22 April 2023 , 06:00
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Although the old soldier didn't give his name, he wanted the world to know Ray Wilkins had a heart of gold.
Homeless, penniless after a ruinous liaison with gambling and slumped on a flattened cardboard box outside West Brompton station, he was at rock-bottom until Wilkins, passing by, wandered over, sat down and listened to his story. The former England midfielder took him over the road for a cup of coffee, gave him £20 for a hot meal and referred him to a shelter.
Now, after being put in touch with a charity for ex-forces personnel fallen on hard times, he was back on his feet, about to get married – and he owed it all to Wilkins' simple act of kindness. Too often the talkSPORT airwaves are awash with inane prattle, but this was a beautiful piece of radio, revealing the 24-carat humanity of a great man who was taken from us five years ago, way too soon, at 61.
Tears blurring his vision as he headed home from supporting bereaved sister-in-law Jackie, with his brother's death tearing at his soul, Dean Wilkins was listening into the ex-serviceman's tale.
“I'm the youngest of six, so I always looked up to Ray in that regard,” he said. “But to hear that soldier's story on the radio was incredible. I was driving back down the A23 to Brighton from Jackie's place, and it was all still very raw, but it made me so emotional I had to pull over.
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“None of us knew that story until the guy rang in to share it with everyone listening. Ray wasn't was the type of guy who would go home to Jackie and say, 'You know what? I bumped into this homeless man today and helped him out.' That fellow's story still makes me emotional, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, when I think about it.”
Ray Wilkins on England duty (Mirrorpix)
Tribute to Wilkins at the 2018 FA Cup final between two of his former clubs (John Peters)Forty years ago, Dean had been “jumping on my seat and letting it all hang out” when his brother curled a peach into the top corner to put Manchester United 2-1 up against Brighton in the FA Cup final. But when the teams meet again in Sunday's semi-final, this time he will be cheering for the Seagulls.
“Ray's goal worthy of winning any final, and I was on my feet going mad, hoping that he was going to be the hero on all the back pages,” said Wilkins, now 60 and working at Southampton's academy.
"Of course, it wasn't to be and United won the replay quite easily, but it was a memorable time with Brighton flying in by helicopter, and two months after cheering for their opponents at Wembley I actually signed for them from QPR.
“I went on to spend the best part of 20 years with them as player, manager or coach, and I'm actually the last Brighton player to score at Wembley – in a play-off final against Neil Warnock's Notts County in 1991 – although we lost 3-1. United fans will have to forgive me, but after spending so much of my working life with Brighton I'll be backing them in the semi-final on Sunday – and I fancy them to win it.
“Roberto de Zerbi's a magician. He's got them playing with such purpose and they are dominating nearly every game. Brighton have already won at Old Trafford this season, so they have every reason to be confident.”
Dean Wilkins feels his former club will get the better of Sunday's FA Cup semi (Getty Images)
When we were kings: Ray Wilkins (left) in action for Chelsea against Everton in 1977 (Mirror Syndication International)The 1983 classic was not the last time Ray Wilkins would be lionised at the FA Cup final. Weeks after his death in 2018, when his two former clubs Chelsea and United met at Wembley, Football Association president Prince William was attending his brother's wedding in Windsor, so the FA asked Jackie Wilkins to present the trophy in a colossal mark of respect.
“During the build-up people were labelling it the 'Ray Wilkins cup final' and I thought, nah, it won't stick,” said Dean.
“But the momentum kept growing and both clubs were so supportive of the family. Next thing I know, we're being invited to the game as guests in the Royal Box and Jackie is handing the Cup to Gary Cahill.
“It's incredible when I think about it even now – it used to be the Queen or Princess Diana presenting the FA Cup to the winners, and there was my sister-in-law doing the honours in memory of 'Butch'.
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Ray Wilkins takes the congratulations after scoring in 1983 (Mirrorpix)"As brothers, we didn't live in each other's pockets but I used to follow Chelsea home and away to watch him play. When he was at AC Milan, and I was playing on the continent with Zwolle in Holland, I once drove for hours to see them in a European tie against Waregem in Belgium.
“But it was so humbling to see the esteem in which he was held, and I have to say Chelsea were incredible throughout the whole situation. They were pure class.
“And as a family, we are so grateful to everyone who keeps Ray's memory alive. It's still hard to compute he is no longer with us.”