Voice of footballing history dies

England’s 1966 World Cup winners, whose 4-2 victory over West Germany inspired the comment, last night led the tributes to Wolstenholme.

He died on Monday night in Mount Stuart hospital in Torquay, Devon, with his daughter by his side, after being admitted last Monday for treatment for heart failure.

The commentator - who received just 60 for working on the final - secured his place in sporting history with the famous line, as Geoff Hurst scored his clinching goal at Wembley.

Sir Bobby Charlton said: "Sixty-six is not just about the players, it’s about Kenneth Wolstenholme as well. All the lads will be very, very sad."

Martin Peters, who scored one of England’s goals in the final, said: "He was one of us. It is like losing one of the team."

Asked about the famous line, Peters said: "It came out of the blue and was perfect for the time and the end of the game. It rolled off his tongue. He had a fantastic voice. The quote will live forever."

Wolstenholme was brought up in Salford, Greater Manchester, and went on to become the first presenter of Match of the Day in 1964.

He commentated on 23 successive FA Cup finals and five World Cups before being ousted at the BBC, just after the 1970 World Cup, to make way for David Coleman.

He served as a bomber pilot in the Second World War, carrying out more than 100 missions and winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.

Jimmy Hill, who started his TV career working alongside Wolstenholme, said: "It was like, for me, sitting there with God. "He was a great commentator and had the perfect broadcasting voice."

BBC football pundit Alan Hansen said: "He had a great voice and was a great commentator. That is the best line anyone has come up with in the last 40 years of football commentary."

David Davies, executive director of the Football Association, said Wolstenholme "was and is a legend".

He said: "I think he was a very human person, quite a gentle person I used to find him.

"It would be wonderful if, 36 years after England’s finest moment at Wembley, with which Kenneth Wolstenholme will always be associated, the current team could repeat that feat."

See Obituaries for more details