George Eastham, 1966 World Cup winner, passes away at 88
The Blackpool-born forward earned 19 international caps during his career but did not play in England's only World Cup final triumph under Sir Alf Ramsey.
George Eastham, a member of England's historic 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has passed away at the age of 88.
The Blackpool-born forward earned 19 international caps during his career but did not play in England's only World Cup final triumph under Sir Alf Ramsey.
Eastham was an unused member of the squad for the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, making his international debut in a Centenary match against Brazil at Wembley in 1963. His final appearance for England came in a 2-0 friendly win over Denmark shortly before the 1966 tournament.
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Though initially only the 11 players who featured in the final against West Germany received winners' medals, Eastham and other squad members were eventually honoured with medals in 2009 following a campaign.
The Football Association expressed its condolences, stating it was "saddened" by Eastham's passing and sent "condolences to George's family and friends."
At club level, Eastham represented Newcastle United and Arsenal before joining Stoke City for £35,000 after the 1966 World Cup. During his time with the Potters, he made 194 appearances and etched his name into the club's history by scoring the decisive goal in the 1972 League Cup final against Chelsea, securing Stoke's first major trophy.
Eastham also left a lasting impact on football off the pitch. In 1963, he was central to a landmark court case that revolutionised player freedom within the British transfer market. For his contributions to the game, he was awarded an OBE in 1973.
He retired as a player in 1974 and briefly managed Stoke from March 1977 to January 1978.
Stoke City expressed their deep sorrow, calling Eastham a "club legend" and announcing plans to wear black armbands during their upcoming match against Sheffield Wednesday on 21 December. The club also intends to pay tribute to Eastham at their home fixture against Leeds United on 26 December.
"Our thoughts are with George's family and friends during this difficult time," the club said in a statement.
