SIR GEOFF HURST is worried World Cup-winning team-mate Martin Peters will have no memories of his 1966 triumph.
The close pals played together for West Ham and England – making a huge contribution in the Three Lions’ victory.
Hurst scored a hat-trick, with Peters netting the others in a 4-2 win over West Germany in the final.
But Hurst cannot look back on the historic moment with his lifelong friend, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
He said: “It is very very difficult, whether he would recognise me or know me.
“We have discussed it with his wife and family, and we have left it that we would not get involved, apart from my wife talking to his wife, and I think she appreciates that, to have someone she can talk to and discuss how Martin is.
“It is heartbreaking for the people involved, and almost impossible to understand how difficult it is for the families. It is a disease which doesn’t get better.
“If you have a physical disease, or a broken leg, you can recover from it and get better in time, with dementia it only goes one way, albeit at different levels.
"That is the awful thing about it, because it is not going to get any better than it is today, in fact it is going to deteriorate.
"My wife Judith speaks closely with Martin's wife, Kathy, almost daily.
"It is not necessarily the person themselves - who is not aware that they have dementia - it is the huge, enormous effect which it has on the carer, the husband or wife, the family members, which is all terribly difficult."
Hurst, 75, has joined the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk campaign to try and raise £9million to combat a disease which is close to his heart.
"(Dementia) is becoming one of the most serious illnesses and it is increasing.
"My involvement with the players from my 1966 World Cup squad who have got it is seeing how the families deal with it all, and it is arguably one of the most debilitating aliments families can face.
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"I grew up with some of them from when I was just 16, so for me it was something which I really felt I had to get involved in."
"It is extremely sad, because a lot of your life is about memories of the past over many years with your family and friends and that now is all clouded in mystery.
"Sadly for the players involved, winning the World Cup is not even a distant memory."
Alzheimer's Society is urgently calling on people to unite against dementia - register now at memorywalk.org.uk to find a walk near you.
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