Really nice documentary about the 66 tournament just finishing on BBC2. May be a repeat but well worth seeing on iPlayer if you haven't seen it already. Lots of talking heads, including many of the players (some from archive, no longer with us, or unable to comment through illness) and some odd random ones. I was only 5 at the time, the next World Cup was the one that really got me interested. But lots of interesting, and sometimes moving stuff in this. Jimmy Greaves very honest and not at all bitter about missing out. I never knew that Ramsey had asked Bobby Charlton, his most creative player, to mark Beckenbauer out of the game. And Helmut Schoen had told Beckenbauer to mark Charlton out of the game. Only downside of the whole programme were a couple of brief Redknapp comments, going on about the Blind Beggar in Whitechapel. Sue Johnston, the actress (no idea why she was in it) nailed it for me when she said that the England players, to a man, had a dignity and lack of arrogance that they carried forward even after winning the World Cup. Different times and all, but unimaginable that this would be the case now. I almost hope we never get close again, so that this image won't be tarnished.
I was 12 at the time and remember the build-up being quite low-key in comparison to today's overkill. The opening game, on a Monday night was a bit of a damp squib, 0-0 against Uruguay. But it really took off the next Saturday when we beat Mexico and Bobby Charlton, who was my idol at the time, scored a stunner from 30 yards. From then on the excitement built up and by time we reached the Semi-Final it was reaching fever-pitch. We were playing Portugal and everyone feared Eusebio who was really in the form of his life but two goals from Charlton and a great performance from Nobby Stiles who didn't let Eusebio breathe put us in the final. I remember us all being round the old black and white telly for the final and really was gutted when the Germans got the last minute equaliser. The rest, as they say, is history. There will never be a more honest, unassuming team than that great side and it's such a shame that it's only in the last few years that their achievement is being recognised in it's true context...
I was only 5 and don't remember it However, ironically, we lived a few minutes from the stadium and we could, apparently hear the crowd from our garden.
Anyone remember the Esso coins (were they Esso?) with the players faces on them? There was a cardboard album to stick them into but try as I might I could never complete one properly as I found one of them impossible to get, I think it was Cohen. For months afterwards the excess coins were being flung around, they had a metallic ting when they fell and sounded like a real coin, and for the first while all the kids would scamper after them hoping they actually were a sixpence or a shilling, whichever they resembled Edit; Just googled it and saw that it was 1970 not 1966, at least I got the Esso bit right...
I saw this a few months back, but recorded lat night's airing so that I could watch it again. I thought David Jason was very good, always staying just the right side of overacting. The players seemed to have a nobility about them that it's hard to imagine in any of today's lot. Ramsey was a strange character, but the players seemed to have a strong affection for him, despite his coldness. People tend to forget his achievements with Ipswich, taking them from the third division to first division champions at the first attempt. Every bit as remarkable as Leicester's win last year. As Sooper says, the early stages of the tournament didn't attract anything like the attention that they would these days, but as England progressed interest grew. I was lucky enough to be at all of the Wembley games and recall walking home to Harlesden after the final feeling like a little bit of a celebrity myself, waving to people who were hanging out of their windows all along the Harrow road.
QUOTE="Shawswood, post: 9523289, member: 1006756"]Anyone remember the Esso coins (were they Esso?) with the players faces on them? There was a cardboard album to stick them into but try as I might I could never complete one properly as I found one of them impossible to get, I think it was Cohen. For months afterwards the excess coins were being flung around, they had a metallic ting when they fell and sounded like a real coin, and for the first while all the kids would scamper after them hoping they actually were a sixpence or a shilling, whichever they resembled Edit; Just googled it and saw that it was 1970 not 1966, at least I got the Esso bit right...[/QUOTE] I remember collecting those.
I do remember watching it, I'd just turned 11. Looking back on it that was probably what got me interested in football. My brother, a Fulham fan took me to my first game that August which was Fulham v. Everton and as there were three of the world cup winning side on show, Cohen for Fulham and Ball and Wilson for Everton they paraded the trophy around the ground before kick off.
I was lucky enough to have been there - I was 8 years old and my father took a picnic stool into the ground for me to stand on. The old man still has the tickets, programme and the letter from the FA confirming that we were getting 2 tickets. The cost of the tickets was 25 shillings each. I had the photo of my ticket as my avatar over the weekend.
I've just downloaded it on Sky and will watch it over the next couple of hours. If anyone else wants to do the same or watch on BBC iplayer it's title is 'World Cup 1966 - Alfie's Boys.'
I had a World Cup Willie! "Red White and blue, world cup willie, We all love him too, world cup willie, He's tough as a lion and never will give up, That's why willie is favourite for the cup". All together now........
That was a very enjoyable watch. I was 128 days old when that final was played, so my recollections regarding the day are a bit sketchy. Ramsey came across more like a politician than a football manager. I liked his style though and his philosophy on the way he put that team together and how they played. It would appear that the R's are going about their business in a similar fashion. No big star and the emphasis on being a team. There was a real poignant moment at the 74 minute mark when Sir Bobby Charlton was talking about what happened at the final whistle. He went over to his brother Jack and said 'Our lives will never be the same again.' You could see his bottom lip tremble as he reflected on the enormity of that moment and what they had achieved. What a life he has had, he was 20 when he was on the Munich crash and he has won the World Cup and the European Cup as well as a Ballon d'Or and footballer of the year. He is a footballing living legend.
I loved the bit where Ramsey was being interviewed before I think the final, in that weird, clipped self taught accent (which Moore and Greaves used to take the piss out of), saying that the players were fully prepared but tense, and there was nothing he could do about that because he was tense too.
Bobby Charlton was interviewed shortly after England's embarrassing defeat to Iceland in the Euros He was asked whether the team from 1966 would beat the Icelanders and what the score would be. "Yeah I reckon we'd beat 'em 1-0" said Charlton. "Only 1-0?" enquired the interviewer. Charlton replied........ "Well we are all well into our seventies now you know! "
Like Col I lived within earshot of the stadium...and for every Wembley match I went an bought a programme and a rosette to add to my collection. However the weekend of the final we had a holiday booked...I remember listen to the match walking home from Tenby beach to our caravan...so wishing I was there. I think it finally cemented my love of football. My country was the best in the world...and the next year my team QPR did something similar...the first 3rd division team to win a cup at Wembley. Football was easy...What could possibly go wrong??'
I was 11 at the time and watched the final in the Embassy club Selsey Bill, I looked on in awe of the twin towers little knowing that my club would win the 1st league cup final held at Wembley
I was more of a Quarterdeck lad myself Pete. Do you remember the Riviera restaurant? I used to stay in my mates caravan on White Horse in the early 80's.
