England World cup winner Ron Flowers dies aged 87
He was also a club legend at Wolves
Last updated 12th Nov 2021
Former England midfielder Ron Flowers, who was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has died at the age of 87
He was a club legend at Wolverhampton Wanderers, having played over 500 games for them and became vice-president of the club.
He played 49 times for England and featured in 40 consecutive international matches between November 1958 and April 1963, which included the 1962 World Cup in Chile.
He did not feature as Sir Alf Ramsey’s men became world champions on home soil in 1966, but received a World Cup winner’s medal at Downing Street in 2009 after only those on the field at the final whistle initially got one.
They released this statement:
Wolves are deeply saddened to announce the passing of club legend and vice president Ron Flowers MBE at the age of 87.
The club’s fifth highest appearance holder, Flowers was a star during Wolves’ most successful era, helping the old gold to three First Division titles and the FA Cup during his 15 years at Molineux.
Flowers turned out 515 times for Wolves between 1952 and 1967 and was a member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning squad.
Flowers was part of a special Cullis side, which made Wolves champions of England for the first ever time in 1954 and repeated its success in 1958 and 1959 – the club’s only top flights titles to date.
A year later, Flowers was lifting the FA Cup trophy at Wembley, having helped Wolves defeat Blackburn Rovers in the final
In an England shirt Flowers was just as reliable, earning 49 caps, 40 of which came consecutively between November 1958 and April 1963, claiming a record only bettered by fellow Wolves legend Billy Wright.
The midfielder also had the distinction of scoring England’s first goal at a European Championship, bagging in the qualifying round against France in 1962 – one of six penalties he scored for his country, with two more coming at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.
While Flowers was unused as England lifted the famous trophy four years later, his efforts were rightfully acknowledged in 2009, when all non-playing members of the squad received a deserved medal at 10 Downing Street, bringing great pride to him and his family.
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Michael Nesmith
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