Jimmy Armfield dead: Blackpool and England legend dies aged 82

He was awarded a World Cup winner's medal in 2009 after not making it onto the pitch for the 1966 final

Loyal: the right-back spent 17 years at his home club and captained the national side (Getty)

Blackpool legend and former England captain Jimmy Armfield has passed away, aged 82, his family have confirmed.

Armfield, who spent all of his 17-year footballing career with Blackpool, his local club, died at Trinity Hospice early on Monday, after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time last year.

The right-back played 627 matches for the Lancashire club between 1954 and 1971, and captained England 15 times in 43 appearances.

Armfield was also part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s victorious 1966 England squad, though he did not receive a winner’s medal until 2009, when, following an appeal to Fifa by the FA, the rest of the group were awarded medals by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He later managed Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, whom he took to the European Cup Final in 1975.

From 1979, he spent more than 30 years as a match summariser for BBC radio.

He was awarded an OBE for services to football in 2000, and a CBE for services to the community in Lancashire in 2010.

In a statement his family said: “After a long and courageous battle, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law Jimmy Armfield, has passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family.

“We know Jimmy was a public figure, but the family respectfully ask for privacy at this time. We have many wonderful messages of love and support, for which we are grateful, and moved by all the kind words.

“We would also like to thank all the magnificent and dedicated NHS staff who have kept Jimmy, and the family, as well as possible over the ten years of his illness.

Armfield played 627 times in 17 years for Blackpool (Getty)

“During the last few days Trinity Hospice in Blackpool made a big difference to Jimmy as he slipped away, pain free at last. Jimmy had two great loves, first and foremost was his family ... the other was football, especially Blackpool, England and his colleagues at the PFA."

Blackpool also sent their condolences to Armfield’s family.