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World Cup 66 Winners Medal Campaign
By Paul Robinson
HE was the training ground sergeant major who helped mould the legendary Leeds United side of the Sixties and Seventies. But Les Cocker's talent for getting the best out of the players at his disposal didn't just bear fruit at Elland Road. The adopted Yorkshireman was also one of England boss Alf Ramsey's two main assistants during the victorious World Cup campaign of 1966.
Today's World Cup winners get 45 medals, with 23 going to the playing squad and the rest being given to the manager, his coaches and other backroom staff
There was to be no such prize for Les, however, after Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy on that sunny July day at Wembley more than 40 years ago.
In the 10 World Cup tournaments staged before 1978, only players who appeared in the final itself received medals. That rule meant 11 members of Ramsey's 1966 squad were left with little but memories to show for their involvement in the nation's finest footballing hour.
The so-called 'forgotten heroes' included stars such as Jimmy Greaves, John Connelly and Terry Paine, who all played in at least one game during England's run to the final. Other big names, like Leeds United central defender Norman Hunter, found it impossible to break into the team - but as squad members still helped foster the sense of self-belief that swept the Three Lions to glory.
For years it seemed that Hunter and Ramsey's other reserves would never receive a just reward for their efforts. Then, last November, Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body Fifa, moved to right that wrong. He revealed that all non-playing members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be given the medals they had previously been denied.
His gesture earned widespread praise - yet still did nothing to recognise people such as Les Cocker for the off-the-field contributions that are an essential element of any sporting success story.
Now, though, that might be about to change.
Many fans were until recently unaware that Ramsey and his right-hand men - Les and Middlesbrough trainer Harold Shepherdson - had been overlooked in 1966.
Thanks to the publicity generated by November's announcement, growing numbers of supporters have been mobilising online and demanding action from Fifa.
Sheffield Central MP and former sports minister Richard Caborn has also asked Blatter to authorise the posthumous issuing of medals to the '66 trio.
The Football Association, too, has made representations to Fifa - pleas which were thought to have fallen on deaf ears. But Fifa spokesman Pekka Odriozola has now confirmed it is looking into the possibility of retrospectively awarding medals to non-footballing staff like Les. He said the governing body was "in the process of examining all the past documentation to determine who is entitled to receive the medals".
Those comments were welcomed today by Les's son, David.
The 56-year-old retired brewery manager, of New Farnley, Leeds, said: "For my dad to be recognised would be just fantastic - it would mean an awful lot."
With thanks to Yorkshire Evening Post
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