England World Cup legend’s son compelled at hand again 1966 medal over brutal £200k invoice
An England World Cup winner’s son was forced to give back his late dad’s 1966 medal to his mother to avoid paying a £200,000 inheritance tax bill
The son of 1966 World Cup hero Jack Charlton has revealed he was forced to surrender his dad’s priceless winner’s medal(Image: Rolls Press/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
The son of 1966 World Cup hero Jack Charlton has revealed he was forced to surrender his dad’s priceless winner’s medal over a staggering tax demand. Late Three Lions legend Big Jack, who famously lifted the Jules Rimet trophy alongside his brother Sir Bobby Charlton after beating West Germany 4-2, left the iconic piece of memorabilia to his son John in his will.
However, John has been forced to hand the medal back to his mother following a brutal twist involving the taxman.
Appearing on talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday, exactly 60 years after England’s legendary Wembley victory, John discussed the £200,000 inheritance tax nightmare hanging over the keepsake.
Late Three Lions legend Big Jack (pictured right) left the iconic piece of memorabilia to his son John in his will(Image: Amy Donohoe/Irish Star)
He said: “Funny enough, me and Eddie (Howe) were talking about his medal. I think there’s only him and my uncle Bobby who have kept their medals. Everybody else doesn’t have them anymore.”
When asked if he was currently holding onto the award, John said: “I’ve got it.” However, he quickly clarified the situation, adding: “Well, there’s a bit of a problem with it, actually.
“When I say I’ve got it, it was left to me in my dad’s will, but the tax man wants £200,000 off me in inheritance tax.”
Jack famously lifted the Jules Rimet trophy alongside his brother Sir Bobby Charlton(Image: Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
Standard UK inheritance tax rules hit estates valued above £325,000 with a whopping 40 per cent charge.
To avoid getting hit with the eye-watering bill, John revealed he had no choice but to return the piece of football history to his mum.
Addressing whether he would be forced to put the item under the hammer, he added: “No, I’ve given it back to my mother because whilst she’s got it, I don’t have to pay that money.”
Jack also left behind his 1966 final shirt and a rare England cap(Image: Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Campaigners are currently trying to tackle the issue, which also impacts other sporting heirlooms left to grieving families.
John said: “There’s a journalist from the Daily Mirror who’s been working on it and helping us to try and sort it, but the same applies to Olympic gymnasts and people like that.”
The legendary defender, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 85, also left behind his 1966 final shirt and a rare England cap – the only one he kept from a career that saw him earn 35 caps for his country.
John added: “We’ve got his shirt as well. His shirt and his medal are in a safe place, tucked away. He only got one cap for the tournament and that’s the only cap that he left. He gave the rest away.”
Charlton remains a titan of English football history, having spent his entire 21-year club career at Leeds United, where he won the First Division title, FA Cup, and League Cup.
He later managed Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and the Republic of Ireland.
