Oldest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad and Wolves legend Ron Flowers dies aged 87 as Premier League club pays tribute to 'giant on the pitch and gentleman off it'

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England has lost another member of its 1966 World Cup squad and Wolves are mourning the loss of a club icon after Ron Flowers died at the age of 87.

Tall and athletic with blond hair and a commanding presence in midfield, Flowers was one of the brightest stars of a glittering era for Wolves and part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s squad as English football celebrated its greatest summer.

At Wembley on Friday night, England paid their respects.

The son of a miner, Flowers was born in Edlington, South Yorkshire, where he played in the youth ranks of Doncaster Rovers, trained as an apprentice in the town’s rail sheds and served in the RAF before stepping into professional football via the Wolves nursery team Wath Wanderers.

He went on to make 515 appearances over 15 years at Molineux and was a star of the team who won the title three times, were runners-up twice and lifted the FA Cup in 1960. 

England 1966 World Cup member and Wolves legend Ron Flowers has died at the age of 87

The midfielder was part of the legendary squad that won the World Cup 55 years ago

 Flowers (left) was the oldest member of England's 1966 squad at the age of 31 years old

Flowers played 49 times for England and featured in 40 consecutive international games

 Flowers (right) did not kick a ball in the 1966 tournament but came close to playing in the final

 In 2009, Flowers (right) received his World Cup winners' medal following an FA campaign

The Englishman (left) played 515 times for Wolves, the fifth-most appearances for the club

‘Ron is one our legends,’ said John Richards, another Wolves favourite and chairman of their former players’ association. ‘He was a big part of a team that set the tone for British football and all of us who followed had to try to match the standards they set. We didn’t and, to be perfectly honest, no team has.’

When Wolves won the FA Cup in 1960, they were close to becoming the first Double winners, pipped to the title by a point by Burnley. Flowers was the last survivor of the team who beat Blackburn in the final at Wembley. He moved to Northampton Town where he became player-manager and into non-league at Wellington Town, now Telford United.

‘One of the nicest people you could meet,’ said Richards. ‘No edge, no ego, very unassuming, he did so much for charities and the community. A lovely man, we will all miss him.' 

That Wembley success came in the twilight of his career but he played in the 1962 World Cup

Flowers won the first division three times and the FA Cup once during his time at Molineux

Flowers (right) pictured in 1955 after being called up to Walter Winterbottom's England side

Flowers (left) pictured with Wolves team-mates Eddie Clam (centre) and Gerry Harris (right)

Flowers (centre) maintained a close affiliation with Wolves, where he was club vice president

Flowers was poised to deputise for Jack Charlton at centre half on the eve of the World Cup final against West Germany in 1966. 

Charlton had been suffering with a cold but recovered to play. Flowers won the last of his 49 caps against Norway in one of the pre-tournament friendlies.

Earlier in his career, he appeared in 40 England games in a row, a run encompassing the World Cup finals in Chile in 1962, where he scored two penalties. Six of his 10 international goals came from the spot.

Flowers captained his country on three occasions and, in 2009, received a World Cup winners’ medal along with others overlooked because they did not appear in the final. He received an MBE this year for services to football.

His death leaves six survivors from the squad. Sir Bobby Charlton is 84, Sir Geoff Hurst is 79, George Cohen and Terry Paine are 82, George Eastham is 85 and Ian Callaghan is 79.