TRIBUTES TO WILSON
Ray Wilson, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, has died aged 83, his former clubs Huddersfield and Everton have announced. Wilson – an undertaker after his playing days – had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2004.
TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to Ray Wilson, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, who has died aged 83.
The player’s former clubs, Huddersfield and Everton have announced the death of Wilson, who passed away on Tuesday night at The Bell House Care Home in West Yorkshire.
He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2004.
Wilson made almost 500 appearances in a 19-year career but it is the glorious afternoon of July 30, 1966, that he will be best remembered for as England beat West Germany at Wembley to lift the World Cup.
It was Wilson’s second World Cup, the left-back having played in all four England matches during the 1962 finals in Chile when still at Huddersfield.
The club which he played for between 1952 and 1964 said in a statement: “Huddersfield Town is devastated to learn of the passing of World Cup winner Ramon ‘Ray’ Wilson MBE at the age of 83. Ray is arguably the most successful and bestknown player ever to pull on a Huddersfield Town shirt, having been a key member of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966.”
He moved to Goodison Park in 1964 before joining Oldham in 1969. Everton Football Club released a statement which said Wilson was “unquestionably one of the finest footballers to wear the royal blue jersey”.
“The thoughts of everybody at Everton Football Club are with Ray’s wife Pat, sons Russell and Neil, and all of his family and friends. Wilson’s status as a Goodison Park great was underlined when he was named Everton Giant for 2002.”
In total, Wilson won 63 England caps – still the record for a Huddersfield player – and after retirement from the game, built his own business as an undertaker.
In 2000, was made an MBE for services to football.
Born in Derbyshire, Wilson had an unusual route into football. He left school to become an apprentice railwayman before being scouted by Huddersfield Town.