1960s star Ray Wilson passes away

A true legend.

He wished he'd been allowed to join Everton when he was 18 instead of waiting all those years

He once told me his epitaph will be "Ramon Wilson; Englishman, Yorkshireman, Evertonian"

A true legend

RIP Ramon

RIP -– a great player who endured health struggles in later life but is one reason why Evertonians of his era enjoyed watching their football team.

He was the best full-back I ever saw play, not just for Everton but for anyone. A quiet , modest man who was simply an all-time great.

I send my sympathy to his family and feel privileged that I saw him play and play for Everton.

One of the funniest things I have seen at Goodison Park was against Manchester United in about 1967. United had a corner at the Gwladys St End and Ray was on the left-hand post; Denis Law stood alongside him and, as the corner came in, Ray started feeling his backside... the pair of them were laughing, no elbows or whingeing to the ref, and the corner came to nothing.

RIP, Ray; another great man gone.

He was a friend of my family too and I had one of his Football League (v Scottish League in 1965) gold medals - until some scrote stole it from our house in Manchester.

A true, world cup-winning, Evertonian great.

This is a very sad day.

Class and quality personified. Never been a better left back play for Everton in my 50+ years of watching.

Sad, sad day. RIP, Ray.

Truly one of the Everton greats.

RIP – and thank you, Ray.

His achievement of receiving both FA Cup and World Cup medals, at Wembley is unlikely to be repeated. I feel privileged to have seen him in the 'Royal Blue' of Everton.

RIP, Ray.

Unlike many of the English World Cup squad, he was part of a squad that was acres ahead in talent and had a man at the helm who knew what he was doing.

For those who did not see Ramon play, the comments above are not misty-eyed enhanced memories - he was, quite simply, magnificent. Every touch of the ball had an air of class to it, even when he passed the ball back to the goalkeeper he would chip it into their hands, he would not want his ‘keeper to have to stoop to pick up the ball.

He was lightning quick and hard into the tackle. I recall my Uncle Joe coming home from a match at Newcastle, he told us how he was standing in the paddock with his Geordie mates from army days, Ray dived into a tackle and a Newcastle fan shouted harsh words at him. “Shut up and don’t be stupid” came another Geordie voice “that’s Wilson, he doesn’t foul”.

About 8 years ago we were celebrating my dad’s birthday at Formby Hall Golf Club, and I looked through a window into a lounge where most of the 1966 World Cup winning squad was having lunch. I ventured in and asked Ramon if he would mind coming in to see my dad, who was not too good on his pins. “Tell your dad to come in here if he wants to see him” said one player who shall remain nameless. Ramon just got up, said “it’ll be a privilege “, and in he came to make a fuss of the birthday boy.

Up until a few seasons ago I would occasionally meet the great man coming down the steps from the Main Stand after the match, always in the company of Derek Temple. I would say “How are you Mr Wilson?”. After a while he smiled and said “You can call me Ray, you know”. I replied “Oh, I could never do that Mr Wilson”.

Rest in peace Mr Ramon Wilson, without doubt the finest left back I have ever seen.

As an Evertonian he was always the first player I mentioned when talking about the World Cup winning team.

I never saw him play but as ever, losing an Evertonian always cuts deep. Gone but never forgotten.

RIP Ray.

RIP Ramon

We won 2-0. RIP Ray

Exactly what I was going to say! Just told my arl feller the bad news. RIP, Ray Wilson.

True class. Condolences to his family.

Here's an amusing anecdote straight from the horse's mouth. Whilst as I was sitting talking football with Ray, we got talking about how his transfer to Everton came about.

After a few reflective moment's he turned around and said' In all honesty, I wish I had played for Bill Shankly, as he would have got even more out of me than Catterick did'

We'll forgive you Ray.

One of the best players to grace Goodison and a world cup winner to boot.

It seems defending is a lost art nowadays, what we could do with another world class full back such as Ray now.

RIP Ray Wilson, truly a hero to many, many people.

This sentiment was also echoed by Sir Alf Ramsey I'm told.

RIP Blue.

Sincere condolences to the family.

Condolences to his family.

RIP, Ray, the Only Evertonian World Cup Winner (while playing for us).

End of an Evertonian era today. You were the best we had. Played for us winning the World Cup for England.

Whilst Bally is always his best ever Everton player, Dave Hickson his all-time idol, the vision the player he loved the most, Ray Wilson is the one other player he always mentions other them three lads when he talks about EFC greats.

On a footnote, my Dad has made something of a comeback at Goodison Park in recent years (Mum wants him out the house) and whilst he likes Bainesy as a fellow Kirkbyite, he assures me our Leighton is not in Ray's class.

One of the most cool, skilful, stylish tacklers and footballers ever employed by Everton fc.

That 1966 England team has not faired well in the mortality stakes.
Wilson had Alzheimer's for a few years before he died and of the starting 11 I think Moore (1993 - aged 52), Wilson and Ball (2007 - aged 61) are all dead and Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters both also have Alzheimers and Jack Charlton I heard had some form of dementia/memory issues. That's 6 out of 11. Wilson was the oldest, and Nobby Stiles for example is in his mid 70s, so they are not all "that" old.

Gordon Banks has survived kidney cancer. Cohen has also battled cancer. Stiles has cancer (in addition to Alzheimers). All very sad.

We had five word-class players in the team that day, and Ray was one of them.

I always remember my aunts & uncles saying about getting older, as another friend, or family member had passed on! With me only being a teenager, I had no earthly clue what they meant, but being 67 this year, I've now seen way too many Everton players leave this earth in the last decade or two.

It's just life of course, but it doesn't make it any easier, when one of the truly great Everton, Huddersfield & England players leaves this earth. Thankfully we were blessed with being able to see him during his 5-year stay at Goodison Park.

I used to go on about how Ray deserved a League Champions medal from the 69-70 season, even though he was no longer with EFC!

RIP, Ray, a true gentleman and a fabulous footballer.

Rest in Peace, Ray.

By the way, Roger (#77), we never conceded a goal before the 1966 FA Cup Final, Sheffield Wednesday's first goal was the first we had conceded in the competition that season. You might be getting mixed up with the year we beat Man Utd, I think the only goal we conceded that year was the penalty v Spurs in the semi-final.