OK he had no pace, but boy could he read the game and tackle with perfect timing! All you youngsters on here, watch and learn! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21317369
Being a wrinkly (like a few on here) I was fortunate to see Bobby in his prime. His anticipation and reading of a game was superb.Even against the great players he seemed to have time.Never needed to play dirty. 2 other fav or mine were Colin Todd and Roy McFarland,both Derby County.
That match was one of the first that I can remember. I was only 8 and I remember vividly going into the garden after the game and pretending I was Bobby Moore. Even though England lost that game, I never tire of watching re-runs of it. The Bobby Moore tackle, the Gordon Banks save from Pele and the fantastic Brazillian goal. That England side was arguably better than the '66 one and if Sir Alf hadn't taken off Bobby Charlton in the quarter final against West Germany when we were 2-0 up to rest him for the semis, we could have been playing Brazil again in the final. Co-incidently, does anyone else remember the coin collection that Esso produced for the World Cup that year? I had a complete set and I bloody lost them somehow.
I also had the full set of coins, I used to put petrol in little and often just to get as many coins as I could, there was a garage in St. John's Vale in Lewisham that used to give more than they were supposed to! Isn't it strange how you can remember things like that, yet forget what you had for dinner yesterday!
Read them and weep.Not a bad squad. 1 GK Gordon Banks 30 December 1937 (aged 32) 59 England Stoke City 2 DF Keith Newton 23 June 1941 (aged 28) 24 England Everton 3 DF Terry Cooper 12 July 1944 (aged 25) 8 England Leeds United 4 MF Alan Mullery 23 November 1941 (aged 28) 27 England Tottenham Hotspur 5 DF Brian Labone 23 January 1940 (aged 30) 23 England Everton 6 DF Bobby Moore 12 April 1941 (aged 29) 80 England West Ham United 7 FW Francis Lee 29 April 1944 (aged 26) 14 England Manchester City 8 MF Alan Ball 12 May 1945 (aged 25) 41 England Everton 9 MF Bobby Charlton 11 October 1937 (aged 32) 102 England Manchester United 10 FW Geoff Hurst 8 December 1941 (aged 28) 38 England West Ham United 11 MF Martin Peters 8 November 1943 (aged 26) 38 England Tottenham Hotspur 12 GK Peter Bonetti 27 September 1941 (aged 28) 6 England Chelsea 13 GK Alex Stepney 18 September 1942 (aged 27) 1 England Manchester United 14 DF Tommy Wright 21 October 1944 (aged 25) 9 England Everton 15 DF Nobby Stiles 18 May 1942 (aged 28) 28 England Manchester United 16 MF Emlyn Hughes 28 August 1947 (aged 22) 6 England Liverpool 17 DF Jack Charlton 8 May 1935 (aged 35) 34 England Leeds United 18 DF Norman Hunter 29 October 1943 (aged 26) 13 England Leeds United 19 MF Colin Bell 26 February 1946 (aged 24) 11 England Manchester City 20 FW Peter Osgood 20 February 1947 (aged 23) 1 England Chelsea 21 FW Allan Clarke 31 July 1946 (aged 23) 0 England Leeds United 22 FW Jeff Astle 13 May 1942 (aged 28) 3 England West Bromwich Albion
Bobby Moore was pure class - saw him play a couple of times and he was always in the right place at the right time. I worked in an Esso Gas station at weekends in 1970 as I was still at school and got a sample collection of the World Cup coins - I was well chuffed. Alas over the years they went AWOL. Remember Jeff Astle's miss in the game vs Brazil that could have earned us a draw ?
Moore seemed slow, but that was maybe an illusion. he was never in a position where he needed any speed to stop an attack. way above any current England defender in class.
I obviously can't remember the game in question, but during the England game yesterday my Dad was talking to me about it. He said it was like the unstoppable force (Brazil) vs. the unbreakable object (England) and was truly a joy to watch. He also pointed out that the respect shown from both teams at the end of the match would never be replicated today.
Problem is Dave most youngsters won't watch and learn, most of them are too busy watching Neymar on youtube doing kick ups or trying to dribble the ball past a whole team with Messi on FIFA, the ones who do train are taught by absolute clowns.
Went down to La manga yesterday to watch the ex pro's golf tournament, had a chat with Pat Jennings, Ray Clemence, Kenny Dalgleish and a few others but the best was meeting and talking about modern players and their silly wages for about 20 minutes with Des Walker, absolute legend. Got all 36 players to autograph a ball and tournament shirt that we will auction on our golf society open day with all the proceeds going to the Aspadem School for disabled children here in Mazarron, last year we raised €3450, so if any of you guys can get an autographed ball or shirt from Norwich City let me know and i will arrange for postage etc. PS. If you're reading this Warky anything from Ipswich would be welcome.
