MADRID, 21 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The English Football Federation (FA) reported this Saturday the death at the age of 88 of George Eastham, a member of the England team that won the 1966 Men’s World Cup.
Eastham did not play during that English success in his own country, but the winger was part of the team coached by Alf Ramsey that lifted the World Cup for the only time in the history of the ‘Three Lions’.
Born in Blackpool, Eastham spent most of his career at Newcastle United, Arsenal FC and Stoke City FC, and also left an influential legacy having fought against so-called ‘slavery contracts’. Not surprisingly, Eastham’s involvement in a 1963 court case improved players’ freedom to change clubs and ended up reforming the British transfer market.
“We are saddened to learn of the death of George Eastham at the age of 88. George played 19 international matches in his career with the ‘Three Lions’,” the FA wrote from its profile on the social network X. “Our deepest condolences to George’s family and friends,” concluded the brief message of condolences.
The clubs he passed through also expressed their condolences upon learning of Eastham’s death. “George was signed by the Potters for £35,000 shortly after being part of the England World Cup winning team in 1966,” Stoke City said on their website.
“He represented the club for eight seasons in the top flight of English football and was twice a FA Cup semi-finalist in red and white. He is perhaps best remembered as the man whose goal clinched the 1972 League Cup in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley,” highlighted the same note from Stoke City.
Eastham’s father, George senior, also played for England on one occasion. After playing for Northern Irish club Ards, his son played 124 and 207 English league games with Newcastle and Arsenal, respectively, before signing for the Potters.
Eastham made 194 league appearances for Stoke City and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to football shortly before retiring in 1974. He was appointed assistant to Tony Waddington before becoming Stoke’s own manager between March 1977 and January 1978.
Eastham later emigrated to South Africa, where he coached children. He also openly opposed Apartheid, the system of racial segregation that existed in the country at that time.