Answered Prayers: England and the 1966 World Cup

by Duncan Hamilton

'Magnificent, moving, often funny and deeply researched account . . . Is this just a book for those who know football? Far from this is a story of glory and the impermanence of fame' Sunday Times (Book of the Week)

'Like Alf Ramsey's 1966 team, this book has depth, it has riches and it's a winner - the finest piece of sports writing I have read in ages and a superb piece of contemporary history' Peter Hennessy

England. 1966. The World Cup.

Duncan Hamilton watched England beat West Germany as an eight-year-old boy in the company of his father and grandfather. He recalls 'Wembley, spread out in the sun; the waving flags; the delirious, joy-of-all-joys moment of the final whistle; the trophy sparkling in the late afternoon light'.

But, seeing the whole game again during the misery of the first Covid lockdown, finally made him realise what Alf Ramsey and his players had no inkling of, which was what came next for them. How, for many of those boys of summer, almost everything after that shimmering moment amounted to an anti-climax or a setback. How '66 was not a beginning, a guaranteed path towards more success, but a slow decline and fall, and also a disproportionate number of disappointments. And how the triumph of '66 was dulled through constant repetition, the same images always flashed before us.

Hamilton recognised, too, how many myths and misconceptions had grown around the match.
He decided to revisit '66, tracing the very roots of a story - as well as the hidden figures within it - that really began during the era of post-War austerity.

Answered Prayers provides, at last, a full account of English football's greatest achievement and the failures that followed it. We see the institutional inability to appreciate Ramsey and his players, who were taken for granted; the political machinations of the blazered fools who ran the Football Association; the short-sighted blunderers of the Football League.

With his matchless insight and descriptive power, Hamilton tells history afresh and shows us, for the first time, the scale of what was won and what was lost.

PRAISE FOR DUNCAN HAMILTON

'Hamilton has a perceptively humane understanding of men for whom football was never just a game' Guardian
'A marriage of prose and detail so fine and fastidious that it takes the breath away' Independent
'Justifiably prize-winning' Mail on Sunday

Genres: Football, History, Sports, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2024

Reviews

[Ipswichblade · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book of the year so far. I thought I knew just about everything regarding the 1966 World Cup yet this book has provided some great new information. The book doesn't concentrate on the matches and reports, its what happened to the players and Sir Alf before and after 1966. The stuff with Sir Alf dealing with the idiots at the FA is just jaw dropping. Highly recommended.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was interesting, funny and very moving. Lots of Duncan Hamilton’s books manage to reflect in a convincing way on the human condition through the lens of sport, whilst also being full of general titillation for sports fans.
I felt the simultaneous euphoria and emptiness of Wembley and then all the slow-burning sadness that followed.

My favourite book by Hamilton so far, even though it doesn’t mention cricket

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duncan Hamilton takes an interesting look at the famous1966 World Cup victory. He gets under the skin of the gloss and celebration which surrounded England's greatest (and only, to this date) major tournament win, rather than presenting a documentary of the matches. There's a lot on Alf Ramsey, his background and his relationships with the players, the media and his (awful) employers at the FA. As an Ipswich Town supporter, I was interested to read more about the period before he became England manager, taking Town from Division 2 to win the Division 1 title in consecutive seasons. Hamilton captures the sadness and anticlimax which affected a lot of the players after the World Cup final, and traces their fortunes (or lack of them, in most cases) through to their deaths - Geoff Hurst being now the only surviving member of the team. It's a great piece of sports writing by an excellent author, well-researched, intelligent and accomplished, and very readable - a step up from many sports publications.

[Simon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, I read 'Sir Alf' by Leo McKinistry; a great book but one that could have been improved slightly by removing some of the repetitive 'Sir Alf was a great man' anecdotes and quotes from the people who knew him, which seemed to make up quite a substantial percentage of its 560 pages. Just a few weeks ago, I finished Geoff Hurst's enjoyable and comprehensive account of the 1966 World Cup (among other topics), 'Last Boy of 66'. And throughout my adult life I've read dozens of football books, a number of which have touched on England's sole tournament win. So I thought there was little more for anyone to write about July 1966 and all that. Yet I was wrong.
I've read a number of Duncan Hamilton's books and enjoyed them all. However, this is the best. Of course the heart of the book is England 4 West Germany 2, but it's also about the build-up and the aftermath. The build-up began when Sir Alf met his mentor, Arthur Rowe, the manager who signed him as a player for Spurs. The slow, sad aftermath is the appalling way the English F.A. treated Sir Alf and the squad in the years and decades after their triumph, and also the lack of success in football that most of the players experienced after July 30th 1966. The sad denouement also includes the shockingly early death of Bobby Moore at the age of 51 and the cases of dementia from heading heavy footballs that afflicted a number of squad members. The book ends with Duncan Hamilton seeing Sir Geoff Hurst live on stage in Dudley (the last man standing) and also visiting Sir Alf's humble grave in Ipswich.
Oh yes, the book takes you through the highs and the lows. It's powerful, moving and, most creditably of all, offers something new on one of the most analysed events in English sporting history.

[Roo Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duncan Hamilton is a great sports writer. I love the style and tone of his books. Maybe a bit whimsical and nostalgic for some. This book provides a fascinating viewpoint on England’s one and only World Cup winning team and how they were so undervalued afterwards, particularly by the woeful FA. It seems administrators in the game were even less respectful and knowledgeable about the game back then than they often are now, summed up by the spiteful Thompson who hated Sir Alf. Also shines a light on players from another era and the respect and dignity they showed.

[Martin Brabazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1966 Word Cup is a story that has been told many times and, like the Second World War, it is a victory that we as a nation endlessly obsess over. As Duncan Hamilton himself says, "...you'd think almost all there is to know about the game is already known". Told largely through the story of Alf Ramsey, Hamilton however brings fresh light to the story of England's victory in 1966, its origins in the aftermath of that other victory, and the sad, sorry aftermath of that memorable day.

[Gary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought this book to read on the Eurostar to Euro 2024 hoping that it would rub off on the current England team.
lol

Brilliant book , tells you the true story of before , during and after England’s 1966 World Cup win. A must for football fans of all ages.

[Adam Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I previously read Provided You Don't Kiss Me by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I found this book very underwhelming. The title is a bit misleading - it's less about England and the 66 team and more about biography of Alf Ramsey. It glorifies him a bit too much and he doesn't seem to have been a particularly likeable man so it's hard to feel too much when reading about him. The author thinks we should be outraged that Ramsey was ever sacked as England manager but there'd been a slow decline since 66 and it was clear the game had passed him by. He thinks we should be outraged that Ramsey had no further dealings with the England team yet quotes Bobby Robson as saying he repeatedly reached out for guidance while England manager and got no reply while having to read Ramsey's criticisms of him in the press.

All in all I was disappointed this just turned out to be a Ramsey bio, and I think the author clearly reveres Ramsey far too much as he's quick to gloss over his flaws and shortcomings and spends most of his time portraying him as a genius. The author has clearly began this book with the intention of portraying Ramsey as a genius who was hard done by, but I don't think that's the reality he unearths however he refuses to deviate from this narrative.

Was Ramsey a good manager? Of course. Was he a great one? I don't think so. England were largely poor in the run up to 66 and afterwards. He failed to adapt and this culminated with a failure to qualify for the 1974 World Cup and led to arguably one of the worst decades of the England national team through to the mid 80's. I don't mean to downplay the achievement of 66, it was fantastic, but it strikes me that this was very much Ramsey and England catching lightning in a bottle for a month and not evidence of a genius manager concocting the perfect plan years in advance, which is what the author wants to portray

[Steve Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton gives a nuanced contextual analysis if the 1966 World Cup, its lead-up, the event itself and the aftermath. The writing on the 1966 World Cup and how it affected the players is wonderful - and then the description of the disgraceful treatment of Alf Ramsey, the less than glamorous postscripts to the careers he and of most of the World Cup winning players, and their eventual deaths, is very powerfully told.

[Paul Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar to other reviewers this is possibly the best book certainly on football, Alf Ramsey , the ‘66 World Cup winning team and unfortunately the FA of the time. It gives details about Ramsey and the squad of players who actually won the trophy for England - the one and only time to date in a format and level of info that shows the work and investigation of the the author.
It also portrays the poor way the manager and the players as a whole after their winning ways were treated by the FA, their respective teams and football fraternity as a whole. God forbid what today’s players would do if they were treated the same.

[Keith Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is excellent, rightfully elegiac but also fundamentally sad in terms of the fates of most of the players. For the main part the players were unfulfilled in their subsequent football careers – Bobby Moore being the prime example. And way too much dementia. The author captures this well while giving full credit for their and Ramsey's achievements on the pitch.

[Graham Prest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant






Another book of outstanding detail & quality by Duncan who is a talented writer. Fabulous read with lots of insightful anecdotes. Highly recommended

[Mark Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book essentially charts Alf Ramsey’s footballing career with some focus not surprisingly on the 1966 World Cup. It’s not exclusively about the World Cup, despite the book’s title and cover. And I would have liked a little more on that unique achievement for an England men’s football team. The other stuff is interesting, but it could have been edited down a bit more. To pick one example that stuck in my mind, knowing that one of Ramsey’s early teammates sounded like Max Miller, alongside a re-telling of one of his jokes, seems a little unnecessary.

Nevertheless, it is a good read that grabs the attention. The book celebrates that wonderful victory. So in some ways it is a shame that the lasting impression given is of a Football Association run by malevolent fools, who squandered opportunities and who treated Ramsey and the players extremely badly. Sadly, it wasn’t just the FA. The story of Bobby Moore being “slung out” of Upton Park (West Ham’s former home ground) for not having a ticket is especially sad. Or Nobby Stiles being asked to pay for tickets at Old Trafford is also pretty crass. But the book can only tell it as it is.

Any English football fan should read it.

[James Greenbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just too young to remember 1966 and aged 5 apparently fell asleep over dinner in Italy while the final was shown on the restaurant TV. So I’ve never really connected with those players and their stories - until now.

While there is some focus on the matches themselves mostly this is a social history of the 1950s and 1960s, with particular focus on Alf Ramsey. He was a generational coach like Mourinho or Pep. He won the league as a player (with Spurs!) and as a manager (Ipswich, immediately after promotion). Yet his most remarkable features are his period appropriate rigidity, formal dress code, stiff upper lip, refusal to talk about himself, and unwillingness to sell himself or live other than modestly. His gravestone doesn’t mention the World Cup, being a simple message of love from his widow.

Elsewhere there are similar tales of the players before and after becoming heroes - for example did you know Bobby Moore had an operation for cancer before the World Cup, I didn’t. I leave the rest for you to find out in this emotional, beautifully written book.

Thanks Jonathan for the recommendation.

[Colin Kitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book mainly about Sir Alf Ramsay who was the manager of England when they won the World Cup in 1966. It is really well written and researched with too much detail in places.
The book is very reminiscent of not only the football but how the country was in the 50,s and60,s. Football has changed on and off the field but one thing remains the same and that is the lack of self discipline that footballers have. Alf Ramsay realised this and told his players exactly what they had to do and how to behave.
The psychology of Alf Ramsay, that of a very serous unemotional man is interesting. Maybe that is what it takes to be successful.
The other lasting take from this book is that England were very lucky to win the Word cup when they did and will be extremely lucky if they ever win it again

[GuigLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across Duncan Hamilton’s writing during lockdown in 2020 when ‘Provided You Don’t Kiss Me’ was recommended to me, so I was really excited for this book and it didn’t disappoint at all.

It has such heart and soul in a genre of writing that can often come across as cold and clinical. I loved the way each player - and others beyond the England team - were fleshed out, the human before the footballer.

A huge, HUGE recommendation. This won’t disappoint at all. Gave me a newfound appreciation for the England team of ‘66

[Jonathan Gresty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable and interesting but pantomimish in its portrayal of heroes (Ramsey and all his 1966 team) and villains (basically anyone from the FA and the Football League). Hamilton's prose is often ott: at one point, for example, he praises a player for his 'willingness to be bravely fearless' when surely 'fearlessness' by itself would have been fine; at another point he describes success as being a 'euphemism' for winning the World Cup (euphemism?!?). At times I felt I was being patronized but I got through it and remain ambivalent about Ramsey as a man - and manager.

[Will Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Duncan Hamilton writes beautifully whatever his subject. So here we are, on a theme dear to every English person's heart (except perhaps my wife's). What's not to like? Nothing! His main focus is on Alf Ramsey, of whom he paints a deep and sympathetic portrait. He turns a good few deft phrases, particularly when describing Bobby Moore and the Puskas' 1953 wonder goal, and I enjoyed his denunciation of the Football Association's folly and incompetence.

[Martin Kempster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an absolute footie nut and have always been fascinated by the 66 world Cup, and how England have never won it since. This is a forensic dive into the tournament, players, manager and the absolute incompetent members of the FA at the time.
Although it was nearly 60 years ago, it could well have been centuries ago, the differences in footie then compared to now.
Great read for all footie fans, whether you support England or not.
Highly recommend.

[Christopher Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book which highlights both the sporting and the social history surrounding the 1966 world cup triumph.

Its fairly typical of England that we managed to turn our greatest sporting achievement into a catalogue of subsequent ineptness including the treatment of the players and manager.

Current Premier League prima donnas should be made to read this and then reflect in depth on their pampered lifestyles.

[Mark Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I have read some of Duncan Hamilton's books before and have always found them to be good value and this one was no different. A fond look back at the way in which the World Cup was won in '66, focusing mainly on Alf Ramsay and his career. Lots of snippets of information that I'd never heard before and a very easy read. I can strongly recommend this.

[Kevin Coaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been a big fan of Duncan Hamilton’s previous works on Clough and Larwood, but I found this one rather disappointing.

For a start, the title feels misleading - it’s essentially a biography of Alf Ramsey. While the sections on his Ipswich years are engaging and well-researched, the coverage of the 1966 World Cup final falls back on familiar anecdotes and well-worn tropes.

[David Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best sports books I've read, shedding light on Alf Ramsey, the England squad and workings of the English F.A. At the time. Duncan Hamilton is one of the leading sports authors of the current era.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, with a lot of detail that I found fascinating. The book’s main focus, unsurprisingly, is Sir Alf Ramsey. It would be good if one of the tv or streaming networks could show the 1966 film “Goal!” again - I believe it might get good viewing figures.

[Simon Linacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh so good, but oh so sad as well. Can’t help equating the FA of the 60s and 70s with the ruling class of today

[Mark Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine book from the best sports writer we have.
He cannot write a dull sentence.

[steven j simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing book wether you like football or not . This is told and written in such a moving way that it really stops you in your tracks. I cannot recommend this book enough 5*

[Gary Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Loses a star for the unnecessary footnote detailing the fate of Pickles the dog. We really didn't need to know.

[Kevin Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just superb. Arguably the best book on Football I've ever read. Highly recommended.

[Mark Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant. Incisive & moving