THE man from Gwent who helped England win the 1966 World Cup has died at the age of 83.

Neil Phillips, who was born in Tredegar, was England's team doctor when they beat West Germany 4-2 in extra-time to lift the Jules Rimet trophy almost 50 years ago.

He also served the team as they attempted to defend the trophy four years later in Mexico and appeared on Top of the Pops with Bobby Moore and the rest of the squad as they reached number one with their World Cup song Back Home.

But he owed his place in sporting history to a remarkable stroke of luck.

England manager Sir Alf Ramsey promoted Phillips from his role as under-23 team doctor just before the 1966 tournament, held in England, only because seniors doctor Alan Bass had run out of holiday and could not join up with the squad for their preparation camp in Lilleshall.

Phillips was a GP in Redcar and medical director at nearby Middlesbrough FC where he had become friends with assistant manager Harold Shepherdson, one of Ramsey’s trusted lieutenants.

After being appointed doctor to the under-23 team in 1963 and promoted three years later he had a ringside seat as England won the trophy for the only time.

He was expected to be available for England duties in his spare time, including annual holidays, and was never paid.

But Ramsey encouraged Phillips to get to know the players off the field to reinforce the idea that the backroom staff were all part of the team.

Gordon Banks, the England goalkeeper, said: “Neil was a wonderful man, a fun guy who we could have a laugh with.

“He looked after us as well as he could with the equipment he had at the time.

“We used to take the mickey out of his slight Welsh accent, particularly just before the Home Internationals.

“Deep down he might have wanted Wales to do well against us, but he always gave the impression that he was on our side.”

Four years after their finest hour, Ramsey’s world champions set off to defend their title in Mexico.

Phillips travelled with them after appearing with the squad on Top of the Pops.

He was with Moore when the England captain was falsely accused of stealing a bracelet in Bogotá, Colombia, before the tournament.

And he was with Banks shortly before the quarter-final against West Germany in Leon when the goalkeeper lay in a darkened room suffering from food poisoning.

Ramsey was desperate for the world’s greatest goalkeeper to play. “Neil was very good and did what he possibly could,” Banks remembered. “He got me some tablets and got me to drink lots of clean water.”

Phillips’ efforts were in vain, however, and Peter Bonetti played in goal instead as England lost 3-2 in extra-time.

Phillips resigned as doctor soon after Ramsey was sacked in 1974.

“I never say I worked for the Football Association because I didn’t,” he said.

“I say I worked for Alf Ramsey and the England team, for 12 years, and I never got paid a penny. Not one penny.”