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Off Topic 50 years ago 30/7/1966

Discussion in 'Preston' started by themaclad, Jul 27, 2016.

  1. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    At around 5.15 pm on 30/7/2016 it will 50 years to the day since Bobby Moore walked up the Wembley steps wiped his hands on the cloth which was afixed to the Royal Box, shook hands with the Queen and lifte the Jules Rimet trophy in the air to signify that England were the World Champions.
    As a football mad 11 year old this was a momentous day little did I realise that 50 years later I would still be waiting for us to win it again.
    As with most tournaments the opening match was a dud, England and Uruguay drew 0 all at Wembley, the next day disaster struck whisked away to the Lakes for a two weeks holiday at Black Beck caravan site at Bouth near Newby Bridge.
    Salvation was at hand the table tennis room had a black and white TV so that was commendeered for the entire two weeks.
    England drew their next match with France also 0-0 and looked like they were going to struggle to qualify but Bobby Charlton blasted home two ahgainst the Mexicans and England were through to the last eight.
    The highlights of the other groups were the Italians being defeated 1-0 by North Korea the goal scored by the world famous Pak Doo Ik. The Italians failed to qualify and returned home to be pelted with rotting fruit by less than impressed Azzuri faithful at the airport.
    Holders Brazil also failed to qualify, Pele was basically kicked out of the tournament by the Bulgarians and then the Hungarians in the next match. The Hungarians though possessed a player of quality in Florian Albert who scored one of the goals of the tournament. He had been injured during the Brazil game and had to play a large part of the game with his arm in a sling( no substitutes in those days) he got the ball third yards out beat two players with skill before blasting in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
    Travelled back to Stalybridge on the day of the quarter final travelling at a snails pace so missed most of the first half of England's quarter final, which was a slightly heated match to say the least, but more of that shortly.
    In those days all quarter finals were played at the same time, not Sky to ruin the timings. There seemed to be a big upset onthe cards at Goodison Park where North Korea had gone three up in the first 35 minutes against Portugal, Eusebio reduced teh arrears with a penalty just before half time. Would there be a shock, simple answer no, Eusebio scored three more as Portugal ran out 5-3 winners.
    Meanwhile back at Wembley England were playing those jovial chappies from Argentina, plenty of underhand tricks from the South Americans and into the second half they had Oscar Mas!? sent off, their captain Antonio Rattin was less than impressed with the descision told the referee so and was also sent off, however Rattin refused to go and the match was delayed by a good 15 minutes before he eventually wandered back to the dressing room.
    Hurst glanced in a late winner and Sir Alf accused the South Americans of being animals and refused to let his players swapped shirts with their defeated opponents.
    Portugal next for England two Charlton goals saw them through to the final and Stiles denied Eusebio a goal with a stunning tackle in the area as the great man looked odds on to score.
    So into tyhe final went the host nation to face West Gemany who had made serene progress through to the final beating Russia in the semi final.
    The day of the match the rain teemed down in the North Cheshire area, Lancashire were due to play Yorkshire and there was only 95 minutes play on that Saturday. By the time the game kick off did not remotely care about what the whether was doing.
    Haller scored early on for Germany but Ken Wolstenholme stated that the side scoring first had never won the cup, that will do nicely Ken. England were level from a quickly taken Moore free kick Hurst glanced the ball home.
    Early stages of the second half Peters 2-1 happy days. The minutes ticked slowly by and deep into injury time and a highly disputed free kick to West Germany, Weber bundled home the ball 2 all. Time for a juvenile sulk therefore missed first few minutes of first period of extra time,back into the lead, Ball crossed, Hurst underside of the bar and down and in according to the linesman. Even to this day cannot figure out why Roger Hunt did not make sure by putting the ball into the net.
    Then Wolstenholme's moment, people on the pitch they think it's all over, Hurst from the edge of the box it was 4-2. Happy days.
    Trophy presented still remember a toothless Stiles doing a weird dance on the pitch and that was that.
    Spent the rest of the summer recreating the highlights with my school friends who within five weeks would never see again as we moved 50 miles away, cruel is childhood really..
    30 July 1966 a glorious day in the history of English football strange isn't it that these days don't really care that much for the International side.
     
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  2. barnetpne

    barnetpne Well-Known Member

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    I was 19 and at collegee in Church Stretton. My Liverpool friends said that England's third goal was definitely in and the proof was that Hunt did not follow up. A better England team was beaten in Mexico by W. Germany by the grace of one of the best midfielders I have even seen: Beckenbauer. It was a great football treat to see Pele, Moore and Beckenbauer in the same tournament. 3 really good teams. Astle missing a sitter. He was a favourite of my father. Most of the England players of 66 made little money from being world champions.
     
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  3. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    And four of them have dementia
     
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