Fulham Football Club have this morning announced the sad passing of their World Cup winning full-back George Cohen, aged 83.
As well as helping England win their only World Cup under Alf Ramsey in 1966, Cohen became synonymous with Fulham – making 459 appearances for his boyhood club in a thirteen year career at Craven Cottage. The right back came through the youth ranks where he combined learning his defensive discipline with cleaning up the ground until he made his debut as a seventeen year-old against Liverpool in 1957.
Cohen missed only eighteen first-team fixtures in the course of his one-club career. His record was all the more impressive as he was an attacking full back in the modern mould, blessed with real pace. Cohen not only helped Fulham reach the top flight and establish themselves amongst England’s elite, but reached a pair of FA Cup semi-finals with the club in 1958 and 1962. A horrible injury sustained against Liverpool in 1969 curtailed his playing career but he went on to coach Fulham’s youth team, and after defeating cancer, became a match day host at Craven Cottage.
Cohen won 37 international caps starring in the English side that lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy on the famous afternoon in July 1966 when Sir Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick eventually beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time.
Everyone at Hammyend.com sends our condolences to George’s family, including his wife Daphne and his sons Andrew and Anthony, as well as his friends.
Very sad he was a joy to watch playing, a role model for any young person, a brilliant footballer but above all a lovely man. RIP
Very sad to hear this. I had the privilege to meet George at the Cottage.
I brought my two sons to the home game against Spurs on March 21st 2001 and as a treat we had booked lunch in the hospitality suite. As was his custom, George came over and chatted to us for a while. He asked if we would like to have a look around. He took us on a magnificent tour of the Cottage, pitch side, dugouts, changing rooms and balcony, and introduced us to Jean Tigana, Maik Taylor, Steve Finnan and John Collins who were getting changed for the warm up. George was so humble, kind and generous with his time. He was a real gentleman and made a huge impression on us all. It was one of those wonderful memories which has stayed with us until today. Thank you, George.
I had my own special George Cohen moment, like so many Fulham fans. I was unfortunately too young to ever see him play for club or country, but I grew up hearing from my grandparents how brilliant he was. For my sister’s eighteenth birthday, we booked some hospitality at Craven Cottage – and our host was George.
How brilliant he was. He quickly learned it was Keira’s birthday and insisted on immediately getting a club photographer to take a photo with our party. We both told him how our family told us how brilliant a player he was and quick as a flash he asked, ‘Where do I send the cheques?’
We had a special day – capped by a late Fulham winner – and George came and sat with us afterwards, telling us superb stories about his playing career (of course, the 1966 World Cup came up!). He was modest, funny and such gentleman. It is a memory my sister and I revisit regularly even now.
Living in the north east, we don’t get to many games at the Cottage but it has become a Christmas treat for me and Keira. Two years later, we were queuing outside the Hammersmith End before the gates were open when George and his wife came past. He was kind enough to sign Keira’s home shirt and spend ten minutes with us both.
That was the calibre of man that George was. My deepest condolences go to his family at the sad passing of a genuine Fulham great. Thank you, George.
Today has been very emotional, but I must echo the comments made here by other Fulham fans. I was fortunate enough to watch George Cohen play in a great Fulham side and to see England win the World Cup.
He was every bit as good as you may have read about. When Alf Ramsey described him as the best right back in England, there was plenty of criticism – but George delivered the goods when it mattered, especially in 1966.
The best part about George was his character. He genuinely loved Fulham and considered himself fortunate to be playing for the club. He must have signed hundreds of autographs for me and my school friends when I was growing up – but he did it all without complaint.
He was a great ambassador for the club and talked to all the fans with sense of entitlement, unlike some players I might mention. I am thinking of his family tonight. Hopefully, they can take some solace from how much we all loved him. Rest in peace, George. You were my hero.
I must add my own comment having watched the World Cup final in Hammersmith as an excited ten year old. I’d already been watching George Cohen for about a year or so at Craven Cottage, so it was with immense proud that I followed him playing every minute as England won the World Cup.
I met him later in life at an event for the Bobby Moore cancer fund. He was charming, funny and ever so modest. When he found out I was a Fulham fan from someone else, he came rushing over with a great smile. I still consider that day as one of the best of my life.
I am so sorry for George’s family to lose someone so special. We were all blessed to have known him and he enriched our lives greatly. We loved you, George. Thank you for everything.