I watched a Sky documentary a few days ago called ‘ Hurst - the first and only.’ Although nearly 2 hours long it was absorbing and moving, especially for those of us lucky enough to watch it live. He was describing each player from the final side by looking at a large picture of the team projected onto a wall and was pretty upset that only three of the team are still alive. ( now two of course.)
I did go to ‘An evening with Geoff Hurst’ at Christchurch some months ago. It was a great event spending time with him and listening to the various anecdotes. He is a thoroughly nice chap.
He is doing some shows around the country in 2023 and I can’t recommend it enough.
Did that not come partly through understandably not appreciating how difficult we would find it to win a second one? 1966 was only England's fifth World Cup - I wouldn't imagine many then thought that we would fail to even reach the final of the next 14 editions.
The evening with Geoff Hurst is really great value, especially the VIP tickets. I had my picture taken with him at Christchurch and it’s now a priceless memento that I have alongside my original 1966 programme which I had framed and includes two World Cup Willies. He was so fit and healthy looking back in the summer. The galling thing is that one of our finest ever players, Bobby Moore, died so young.
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And his grandson / nephew I believe is Ben Cohen who won the Rugby World Cup with England too.
Only two members of the starting eleven from the final (and three others from the squad) are still alive which is very sad.
What is really sad is that none of the squad may be alive by the time we win the World Cup again!
Or their children...
I watched a Sky documentary a few days ago called ‘ Hurst - the first and only.’ Although nearly 2 hours long it was absorbing and moving, especially for those of us lucky enough to watch it live. He was describing each player from the final side by looking at a large picture of the team projected onto a wall and was pretty upset that only three of the team are still alive. ( now two of course.)
I did go to ‘An evening with Geoff Hurst’ at Christchurch some months ago. It was a great event spending time with him and listening to the various anecdotes. He is a thoroughly nice chap.
He is doing some shows around the country in 2023 and I can’t recommend it enough.
I read Matt Dickinson’ biog of Bobby Moore last year. It was one of the most interesting, but also one of the saddest football books I’ve ever read.
Almost incomprehensible to my generation that the 66 winners were more or less forgotten for almost thirty years.
Did that not come partly through understandably not appreciating how difficult we would find it to win a second one? 1966 was only England's fifth World Cup - I wouldn't imagine many then thought that we would fail to even reach the final of the next 14 editions.
This is a very good interview with Sir Geoff from a year ago, on his personal tragedies and on the rejection he faced when he hung up his boots.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/03/geoff-hurst-heartache-1966-world-cup-donald-mcrae-interview
Just booked tickets for the Camberley Theatre, if I don't do it now then maybe it'll be too late!
That looks like a good evening, especially the VIP tickets.
As you say a last chance to listen to an English World Cup winner and have a photograph with Sir Geoff and the FA Cup.
The evening with Geoff Hurst is really great value, especially the VIP tickets. I had my picture taken with him at Christchurch and it’s now a priceless memento that I have alongside my original 1966 programme which I had framed and includes two World Cup Willies. He was so fit and healthy looking back in the summer. The galling thing is that one of our finest ever players, Bobby Moore, died so young.
Cheers Twizz, just booked mine with a Hammers mate.
7 of the West German team are still alive, so why only 2 on our side is strange.
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