Death of ’66 World Cup ace
England World Cup winner Martin Peters was hailed as a “true gentleman” after he died yesterday at 76.
The midfielder – who scored in the 4-2 victory against West Germany in 1966 – passed away in his sleep at 4am.
It was three years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Last night, former England players paid tribute to Martin, who won 67 caps and scored 20 goals during a glittering eight-year international career.
World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst – who played alongside Martin at West Ham – said: “Today is a very sad day for football and for me personally. Martin was one of the all-time greats and a close friend and colleague of mine for in excess of 50 years.”
Gary Lineker called Martin a “great player and a true gentleman”.
Former player Stan Collymore said he was “an English sporting icon, a lovely man”.
West Ham said: “He is the fifth member of English football’s greatest-ever team now sadly lost – along with Alan Ball, Ray Wilson, Gordon Banks and his fellow West
Ham Academy hero and great friend Bobby Moore,”
Born in London, Martin is one of four of England’s World
Cup winners to fight dementia amid growing research linking the heading of footballs to brain damage.
Nobby Stiles and
Jack Charlton are sufferers. Defender Ray Wilson passed away in May last year at 83.
In 2017, Sir Geoff, 78, spoke of his torment at Martin’s battle with Alzheimer’s, saying his pal could no longer recall the 1966 triumph.
Martin is survived by wife Kathy, daughter Leeann, son Grant and two granddaughters.