Express & Star

Former FA Cup winning West Brom defender John Talbut dies aged 79

John Talbut, one of West Brom's 1968 FA Cup winning heroes, has died at the age of 79.

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John Talbut at the Hawthorns, during Jeff Astle Day

The former defender passed away peacefully last night with his family at his bedside following a six-year struggle with dementia.

Talbut was well known for his aerial prowess and enjoyed a successful five-year career at the Hawthorns during one of the club's most celebrated eras.

“Big T” as he became known, was an integral figure during Albion’s 1968 FA Cup campaign and returned to Wembley two years later to help bring home the trophy in the 1-0 defeat of Everton.

At the Hawthorns during Jeff Astle Day, players from the 1968 team (left-right) Doug Fraser, John Talbut, John Kaye, and Graham Williams

Talbut eventually handed on the baton of dominant centre-half to a young John Wile and went to Belgium where he became player-manager of then Second Division club KV Mechelen.

The former Baggie was sadly diagnosed with dementia although he was well enough to make what would be his final visit to The Hawthorns to join in celebrations on “Astle Day” in 2015.

He passed away overnight in Mechelen, where he settled.