The boys of ’66 continue to deplete in number, with the Grim Reaper throwing up Martin Peters’ shirt number on the sideline. Ratty of face, Peters was a 22-year-old when he made his first World Cup appearance in England’s second game of the 66 tournament, part of Alf Ramsey’s shakeup after a lukewarm 0-0 opening draw with Uruguay. Peters played in every game of the tournament other than that opener, and from the quarter-finals on formed a partnership with West Ham teammate Geoff Hurst that produced the winner against Argentina, as well as all four goals in the final against West Germany – leading to more than 50 years of West Ham fans claiming their team “won the World Cup”. A player who was ahead of his time, despite being a left-midfielder Peters played all over the pitch, including in goal during his third game for West Ham and in defence as a 40-year-old for non-league Gorston. As with many of his contemporaries, Alzheimer’s got its talons into Peters in his old age, hence him being a relatively popular deadpool pick.
Martin Peters
8 November 1943 – 21 December 2019
Died aged 76 (nine picks)