RIP George Cohen MBE

‘ proper’ full back RIP George

 

Wonderful bloke. Met him at a cricket match at Tunbridge Wells, he lived there. Talked me through the match at the following World Cup when we were 2 goals up and Ramsey took Charlton off to rest him. Beckenbauer had been told to shadow Charlton. As soon as Charlton went off Beckenbauer was free and we lost the game. It was the first time subs had been allowed and Ramsey made the error. Rest in peace George.

 

I remember going to see him play in September 1966, just after the world cup triumph. He was playing for Fulham at Burnley and we happened to be on holiday in North Yorkshire, so nipped down to Turf Moor. He was up against a young Willie Morgan, a tricky and skilled winger who went on to play for Manchester United. I recall that, with over half the game gone and Morgan hardly having got a touch of the ball, someone shouted, 'Who's your mate, Willie?' Cohen stayed so close to Morgan the entire game that he obliterated him from the game. George was very mobile, balanced and a technically good tackler. When Alf Ramsey introduced his 4-3-3 'wingless wonder' formation, Cohen was also key in providing the crosses from deep on the right side of the England team for the likes of Geoff Hurst. He did that with great competence also, creating several goals in his international career. He was another, like Martin Peters, who was ahead of his time in being a portent of today's wing backs in terms of work rate and versatility. A one-club man too. Great career and great life. RIP George. Willie Morgan might get a game now.