Football world mourns Astle

Football was today mourning the death of former England international Jeff Astle at the age of 59.

Football was today mourning the death of former England international Jeff Astle at the age of 59.

The ex-West Bromwich Albion striker and member of the 1970 World Cup squad was taken to the Queen's Hospital, Burton-on-Trent, after collapsing suddenly at his daughter's home last night.

Astle scored in every round during Albion's FA Cup-winning season of 1968, the most important of which was the extra-time winner against Everton in the final.

He signed from Notts County as a relative unknown in 1964, but soon became one of the club's greatest players during his career at the Hawthorns which saw him score 174 goals in 361 appearances.

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Astle won his first England international call-up in 1969 and was picked for England's 1970 World Cup squad in Mexico.

But his name will live on as the striker who failed to bag a vital equaliser against Brazil when he looked odds-on to score.

He played five times for England in all, but did not make the score sheet.

Later in life, he re-emerged into the spotlight with the help of star West Brom supporter, Frank Skinner.

The comedian featured Astle, in a variety of guises, crooning to songs on his and partner David Baddiel's Fantasy Football League programme.