Martin Peters dead: England World Cup winner and Tottenham, West Ham legend dies, aged 76

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Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_21 December 2019

England World Cup winner Martin Peters has passed away at the age of 76, his family have confirmed.

The West Ham United legend was part of Alf Ramsey’s side that won the 1966 World Cup on home soil, and scored in the 4-2 final win over West Germany.

He was capped 67 times by England, also representing his country at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. A statue near West Ham’s former home at Upton Park commemorates the role that he and fellow Hammers Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore played in the ’66 triumph.

As well as winning the game’s greatest prize - and becoming only one of two Englishmen to have scored in a World Cup final - Peters also won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with West Ham at Wembley the previous summer.

Peters became the English game’s first £200,000 man when he moved across London to Tottenham in 1970 in the deal that took Jimmy Greaves the other way.

Peters fires past Hans Tilkowski in the final at Wembley.
Getty Images

Whilst the switch didn’t work for Greaves, Peters excelled at his new club as part of Bill Nicholson’s third trophy-winning side.

Over three seasons Peters won the League Cup twice (the second time as captain) and the UEFA Cup in 1972.

Peters celebrates World Cup glory alongside captain Bobby Moore
Getty Images

He was also the captain as Tottenham battled to the 1974 UEFA Cup final, only to lose to Feyenoord.

After Nicholson retired, Peters moved again, this time to Norwich City in 1975. He made more than 200 appearances for the Canaries before his final switch to Sheffield United.

Peters and Spurs team-mates win the League Cup in 1971.
Getty Images

He only appeared for the Blades 24 times before taking over as manager from Harry Haslam in 1981 with the side in deep relegation trouble. Unfortunately he was unable to stop Sheffield United slipping into the old Fourth Division for the first time in its history, and he resigned.

Peters scored 100 goals in 364 for the Hammers.
Getty Images

Peters’ playing days ended with a season - in central defence - for non-league Gorleston before he hung up his boots in 1983.

It was the end of his time in the game - apart from a spell as a director back at Tottenham - and he forged a career in insurance.

A statement from Peters’ family read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce that Martin passed away peacefully in his sleep at 4.00am 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.”

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