World Cup winner Sir Bobby Chalton has been diagnosed with dementia, his family have confirmed

It has emerged the Ashington-born star, who is now aged 83, has the condition after his wife, Lady Norma, said she was happy for people to know about his illness and for it to be reported with her “blessing.”

The coal miner’s son was a member of the 1966 World Cup winning side and also played for Manchester United.

He is a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 and helped rebuild the club in the aftermath of the tragedy, with the two goals he score as they beat Benfica to win the European Cup in 1968 among his achievements.

It has been reported through The Telegraph, with the news breaking just two days after Sir Bobby’s club and country team-mate Nobby Stiles died after his own diagnosis with dementia.

Sir Bobby’s brother Jack, who also played for England, died in July, having himself being told he had the disease.

The brothers followed their uncles into the game - Jack Milburn, George Milburn, Stan Milburn, while Jackie Milburn was their mother’s cousin.

On the pitch, Sir Bobby he scored 249 goals for Manchester United and played 758 games for the side, with 106 appearances for England and 49 goals, nearly all in midfield.

He managed Preston North End from 1973 to 1975 and was a caretaker manager of Wigan Athletic in 1983.

He was made an OBE in 1969 and then a CBE in 1974, with his knighthood confirmed in 1994.

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