TODAY marks 50 years since Manchester United became the first English team to win the European Cup.

And key to securing that landmark piece of silverware was the role played by Bill Foulkes – a former Lea Green miner from Nutgrove.

It was Foulkes’ crucial goal in the second leg of the tight semi-final against Real Madrid at the cauldron-like Bernabeu which saw United through to the final at Wembley on May 29, 1968.

There, 10 years after seeing the team destroyed in the Munich air disaster, Manchester United made history by beating Benfica, with goals from Bobby Charlton, 2, George Best and Brian Kidd.

Foulkes was central defender that day.

A former Whiston Boys club junior, Foulkes left his job down the pit in 1951 after signing professionally for United, where he went on to make 688 appearances.

Aside from that European Cup win, Foulkes was a four-time league champion and an FA Cup winner too.

Bill Foulkes, who is considered to be one of the finest footballers St Helens has ever produced, died in November 2013 aged 81.