England managers short of quality homegrown stars to pick.
George added: “There are lots of good English players but not enough outstanding players. “I can’t see an England team winning the World Cup again in my lifetime sadly.”
ENGLAND World Cup winner George Cohen has joined the growing call for all the 1966 stars to be knighted in the wake of Jack Charlton’s death.
The 80-year-old said the side’s heroics on the pitch against West Germany in the final boosted the nation’s morale and is a footballing achievement that has never been bettered in our national game.
George also told how it infuriated him when rich individuals who take their wealth elsewhere are made Sirs while he and his team-mates have been overlooked.
Of the 1966 winners only hat-trick star Sir Geoff
Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton have ever been knighted – despite repeated campaigns.
Speaking ahead of Jack’s funeral tomorrow, Fulham legend George called for the law to be changed to allow posthumous knighthoods.
He said: “I think the entire team should have got knighthoods and still do, even though some are not with us. I would love to see the likes of Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton get knighthoods. Obviously the law needs to change, but why not change it?
“What gets under my fingernails is when knighthoods are given to these people who make millions of millions of pounds and move abroad.
“A lot of the team aren’t with us any more, sadly, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be knighted.
“It’s not just because we won the World Cup. Look at Jack, he did a lot for the game but he also did a lot of charity work too.
“Bobby Moore didn’t get anything, big Jack didn’t get anything. They were pretty much up there with other people who have got knighthoods.
“I don’t want to ask for a knighthood but I do think all of us, both those who are still around and those who aren’t, deserve it. I think it’s the greatest sporting achievement in the history of our country.
“It did so much good for the country. A huge amount of money was raised one way or another. And it boosted morale.
“A lot of people in the country were a lot happier because of
GLORY DAY Jack with World Cup