WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 50 years ON

The summer of 2016 will mark the 50th year since England won the World Cup in 1966 at Wembley. I know where I was when the match was played, do you? Well those who are old enough may have a sporting memory.

The sad news is that several of the squad that won the Jules Rimet Trophy are now suffering from Alzheimer's, experiencing Dementia or other illnesses including cancer. Not all the squad will make the celebration which is planned for July.

Martin Peters, one of the famous West Ham trio, at 72 was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013. Shirebrook, Derbys, born full back whose debut was for Huddersfield Town, Ray Wilson is 81 and was told about his brain condition in 2004. Jack Charlton is suffering from memory loss which could be attributed to heading the ball a lot as a centre half.

Team manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, had Alzheimer's before he died in 1999 aged 79. His assistant Harold Shepherdson died in 1995 at 77 years old.

His "General" and captain, Bobby Moore died from cancer in 1993 at 51 years old. Nobby Stiles, also diagnosed with prostate cancer at 73, has suffered since 2012 and Gordon Banks is suffering with kidney cancer but despite losing the sight of one eye in a car crash, appears to healthy and carrying on a decent lifestyle.

Alan Ball, at 61, died tragically of a heart attack when fighting a garden fire in his home in Hampshire.

The brain disease may be attributed to heading the heavy footballs of that era and 1970s World Cup player Jeff Astle's sad death at 59 years old and subsequent post mortem revealed that he had suffered from brain trauma and cognitive decline (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) in his retirement. His wife has been campaigning with the FA to make people more aware of this illness.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3531205/THREE-England-s-World-Cup-winning-1966-team-suffering-Alzheimer-s-raising-fears-brains-damaged-heading-heavy-footballs.html

Geoff Hurst, the hat trick hero, is still fit and well, as are fellow forward Roger Hunt, Bobby Charlton and full back George Cohen

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/three-1966-world-cup-heroes-7719084

SOME VERY INTERESTING FACTS!
In the 1966 World Cup, only one of the quarter-finals was televised, England v Argentina.
The France Uruguay group match that should have been played at Wembley clashed with a greyhound race meeting and was transferred to the White City.
No African teams appeared in the finals because they objected to the qualification structure, so North Korea won through instead.
England did not concede a goal until the semi-final when they beat Portugal 2-1 with Eusebio scoring.
Nearly all the "home" crowd's flags supporting England were Union Jacks and not the Cross of St George.

Read this link which tells about the plans for the 50th celebration:-
http://www.thefa.com/news/thefa/2016/apr/fa-to-mark-50th-1966-anniversary

PERHAPS LOCAL CLUBS SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!