By Paul Osborne

Ray Wilson's winner's medal from the 1966 FIFA World Cup has sold for 136000 at auction ©Getty ImagesThe 1966 FIFA World Cup winner's medal won by former England footballer Ray Wilson has sold today during an auction at Sotheby's in London for £136,000 ($215,800/€173,800).

The left-back featured in all six of England's matches during the World Cup and, at 32, was the oldest member of the team that beat West Germany 4-2 in the final on July 30.

He earned 63 caps for the national team before retiring from football in 1971 following a brief spell as caretaker manager at Bradford City.

Wilson originally sold the medal in 2002 for £80,000 ($127,000/€102,000).

His medal was up for auction alongside that of England forward Jimmy Greaves.

While Wilson received his medal in 1966 upon England beating West Germany in that historic final, Greaves would have to wait 43 years to be presented with his.

This is because only the 11 winning players on the pitch come the final whistle were awarded a medal.

Greaves, England's third highest international goalscorer with 44 goals, originally missed out as, despite playing in all three of England's Group A matches against Uruguay, Mexico and France, he sat out the rest of the tournament because of a leg injury.

The former Tottenham Hotspur player ultimately received the 18-carat gold award from then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street in June 2009, following a campaign that called for all members of the squad to be honoured.

His medal sold for £44,000 ($69,800/€56,200) at the Graham Budd Sporting Memorabilia.

Jimmy Greaves received his World Cup winner's medal in 2009 from then Prime Minister Gordon Brown after missing the final of the 1966 World Cup as the result of an injury ©Getty ImagesJimmy Greaves received his World Cup winner's medal in 2009 from then Prime Minister Gordon Brown after missing the final of the 1966 World Cup as the result of an injury
©Getty Images



The FA Cup winner's medal won by Sir Stanley Matthews in the famous 1953 final was also up for auction today.

It remains the only Wembley FA Cup Final to feature a hat-trick, scored by Blackpool's Stan Mortensen, but is known as the "Matthews Final" after he inspired his side to come from 3-1 down against Bolton Wanderers to win 4-3, with Morensen scoring a last gasp winner to clinch victory in one of the most famous matches in FA Cup history.

The 100,000 fans inside Wembley Stadium were also joined for the first time by reigning monarch Elizabeth II, who would be crowned Queen at her Coronation a month later.

Stanley Matthews Junior sold the medal at an auction in 2001 for £20,000 ($31,700/€25,500) with former BBC presenter Nick Hancock the buyer.

He sold it in London today for more than 10 times that figure, picking up £220,000 ($348,900/€280,900) at the auction.

"I am very, very happy with the sale," he told the BBC.

"I was watching on the internet at home - I think I would have keeled over if I was in the auction house."

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