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1966: World Champions: Relive the glorious summer with those who were there
The 1960s was a larger than life decade, characterised by cultural change - London was swinging, skirt lengths were rising and The Beatles' minds were expanding. But for millions of people there is only one defining moment: Saturday 30 July 1966 - the day that England won the 'World Cup.
In 'World Champions' World Cup hero Geoff Hurst takes us back to that glorious summer in 1966 when he and his team-mates defeated the football world and captured the sport's biggest prize, Relive all the action, on and off the pitch as Geoff talks training tactics, team camaraderie, pre-match rituals and what it was like to score but three times in the final.
Lavishly illustrated - including photographs from Geoff's own collection - and containing personal reminiscences from a host of celebrities and flashbacks to the news events, films and music of that year, 'World Champions' brilliantly captures and commemorates the time and place of England's greatest sorting achievement.
In 'World Champions' World Cup hero Geoff Hurst takes us back to that glorious summer in 1966 when he and his team-mates defeated the football world and captured the sport's biggest prize, Relive all the action, on and off the pitch as Geoff talks training tactics, team camaraderie, pre-match rituals and what it was like to score but three times in the final.
Lavishly illustrated - including photographs from Geoff's own collection - and containing personal reminiscences from a host of celebrities and flashbacks to the news events, films and music of that year, 'World Champions' brilliantly captures and commemorates the time and place of England's greatest sorting achievement.
- GenresFootball
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 23, 2018
As a 15yo boy living in South London, and in the middle of 'O'-Levels, I bought a 10-match book of tickets to watch all the games at Wembley/White City, from the group matches to the final. I managed to see 9, missing one because I was sitting an exam! So, I can say 'I was there'.
Finding this book, could it match the reality?
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this look back, by football World Cup hero Geoff Hurst, at England's 1996 4-2 win over Germany at Wembley, from his personal point of view, but within a wider social context, and giving details of the run-up to the event, and its aftermath.
As well as a well-written text, there is a panoply of football pictures, plus many pictures of people and events at the time.
Good stuff, indeed!
The GR blurb:
'In this lavishly illustrated commemorative book, England’s World Cup hero, Sir Geoff Hurst, describes how he and his team mates took on and defeated the football world in the glorious summer of 1966. He relives all the action, on and off the pitch, as the England team embarked on the quest to capture the sport’s biggest prize.'
Finding this book, could it match the reality?
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this look back, by football World Cup hero Geoff Hurst, at England's 1996 4-2 win over Germany at Wembley, from his personal point of view, but within a wider social context, and giving details of the run-up to the event, and its aftermath.
As well as a well-written text, there is a panoply of football pictures, plus many pictures of people and events at the time.
Good stuff, indeed!
The GR blurb:
'In this lavishly illustrated commemorative book, England’s World Cup hero, Sir Geoff Hurst, describes how he and his team mates took on and defeated the football world in the glorious summer of 1966. He relives all the action, on and off the pitch, as the England team embarked on the quest to capture the sport’s biggest prize.'
October 31, 2024
The pages of this excellent book are full of nostalgia, particularly for a football-mad young 20-year-old (as I was then). Geoff Hurst, well placed as one of the team, tells the full story of the planning and execution of the national football team's triumphant march to 31 July 1966 when England defeated West Germany 4-2 in a dramatic World Cup Final.
Geoff Hurst's account of the build-up to, the politics involved in, manager Alf Ramsey's important part in the planning, the dramatic injury that enabled Hurst to play in the final games of the tournament, the execution of the plans, the winning of the trophy and all its aftermath are brilliantly told in first-hand accounts by Hurst.
Beginning by giving background to England's up to then lacklustre appearances in World Cup Finals, he explains that once Alf Ramsey was appointed manager the first comment he made to the press was, 'We will win the next tournament (1966).' And he never faltered from this philosophy even when, immediately prior to the tournament beginning things had not exactly gone England's way.
Hurst thought himself lucky to get in the initial squad for the tournament for he had only been selected for the international side in the February of 1966. And he had only played six games prior to the finals. And as a goalscorer he had to compete with one of England's finest in Jimmy Greaves for a place in the side. He tells of the anxiety while awaiting the original selection of the squad and then he suffered agonies in wondering whether he would make the trimmed down party. In the event he did so.
However Greaves was still at the peak of his career so he had to take second place, that is until Jimmy was injured in the final group game an Alf Ramsey gave him his chance. He took it well, scoring the only goal of the game to dismiss Argentina from the tournament. By this time greaves was recovering rapidly but Ramsey kept faith with him and he kept his place. He recalls all the anxieties he suffered but ultimately everything turned out fine with this three goals in the Final as West Germany were defeated 4-2.
He admits that all these events changed his life dramatically and recalls how the players all celebrated the success to the full. Along the way he remembers some of the UK happenings during the month of the tournament, many of which feature an illustration of the event or personality. In addition there are memories from a variety of celebrities who recall where they were on the fateful day of 30 July 1966. [Incidentally I also remember because it was the day I moved house from Ealing to Chiswick but I did make certain the move was finished by 3pm!]
Geoff Hurst has remembered vividly everything that happened and along with assistance from his writing partner Michael Hart, he has brilliantly captured the time and place of one of England’s greatest sporting achievements.
Geoff Hurst's account of the build-up to, the politics involved in, manager Alf Ramsey's important part in the planning, the dramatic injury that enabled Hurst to play in the final games of the tournament, the execution of the plans, the winning of the trophy and all its aftermath are brilliantly told in first-hand accounts by Hurst.
Beginning by giving background to England's up to then lacklustre appearances in World Cup Finals, he explains that once Alf Ramsey was appointed manager the first comment he made to the press was, 'We will win the next tournament (1966).' And he never faltered from this philosophy even when, immediately prior to the tournament beginning things had not exactly gone England's way.
Hurst thought himself lucky to get in the initial squad for the tournament for he had only been selected for the international side in the February of 1966. And he had only played six games prior to the finals. And as a goalscorer he had to compete with one of England's finest in Jimmy Greaves for a place in the side. He tells of the anxiety while awaiting the original selection of the squad and then he suffered agonies in wondering whether he would make the trimmed down party. In the event he did so.
However Greaves was still at the peak of his career so he had to take second place, that is until Jimmy was injured in the final group game an Alf Ramsey gave him his chance. He took it well, scoring the only goal of the game to dismiss Argentina from the tournament. By this time greaves was recovering rapidly but Ramsey kept faith with him and he kept his place. He recalls all the anxieties he suffered but ultimately everything turned out fine with this three goals in the Final as West Germany were defeated 4-2.
He admits that all these events changed his life dramatically and recalls how the players all celebrated the success to the full. Along the way he remembers some of the UK happenings during the month of the tournament, many of which feature an illustration of the event or personality. In addition there are memories from a variety of celebrities who recall where they were on the fateful day of 30 July 1966. [Incidentally I also remember because it was the day I moved house from Ealing to Chiswick but I did make certain the move was finished by 3pm!]
Geoff Hurst has remembered vividly everything that happened and along with assistance from his writing partner Michael Hart, he has brilliantly captured the time and place of one of England’s greatest sporting achievements.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews