A GIANT OF THE GAME

BIG JACK is gone.the death ofworld Cup winner Jack Charlton left the world of football mourning one of its most engaging heroes.

As a giant centre-half he was one of the rocks of England’s glory in 1966.As a manager he inspired the greatest days of Irish football, and tributes flowed in a flood tide from both nations.

He was a legend also of the superb Leeds United team of the late sixties, playing a club record 773 times for them.

Oh yes, and he was also Sir Bobby Charlton’s big brother. Big Jack died at the age of 85, and his passing means there are now just five of theworld Cup winners still with us – brother Bobby, Sir Geoff Hurst, Nobby Stiles, Roger Hunt and George Cohen. Hurst was among so many who spoke with emotion yesterday of his fellow champion, saying: “It’s another sad day for football.

“Jack was the type of player and person you need in a team to win a World Cup. He was a great and loveable character and will be greatly missed.the world of football, and the world beyond football, has lost one of the greats.”