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Medal: Ron will be awarded his World Cup Winner’s medal
- ONE of Sheffield Wednesday's all-time greats was today receiving long-overdue recognition for his part in England's 1966 World Cup triumph.
Former England goalkeeper Ron Springett will be finally awarded his World Cup winner's medal at a ceremony in Downing Street 43 years after England defeated West Germany 4-2 at Wembley.
- Until 1974, World Cup winner's medals were only given to the 11 men who played on the victorious side in each tournament's final.
- The rule meant that 73-year-old Ron and 10 other members of England's squad who did not appear against West Germany missed out.
- But after sustained pressure from football fans and Sheffield MP Richard Caborn, Fifa, the world football's governing body, moved to right the wrong and minted a new set of medals.
- Eleven of the set made for England will be awarded to the so-called 'forgotten heroes' of the '66 squad and others will go to the families of team trainer, Harold Shepherdson and team physio, Les Cocker.
- The medals will be awarded by the Prime Minister and FA chairman Lord Triesman. Prime Minister Gordon Brown today said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Ron Springett, Norman Hunter and the other players to Downing Street today.
- "It's absolutely right that we recognise their role in England's 1966 World Cup success – one of our finest sporting moments. They are real football heroes and have made this country proud.
- "The 1966 World Cup engaged and inspired the whole country for generations, just as we hope to inspire a whole new generation with our bid to host the 2018 World Cup."
- Ron began his career at QPR before moving to Wednesday for £10,000. He made 384 appearances for Wednesday before returning to QPR in 1967.
- He made his England debut against Northern Ireland in 1959 and became the first choice goalkeeper during the 1962 World Cup in Chile when England reached the quarter finals.
- His final cap was against Norway in 1966 shortly before the World Cup finals.
- Talking at the time of the Fifa U-turn, Ron said: "I am over the moon at the news. I played in the 1962 World Cup and I was a member of the squad in 1966 and a lot of that was down to all my great years with Sheffield Wednesday. It is really pleasing to have that recognition now."
- After the ceremony, the players will travel to Wembley to watch England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
- The other England players set to receive medals are Peter Bonetti (Chelsea), (Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham), Jimmy Armfield (Blackpool), John Connolly (Manchester United), Gerry Byrne (Liverpool), Ron Flowers (Wolves), Norman Hunter (Leeds), Terry Paine (Southampton), Ian Callaghan (Liverpool) and George Eastham (Arsenal).
. - Sheffield Telegraph
QPR Official Site - SPRINGETT REWARDED
Former QPR goalkeeper Ron Springett will finally collect his World Cup winner's medal today - 43 years after being part of England's successful 1966 squad.
Springett, who began his career with the R's, will pick up his deserved medal at a Downing Street ceremony this afternoon after Fifa agreed that all squad members should be rewarded for their efforts.
Until 1974, World Cup winner's medals were only given to the 11 men who played on the victorious side in each tournament's final.
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The rule meant that 73-year-old Springett and 10 other members of England's squad who did not appear against West Germany missed out.
This will be put right today when Prime Minister Gordon Brown and FA Chairman Lord Triesman present the medals.
Terry Springett, Ron's daughter, said: "Dad is so proud.
"It is a massive honour for him, and he has been looking forward to it since he was told he would be getting a medal 18 months ago."
Terry - who has worked at QPR for the past 30 years and is now the Club's Football Secretary - added: "We are very grateful to Ian Ridley of the Daily Mail who has worked so hard for this cause, doing all he could to make sure Dad and the other members of the squad get the recognition they deserve."
PM Brown added: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome the players to Downing Street today.
"It's absolutely right that we recognise their role in England's 1966 World Cup success - one of our finest sporting moments.
"They are real football heroes and have made this country proud."
Springett made his England debut against Northern Ireland in 1959 and became the first choice goalkeeper during the 1962 World Cup in Chile when England reached the quarter finals.
His final cap was against Norway in 1966, shortly before the World Cup finals.
Following today's ceremony, the players will travel to Wembley to watch England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
Everyone at QPR FC would like to congratulate Ron on this fully-deserved moment of recognition.
The other England players set to receive medals are Peter Bonetti (Chelsea), (Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham), Jimmy Armfield (Blackpool), John Connolly (Manchester United), Gerry Byrne (Liverpool), Ron Flowers (Wolves), Norman Hunter (Leeds), Terry Paine (Southampton), Ian Callaghan (Liverpool) and George Eastham (Arsenal). QPR