1966: The World Cup in Real Time: Relive the Finals as If They Were Happening Today

by Ian Passingham

It is now 50 years since 1966 and all that. We've all heard Kenneth Wolstenholme's famous TV commentary: "Some people are on the pitch . . . They think it's all over . . . It is now," countless times. But, aside from that and a few other classic facts, what do most of us really know about the 1966 World Cup finals? 1966: The World Cup in Real Time retells the story of the iconic 1966 World Cup finals as if they were happening today—in a complete and highly-readable format. Live newspaper-style reports of all the matches, alongside reaction, off-field news and gossip from all 16 nations, form the basis of this unique book and bring the tournament back to life for the reader. There are tales of players breaking curfews, the England WAGS of the day, the Queen nervously asking how long was left as the clock ticked down in the final; while soccer's first-ever drug-testing program left the Brazil team worrying whether drinking coffee would lead to failed drug tests! Take yourself back to the era of Beatlemania, mini-skirts, black and white TVs, Harold Wilson's Labour government, the Cold War, and relive England's greatest-ever soccer triumph!

Genres: Football

256 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2016

About the author

Journalist with a background working as a reporter and news editor in UK local newspapers followed by more than 25 years as a sports production journalist with two major UK national newspapers. Passionate about sport and history - and reading, researching and writing about both.

Reviews

[Nathan Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a massive football fan and somebody who was born almost 20 years after England won the World Cup in 1966, I’ve always enjoyed seeing footage and learning little bits and pieces about England’s triumph. But what made this book so appealing is that it made you feel as though you were there at the time, experiencing it for yourself. It doesn’t just tell you about how England won the World Cup. The real time reporting means you get an idea of how each nation viewed the tournament, how they approached matches and what their opinions were at the conclusion of matches. I found that I learned a lot about the 1966 World Cup and that I now have a better understanding of the impact that it had, not just in England, but on each participating nation. An excellent read.

[Mark Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this account as it happened. I was almost 11 at the time so don't really remember it well. Great to live through that time again when England could claim to be the best team in the world.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable day by day account of the 1966 World Cup and England's victory. Very different from today.