RIP Martin Peters

sad to hear today the legend has left us.

Martin Peters, a member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died aged 76. The midfielder scored against West Germany in that final at Wembley and won 67 caps.

Peters played most notably for West Ham United and Tottenham, although he also had a successful spell at Norwich City before finishing his professional career with Sheffield United. He made almost 900 appearances before retiring in 1981. In 2016 it was announced that he had Alzheimer’s disease.

A statement from members of Peters’ family on West Ham’s official website read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce that Martin passed away peacefully in his sleep at 4am this morning. A beloved husband, dad and grandad, and a kind, gentle and private man, we are devastated by his loss but so very proud of all that he achieved and comforted by the many happy memories we shared. We will be making no further comment and kindly ask that the privacy of our family is respected at this extremely difficult time.”

Described by his England manager, Alf Ramsey, as being “10 years ahead of his time,” the East London-born Peters came through the ranks at West Ham. He made his debut in 1962 and won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with the club before moving to Tottenham in 1970 for a then British record fee of £200,000. Jimmy Greaves went in the other direction as part of the deal.

c&p'd from the Guardian