BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 1966 winners honoured (original) (raw)

1966 squad receive winners medals

The players and staff of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad who did not get medals have now received them after a ceremony at 10 Downing Street.

Initially, only the 11 players on the pitch at the end of the 4-2 final win over West Germany received medals.

But governing body Fifa is now giving medals to every non-playing squad and staff member from every World Cup-winning country from 1930 to 1974.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave 11 ex-players and staff their medals.

Sir Alf Ramsey did not get a medal either and George Cohen picked up the award on behalf of the former England manager's family.

"It is a tremendous honour to be the person who is presenting you with your medals," said Brown at Wednesday's event.

Greaves (left) and Hunter show their pride after getting their medals

"We are so proud of all your careers and what you have done. You made history, you showed that England could win the World Cup and showed that England could host the World Cup tournament."

The players who received medals were Peter Bonetti, Ron Springett, Jimmy Armfield, Gerry Byrne, Ron Flowers, Norman Hunter, Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan, John Connelly, George Eastham and Jimmy Greaves.

David Cocker accepted a medal on behalf of his father, team physio Les Cocker, and Margaret Shepherdson received a medal on behalf of her husband, team trainer Harold Shepherdson.

The medal winners and their families will be guests of honour when England face Andorra at Wembley on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier.

"When I heard we were going to get the medals I thought, 'That is wonderful', said Armfield. "And to get it from the prime minister is very special."

Cohen, who played right-back in the final, was asked to receive the manager's medal on behalf of Lady Ramsey.

"Sir Alf Ramsey expected people to behave in a proper manner and he would not allow anything to detract from what he was trying to do, which was win the World Cup," said Cohen.

Former Tottenham and Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves also welcomed the move.

He said: "Sir Alf would have been proud because he would also have got a medal.

"Had he lived, we might have got them a bit sooner."