Tributes pour in for Bobby

Thomson passed away just before midnight at Russell's Hall hospital, in Dudley, after suffering a relapse in his battle to beat prostrate cancer. He was 65.

A big family man, the father of three leaves wife Jan and three grandchildren.

Disbelief was the big emotion as news of Thomson's death was relayed to his former Wolves team-mates today, as he looked so fit and well.

The former England international, who also won a record 15 under-23 caps, will be sadly missed by Wolves fans and players alike, who rightly heralded him as one of their greatest full-backs with club record appearance maker Derek Parkin.

Flowers said: "Putting it mildly, he could catch pigeons as we used to say in the game.

"I would put him right up there with Ray Wilson as one of the best in the business and I believe Ray was one of the major reasons why we won the World Cup.

"Not many wingers skinned Bobby, because he had such great recovery. He showed a lot of promise right from when he was a youngster and he was so quick – no winger could 'run' him."

Flowers believed Thomson, who made exactly 300 appearances for Wolves between 1959 and 1969, helped pioneer a new breed of modern full-backs who started overlapping.

He said: "Him and Jimmy Armfield were like modern-day full-backs in that they used to get forwards – and he could get back too because of his speed."

Thomson, who lived in Sedgley where he ran a sports shop for many years, was as immaculate off the field as on.

Flowers said: "He went about his job quietly and neatly, rather than up and at them. He wasn't flash, but projected his image off the field the same as he did on it."

Wolves' FA Cup-winning skipper Bill Slater, who was captain when Thomson made his debut in February 1962, remembers him as a gentleman.

He said: "He was a lovely man and I liked him very much as well, as being a very fine club man.

"I always felt he had that potential to play for England, which of course he did.

"He will be very sadly missed."

Mike Bailey, who played with Thomson as Wolves captain when they won promotion in 1966/67 was friends with him, with their wives Barbara and Jan remaining in touch.

Bailey said: "He was such a nice chap, a family man but also a brilliant player. He was also a very good passer of the ball and a good defender who read the game very well.

"He was an important member of that team in 1967 and quite rightly should be remembered as one of Wolves' greatest ever full-backs."

Thomson's friend, former Wolves goalkeeper Phil Parkes, added his voice to the tributes.

He said: "I used to call him Peter Pan – he never put on weight from when he played and barely had a grey hair on his head.

"He was a lovely guy and a super player."