From realizing I was going to the Final to watch England v West Germany, to the day of the game was a period of ever increasing excitement. The World Cup Mascot World Cup Willie seemed to be on the TV every day My parents planned our journey to the big city. We were going by car. The Severn Bridge was not to open until September 1966 which meant we had to follow the route of the A40. So there we were. Friday July 29th 1966, departing South Wales to travel to London, England. I had never been to London before. I had never been to Wembley before. I HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE WORLD CUP FINAL BEFORE! From my previous matches at the Vetch, my Dad realized I would have problems viewing the game with so many grown ups in front of me. He had a trick up his sleeve. On the day of our journey he came out of the house grinning, a wooden stool under his arm. He placed it in the boot of the car – it was coming to London with us! The journey was never ending and it seemed to rain most of the way. We seemed to go past the Heads of the Valleys, past Gloucester and on to Oxford before finally arriving in London. I think we stopped off for refreshments at Transport Cafés, there were no motorway service stations as far as I can remember! After the torturous car journey we got to London late in the evening, staying in a hotel in Sussex Gardens. It was a case of grabbing a late tea/supper before catching a programme in the TV lounge and then off to bed before the big day. By this stage I couldn’t wait! 30th July 1966 – WORLD CUP FINAL DAY. I was up early and we had breakfast in the hotel before setting off for Wembley. My Dad went to the car and got my stool. It was coming with us – on the tube!! The tube was another new experience for me. I can remember everyone was really friendly and I was standing next to a Scotsman. I’m not sure why he was there, although he probably thought the same about me! My Dad showed me our tickets. They cost a princely 25/-. That was far more than my pocket money! They were for the terracing area. No wonder he had brought my stool!. We got to Wembley early and I remember seeing the Twin Towers as we walked to the stadium and bought a programme. Wembley seemed HUGE. (I remember going back years later 1979 League Cup Final and was disappointed as it seemed a lot smaller!) We waited for the gates to open. I can remember standing around, and sometimes sitting on my well travelled furniture. I bought a rosette and read my programme and sat, waiting, for the gates to open……………………….
Last week I happened to mention in a thread that I had been at the World Cup Final in 1966. PGF asked me if he could produce a thread on my experience. I gave him some facts and he created a thread far better than I could have produced!
