Jimmy's charity gesture world-class

The heroes of England's 1966 World Cup campaign '“ among them Blackpool's Jimmy Armfield '“ have been handed charity donations from the FA.
Jimmy ArmfieldJimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield

Officials at the game’s governing body hit on a special way to mark the 50th anniversary of England’s World Cup 4-2 final triumph against West Germany and decided to give each member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s squad the sum of £1,966 to commemorate the milestone.

They then rounded that figure up to £2,000 and the former Blackpool and England captain Armfield, who was the non-playing reserve in that squad, decided to split his windfall four ways to causes that are close to his heart

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He presented £500 to Trinity Hospice, of which he is president, and a similar amount to Age UK, Blackpool, where he is also president.

In addition, Armfield has earmarked £500 to St Peter Church council where he worships as well as playing the organ, and a further £500 to the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime, where he is chairman.

Armfield said: “This was very kind of the FA to make this gesture.

“It was originally £1,966 to each player to mark the year that England won the World Cup, but the sum was rounded up to £2,000.

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“I thought it fitting that I should donate the money I was allocated to four local causes in which I have been involved.”

Armfield had a distinguished, one-club career with Blackpool, making more than 600 appearances for the Bloomfield Road club, where he was captain.

He also skippered England, but lost his place at right-back in the team to George Cohen in the run-up to the 1966 World Cup.

There were no substitutes in those days, so he watched the tournament from the sidelines.

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Once his playing career was over, Armfield turned to management and was in charge at Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, whom he led to the European Cup Final.

The 81-year-old Armfield recently revealed that he had been receiving treatment for cancer for the second time, but he is in upbeat mood about his current state of health.

He is still attending Clifton Hospital, Lytham and the Rosemere cancer unit in Preston and said: “I am doing very well, getting out and about and feeling much better.”

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