England's Oldest International Player Dies

England's oldest international player, who gave up the most famous goal in U.S. soccer history, died yesterday at age 93.

As reported by the Associated Press Bert Williams, nicknamed "The Cat" earned 24 caps, an FA Cup and two First Division championships with Wolverhampton in the pre-EPL days and was a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).  But it was one goal he allowed in 1950 that haunted him for more than 60 years.

 The United States and Britain played a World Cup match before 10,151 fans in Belo Horizonte, Brazil  on June 25, 1950.  The Brits came in heavily favored, having shut out Chile, 2-0 in the opener while Americans were losing to Spain, 3-1.  In the early going Williams was a spectator watching his teammates bombard the U.S. goal, seemingly biding their time until the first shot went in and opened the floodgates.

But it never happened.  Instead, in the 38th minute midfielder Walt Bar from Philadelphia put a shot on goal and Joe Gaetjens deflected it past Williams.  That lone goal stood up - despite a foul by Charlie Colombo just outside the box that led to a free kick by the legendary Alf Ramsey that American keeper Frank Borghi barely flicked off the line.  This was long before ESPN, YouTube and instant news and it took some time for the score to reach the rest of the world.  When it did, some assumed the 1-0 was a telegraph operator's mistake and it had actually been 10-1 for England.  Another account had the New York Times holding off printing the score, fearing a hoax.

But it was true and Williams remembered.  Long after he retired following a distinguished career with the Wolves, he said in 2010 before England played the United States in the World Cup in South Africa, "It’s taken a lot of forgetting as far as I am concerned.’’

The U.S. - England match was recounted in a book called "The Game of Their Lives" and a movie of the same name.  Jere Longmann wrote an excellent piece on the game in the New York Times in 2009, focusing on Bahr and the surviving American players.