ENGLAND World Cup winner George Eastham has died aged 88, as tributes pour in.
His former club Stoke City have paid tribute to the football legend, who was part of England’s 1966 winning team.
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George Eastham dies aged 88 Credit: PA
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He was part of England’s World Cup winning team in 1966. Credits: PA
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George also played for Newcastle UnitedCredit: PA
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George later went on to manage Stoke CityCredit: PA
A midfielder and inside forward, George played for Newcastle United, Arsenal and Stoke City in the English Premier League in a professional career spanning two decades and amassed 19 international caps.
He is also remembered for the three-week High Court trial that changed football’s old keep-and-carry system forever.
The club’s message read: “The Stoke City Football Club family is deeply saddened by the death of club legend George Eastham OBE aged 88.
“George was signed by the Potters for a fee of £35,000 shortly after being part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team.
“He went on to represent the club for eight seasons in the English top flight and was a two-time FA Cup semi-finalist in the red and white shirt.
“He is perhaps best remembered as the man whose goal secured the League Cup in 1972 in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Wembley.
“The Potters will wear black armbands for the game against Sheffield Wednesday (on Saturday) as a mark of respect.
“Our thoughts are with George’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
George made 194 league appearances for Stoke over eight seasons and went on to manage the club between 1977-78.
After his contract at Newcastle expired in 1959, he went on strike for eight months to force the club to let him go to Arsenal – as the system at the time allowed clubs to withhold players’ registrations to force them to stay.
He later sat in the High Court for a three-week trial against Newcastle and the Football Association.
A judge found the old transfer system unreasonable, leading to major reforms in the UK transfer market and the establishment of a dispute resolution tribunal.
The Blackpool-born legend told the Mail last year: “You were a slave to the club.
“You should have gone to court. It was necessary to come out of the shadows.
“The players should have received the money they should have received. Now everyone is getting fair rewards.”
George was awarded an “Officer of the Order of the British Empire” (OBE) in 1973 for his services to football.
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George Eastham dies aged 88 Credit: PA
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George played alongside Les Cocker and George Cohen for EnglandCredit: PA
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George next to Everton’s Ray Wilson Credit: PA
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George before the 2009 World Cup qualifier Credit: Reuters
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