SIR Alf Ramsey is to be awarded a World Cup winners medal - 43 years after leading England to victory.

Derek Davis

SIR Alf Ramsey is to be awarded a World Cup winners medal - 43 years after leading England to victory.

The former Ipswich Town and England manager is among 14 members of the victorious 1966 squad who were not presented with medals at the time - only the 11 players on the pitch got them - who are now being honoured by FIFA.

Sir Alf's back-up staff of trainer Harold Shepherdson and physio Les Cocker are also expected to be awarded the medals posthumously.

Squad members who did not play in the final against West Germany, including former Chelmsford City striker Jimmy Greaves, will also be presented with medals.

Ron Springett, Ian Callaghan, Terry Paine, John Connolly, George Eastham, Jimmy Armfield, Ron Flowers, Peter Bonetti, Norman Hunter and Gerald Byrne will all be belatedly recognised too.

World football's governing body has decreed that all the winning teams from 1930-1970 will each receive the extra 14 specially-minted medals.

That will include Pele, who was injured for the 1962 final, and that will make up a set of three for the Brazilian superstar.

It is hoped either Lady Vickie Ramsey, or daughter Tanya, will be at Wembley to receive the medals on behalf of Sir Alf who died in 1999, but there is still deep resentment over the way the great man was treated by the FA.

Lady Ramsey is now 88 and still lives in Ipswich, while Tanya is settled in America.

When it was first mooted that a replica medal be made Lady Ramsey said: “It is too late now. Nothing anybody could do would make up for the way he has been treated.”

Former sports minister Richard Caborn had backed the bid for medals to be awarded and is delighted the decision has been reached, some 11 years after the FA first made representation to have more made.

Caborn said: “Sir Alf is a legend in English sport and gave it one of its finest hours.

“Even those who were not even born in 1966 are well aware of the event.

“The squad players who did not receive medals deserve this too.

“They all played their part in the triumph through what was a glorious tournament for England.”

Sir Alf died in April 1999 and left �200,000 which was eaten up by medical bills for Lady Ramsey, who was forced to auction much of Sir Alf's memorabilia, including his England caps and a replica of the Jules Rimet Trophy.

A bust of Sir Alf is being sculpted and due to be unveiled in the tunnel area at Wembley before an England international this year.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk