George Eastham Junior, the only Irish League player to win a World Cup winners’ medal, has died in South Africa at the age of 88.
Blackpool-born Eastham was part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s England squad that lifted the World Cup for the only time in the nation’s history in 1966.
The winger began his professional career in the Irish League aged 17 when his father and esteemed manager George Eastham Senior signed him for Ards.
Eastham spent three seasons at Castlereagh Park. In 1953, he and his father made history when they played together in the Gold Cup Final. Ards defeated Distillery 2-1 at Seaview.
The young Eastham recalled years later: “I have to honestly say that I cannot recall too much about the Gold Cup final but if there was ever another father and son playing together in professional football and winning a final, I certainly don’t know of it.”
In total, Eastham Junior played 109 times for Ards scoring 35 goals.
Ards Chairman Warren Patton said: “George Eastham Junior is one of the finest footballers to ever play for our club. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Young Eastham left Ards for Newcastle United in 1956 for the sum of £9k, where he made over 100 league appearences. He also spent six seasons at Arsenal and seven years at Stoke City before stints in the United States and South Africa.
At international level, Eastham earned 19 caps for England scoring two goals.
Eastham was also involved in a 1963 court case which improved players’ freedom to move between clubs in a major reforming of the British transfer market and he was awarded an OBE for his services to football in 1973.
Two years after George Junior left Ards for Newcastle United, George Eastham Senior guided the Red and Blues to their first and only Irish League title.
Senior also enjoyed stints as manager of Distillery and Glentoran before his death in 2000.