FOOTBALL great Jimmy Greaves is finally set to be given a gong in the New Year’s honours.
The record-breaking striker and former TV host, 80, will be made an MBE along with fellow 1966 World Cup squad member Ron Flowers, 86.
Fans have been campaigning for Jimmy Greaves to be honoured for yearsCredit: PA:Press Association
They were chosen to ensure every surviving member of the victorious group has received awards from the Queen, sources said.
It comes after a lengthy public campaign to get Greavsie, in poor health after a 2015 stroke, a gong.
Other non-playing squad members have received honours and a Whitehall source said: “It is astonishing he has never been honoured. It would be an outrage if that continued.”
The source explained: “Greavsie and Ron are finally being honoured to make sure the entire squad is recognised.
Jimmg Greaves is one of England’s most prolific ever strikersCredit: Getty – Contributor
There are not many left and Jimmy and Ron are the last surviving ones who have not been given a gong.”
Ex-Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham and AC Milan striker Greaves, who played in the 1962 World Cup, was injured in the group stage in 1966.
Replacement Geoff Hurst went on to score a hat-trick in the 4-2 final win over West Germany after manager Sir Alf Ramsey opted to stick with a winning team.
East Londoner Greavsie, England’s fourth-highest goalscorer, later struggled with alcoholism but beat the booze and became an award-winning TV presenter — co-hosting footie show Saint and Greavsie with Ian St John from 1985 to 1992.
Greaves’ amused the nation with his witty TV work with Ian St JohnCredit: Rex Features
Harry Kane is chasing down Jimmy Greaves’ Tottenham goalscoring recordCredit: Getty – Contributor
Jimmy Greaves’ MBE will be formally announced in the New Years’ Honours listCredit: Guzelian
He was popular for his witty, no-nonsense style and coined the phrase: “It’s a funny old game.”
Greavsie, who did not get a ’66 medal until 2009, scored a record 357 goals in the top tier of English football — plus 44 for England in just 57 appearances.
He still holds Tottenham’s record with 220 top-flight goals. Harry Kane is on 152.
England’s 1966 World Cup winning squad have won numerous honours
Ron Flowers will also receive a MBE in the New Years Honours’ listCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Former Wolves defender Ron Flowers will receive the same award as Jimmy GreavesCredit: Getty – Contributor
Tottenham’s Jimmy Greaves scores terrific team goal in5-1 drubbing of Manchester United in 1965
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
