Martin Peters death: Alvin Martin, Steve Bruce and Roy Hodgson lead tributes to England 1966 World Cup hero

England World Cup winner Peters, who scored the second goal in the 1966 final, passed away in the early hours of Saturday following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Peters was one-third of the famous West Ham trio who helped win England the tournament, along with Bobby Moore and Sir Geoff Hurst.

Martin led the tributes to Peters following the announcement of his death.

He told talkSPORT: “I know he was a fantastic man. I got to know him very well. When I was playing at West Ham and when he finished we both associated in the same circles. He was just a tremendous guy. Understated and it really is sad news.

“Obviously the World Cup is synonymous with Martin Peters’ name and the three West Ham players. All for different reasons were fantastic icons for the club.

“Bobby Moore because he lifted the trophy, Sir Geoff because he scored a hat-trick but Martin, I know I spoke to many, many players who played with all three of them and a lot said the same thing that he was the most naturally gifted of the three. He was a spectacular player.

“There was a certain thing all three used to do in training, Sir Geoff, Bobby Moore and Martin would start on the goal line and would keep the ball up between them and walk to the other end of the pitch and never let it drop.

“They were the ones who Ron Greenwood got to demonstrate any subtlety in training.”

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce also paid a touching tribute to the former West Ham, Tottenham and Norwich midfielder.

“He was a complete gentleman,” Bruce told talkSPORT. “I had the pleasure to play against him when I was young and he was at the end of his career and gave me a lesson in how to be a footballer.

“I think I speak for everybody in the country that our thoughts are with his family and of course he will be sadly missed because they don’t make him anymore.

“He was a great, great player and will be sadly missed by everybody.”

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