Final (30 July 1966)
http://www.sixtiescity.com/Wembley/worldcup66.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/30/newsid_2644000/2644065.stm
Sir Alf Ramsey (Manager) : died in 1999 at the age of 79
Harold Sheperdson (trainer) : died in 1995 at the age of 77
Nobby Stiles.................. is 67
Roger Hunt.................... is 71
Gordon Banks.................. is 72
Jackie Charlton............... is 74
George Cohen.................. is 70
Ray Wilson.................... is 75
Martin Peters................. is 66
Geoff Hurst....................is 68
Bobby Moore....................died in 1993 at the age of 51
Alan Ball......................died in 2007 at the age of 62
Bobby Charlton.................is 72
Kenneth Wolstenholme the BBC commentator.....died in 2002 at the age of 82
World Cup 1966 was, the first and last World Cup held in England, and because the team won , the Old Boys who were in the team are still considered heroes in England today, by people who remember what they achieved 43 years ago.
Perhaps the most important cog in the machine was Alf Ramsey, the manager. Sir Alf Ramsey was knighted in 1967 in recognition of his achievement the year before, before going on to lead England to a third place finish at the 1968 European Championship. Ramsey went on to take England to the semi-final of the European Championship in 1968 and the World Cup quarter-final in 1970. Ramsey was sacked in 1974 after disastrously failing to qualify for World Cup 1974.
Gordon Banks GK: Gordon Banks OBE
He was the goalkeeper on the great final day and had been given his debut just 3 years beforer by Ramsey. In the year that followed the World Cup, there was a strange twist in his career. Considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, he was ousted by Leicester City in favour of a 17 year old keeper called Peter Shilton, the man who would go on to succeed Banks as England's number one goalkeeper. Banks was awarded the OBE in 1970 in recognition of his footballing achievements.
Jack Charlton DF: Jackie Charlton OBE
Jack Charlton was, at 31, the second oldest member of the England 1966 World Cup squad; and one of the most famous images from the final was the sight of Jack falling to his knees and sobbing tears of joy. He was decorated with an OBE, and was also given honorary Irish citizenship following 9 years in charge of the Irish National Team.
Bobby Moore DF: Bobby Moore OBE (Captain)
Bobby Moore set up the first of Geoff Hurst's 3 goals with a quick free kick onto Hurst's head to make the score 1-1. At the end of the game, Moore is pictured wiping his muddy hands on his shirt and shorts before shaking the hand of the Queen and being presented with the World Cup. Bobby Moore died in 1993 at the young age of 51 following a battle with cancer. He is rated as 'the greatest ever defender' by none other than, Pele. Bobby Moore received the OBE in 1967, the year after leading the English to victory.
George Cohen DF: George Cohen MBE
George Cohen was the right back in the side that won the competition, having made his England debut just two years prior, Cohen played his last game for England in 1967 and was the first of England's starting XI to cease playing for the England team. He had to sell his winners medal after encountering financial hardship. His former club Fulham moved to ensure that the medal remained close to him by purchasing it for £80,000 and putting it on display at their Craven Cottage ground. He was awarded the MBE in 2000 after a newspaper campaign petitioned for him and 4 other members of the squad to be decorated.
Ray Wilson DF: Ray Wilson MBE
He retained his place in the England team until the end of the 1968 European Championship. After retirement Wilson decided to leave football and established a successful undertakers in Huddersfield, before retiring completely aged 62 and settling in Halifax.
Martin Peters MF: Martin Peters MBE
Martin Peters had it all, he could run, pass, score, and create. Martin Peters was just 23 in 1966 and had played just 3 International games before the start of the tournament. Peters scored for England in the final, the goal which put England 2-1 ahead; this goal would have been the winning goal was it not for Germany's equaliser in the dying seconds of the game. He retired from football in 1981 at 38 having made a total of 882 competitive appearances and scoring 220 goals. Sir Alf Ramsey described Martin Peters as "ten years ahead of his time", and that was a recognition of his immense ability on the ball.
Nobby Stiles MF: Nobby Stiles MBE
Alongside Peter's that day was tough tackling 24 year old Manchester United midfielder Nobby Stiles. Stiles was an unlikely hero, in fact an unlikely footballer. He was very small as a boy, at a time when most players of his size were being rejected by professional clubs for being too short, he also suffered from severe shortsightedness which meant that he had to wear very strong contact lenses on the pitch and very thick glasses off of the pitch, as well as having to wear dentures after having all of his front tip ripped out on the pitch. Nonetheless, he was spotted by the great Matt Busby and given the chance to prove himself and he did so in great style by the World Cup in 1966 and the European Cup with United just two years later in 1968. Nobby played his final game for England in the unsuccessful 1970 World Cup, obtaining a total of 28 caps and scoring 1 goal.
Alan Ball MF: Alan Ball MBE
He the youngest member of the World Cup winning team. His excellent performance in the final against Germany resulted in him being awarded the 'Man of the Match' award, this is despite Geoff Hurst's hat-trick. Ball's individual performance on the night of the final is considered by many to be one of the greatest individual performances in history, with his tireless box-to-box display. It was Ball who set up Hurst's controversial second goal, and England's third goal, to make the score 3-2in extra time. Ball played for England until 1975, and collected a total of 72 caps; scoring 8 goals in the process.
Bobby Charlton MF/FW: Sir Bobby Charlton CBE
Bobby Charlton went into the tournament with a big reputation. The most experienced International in any starting eleven, and at the peak of his career as one of Manchester United's 'Busby Babes'. At 28 years of age, going on 29, Charlton had already been an International for 8 years. A lot was expected of Charlton in the run up to the tournament, and he did not disappoint. Charlton was famously a goalscoring midfielder, capable of scoring as many as a striker but playing a deeper attacking midfield role; and this was the role that Charlton was asked to play by Alf Ramsey. He quit International football in 1970 with 106 International caps and 49 International goals to his name. He is still holder of the highest England goalscorer record. Bobby Charlton became 'Sir Bobby Charlton' in 1994.
Roger Hunt FW: Roger Hunt MBE
Liverpool striker Roger Hunt was one of three centre forwards selected for the squad, having been playing regularly for England since 1962. Hunt travelled to the 1962 World Cup finals in Chile but did not feature in the tournament, but was again called up for the 1966 World Cup final squad by new manager Sir Alf Ramsey. Hunt started the tournament up front alongside Jimmy Greaves, who was subsequently injured and replaced by the young Geoff Hurst. Roger Hunt was the only constant in the front line and was instrumental in the teams successful attempt to reach the final, scoring 3 times in 6 games. Hunt played for Liverpool between 1958 and 1969, making 492 appearances and scoring an incredible 245 goals before being allowed to leave to join Bolton Wanderers. His International career ended at the same time, having accrued 34 International Caps and scoring 18 International goals. Roger Hunt is the 5th and final player to have been awarded an MBE in 2000, after the other 6 members of the final starting eleven had been featured on the 1967 honours list.
Geoff Hurst FW: Sir Geoff Hurst MBE
The hat-trick of goals in the final, made Geoff Hurst famous worldwide. He went on to played on for England until 1972, scoring 24 goals in 49 games, before being awarded an MBE in 1975. He was later knighted in 1998 in recognition of his achievements.
No comments:
Post a Comment