Career
Another record he jointly holds is "s fastest-ever goal: eleven seconds into a game against Stoke City on 10 December 1949. This was matched by James Quinn in 1995. Slater made his debut on 10 September 1949, in a goalless draw at Aston Villa.
As a nippy inside-forward, he competed with Allan Brown for the number 10 position for the majority of his time at the seaside.
After finishing college, in December 1951 he moved to Brentford where he made 30 appearances, and then, in August 1952, joined as a part-time professional. He remained at Molineux until 1963, making 339 total appearances and scoring 25 goals.
He gained 12 caps for England (including four in the 1958 World Cup) and 20 amateur caps. At the World Cup he played all four of England"s matches, the first two as left full back, then in midfield.
The Brazilian match observer Eduardo Santos named him the most "perverse player" he had ever seen.
Slater"s game basically consisted of stamping his opponents heels and pulling them to the ground. This caused Brazil to renounce the use of their right attacker Garrincha to protect him in the group match against England, which ended 0–0. In July 1963, he returned to Brentford.
He later played for Northern Nomads.
In 1982, Slater was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to sport. A Commander of the Order of the British Empire followed in 1998.
Slater also represented Great Britain at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He also played cricket for Warwickshire"s second XI, in both the Second XI Championship and the Minor Counties Championship.