An England World Cup hero became an undertaker after quitting the beautiful game. Ray Wilson, who died in 2018, was a major part of the Three Lions' iconic 1966 World Cup-winning team.
Wilson played left-back in the legendary encounter as England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley Stadium. He also featured in all six matches of the tournament, playing in a back four alongside the stoic and immovable George Cohen, Jack Charlton and legendary Bobby Moore.
Wilson was the oldest member of the World Cup-winning team at 31, and the defender was vital to Alf Ramsey’s formation, regularly pushing forward in games. He famously created the opening goal for Roger Hunt in the semi-final win over Portugal.
After retiring in 1971, Wilson took on an unusual job as an undertaker for a former footballer after joining his father-in-law’s business in Huddersfield.
Post-Football Career
He used his new job to support his wife, Pat, whom he married in 1956, and their two sons. Wilson ran the firm until his retirement in 1997 and was believed to deploy dark humour with friends and family.
His England team-mate Cohen once revealed that Wilson told him: “I was ringing to offer you a deal,” after learning his ex-teammate had cancer.
Wilson was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire. He went on to win 63 caps for the Three Lions and played for Huddersfield Town, under Liverpool hero Bill Shankly, Everton, Oldham, and Bradford. After a short spell as caretaker manager of the latter, he retired in 1971 at the age of 36.
Speaking of England's World Cup victory, still to this day the nation's only success in the competition, he once told a journalist: “We were basically a defensive team. That was the first quality of the team.”
Training as a Mortician
After brief spells with Oldham and Bradford, Wilson and his wife, Pat, returned to Huddersfield. There, he began training to become a mortician under his father-in-law's guidance.
Such was his drive and passion to take on the new role that he even returned to education to obtain the O-level certificates required for the job.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2000, Wilson was recognised for his contribution to England's heroic World Cup victory, receiving an MBE. Just four years later, however, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
He died in May 2018 at the age of 83. He passed just two years after Huddersfield released a new second-change kit in his honour, with the tagline "Legends Are Rarely Made".
