Jimmy Greaves is a genius that remains without an honour in his own country

He remains the man with the most goals in the fewest appearances for England

To this day, Greaves still remains Tottenham's all-time leading goalscorer

He has a heart of gold and as he nears 80, time is running out to bestow honours

Sportsmail now calls for a national hero to be given the honours that he deserves

Time is running out for the great Greavsie. Sadly, there is no other way of putting it.

Our beloved Jimmy will be 80 in barely a week and now needs constant medical care.

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Yet he is still holder of the record for most goals in the top division of English football, be it First or Premier. Still Tottenham's highest-ever goalscorer. Add on nine in no time for AC Milan and still top scorer across the elite European leagues until Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him only three years ago.

Politicians and sporting stars are coming together to help get Jimmy Greaves honoured

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Still the most goals for England in the fewest appearances.

Still no gong. Still not so much as the doff of a cap towards the most elegantly efficient purveyor of goals this nation has witnessed.

Still a genius without honour in his own land. Come on. Time is running out.

Time to act before an OBE for Jimmy goes the same way as the knighthood never bestowed on his friend and England World Cup room-mate Bobby Moore.

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Greaves (pictured in 1967) was a genius on the football pitch and is yet without any honours

So if this is retribution for his reaction at being omitted from the team for England's solitary World Cup final — heading straight to the airport with his wife Irene instead of to the victory banquet in a West End hotel — then let the FA say so.

If this is payback for the way he criticised the FA — and how he and his mate made a mockery of government on their TV show Saint and Greavsie — let's have it out. As it happens, Ian St John has not been gonged either.

If testimony as to the character of Greavsie is required, then these pages have included more than just my affirmation that here is a genius with a heart of gold.

Such natural humility coupled with forthright honesty is not easily found among the giants of sport, least of all in legends of the football field.

Greavsie would never dream of suggesting he is worthy of an honour.

His illness has rendered him virtually unable to speak. So allow me to say it for him. Time is running out.

Greaves is the record for most goals in the top division of English football, be it First or Premier

JOIN OUR PETITION

Add your signature to give England hero Jimmy Greaves the gong he deserves.

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Go to: www.change.org/givegreavsieagong