Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PIC THAT ONE OUT!
World Cup hat-trick hero Hurst has taken an ‘emotional’ trip down memory lane as part of Channel 4 team showing 1966 Final in aid of coronavirus charity
SIR GEOFF HURST has used his time in lockdown to go through some old photographs in his garage.
There were some wonderful snapshots of the celebrations at Wembley after the most iconic day in English football and a night out afterwards with Alan Ball and Nobby Stiles at the late entertainer Danny La Rue’s club in London’s West End.
“There was me thinking, stupidly, I may not get in,” laughs Hurst. “We won the World Cup and I’m thinking we won’t get in.
“There was me, Nobby, Bally, and John Connelly, the Burnley winger, in this fantastic picture that night with us just sitting down calmly round the table eating and posing for the camera.”
Those memories of that famous day on July 30, 1966, when he became the only man – still – to score a World Cup Final hat-trick, came rushing back as Channel 4 prepares to show England 4
West Germany 2 in its entirety tomorrow to help raise money for the National Emergencies Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal.
Sir Alf Ramsey’s heroes put England on top of the world and Hurst (right) admits that putting the Final Replay ’66 show together has been “emotional” as he provides insight and memories, with Gabby Logan presenting alongside Glenn Hoddle.
The 78-year-old is as bright and sharp as ever. He recalls it all so clearly, but admits he was left devastated by the recent death of fellow squad member Norman Hunter (kissing his World Cup medal, below).
“That was a huge shock, out of the blue, part of the pandemic. A lovely lad and we got on really well,” said Hurst.
“It was very emotional putting this thing together with all the technology.
“It was more stressful doing the programme than playing in the game by a million miles.”
It has also thrown up an obvious question.
Hurst added: “I often get asked how the team in our time would get on with the national team today and I always say it would be very close, but you’ve got to understand most of our team are over 70.
“Seriously, looking again at the game, how flexible we were, even Jack Charlton was coming out, straight forward centre half, to set the goal up, hit a post in the earlier round.
“Ray Wilson and George Cohen were very good defenders.
“Jack Charlton used to say that he felt players in our time could play today, but he’s not sure the players today, with different rules – like tackling from behind – could play in our time.”
The ex-west Ham striker is one of the all-time greats, but he does believe Spurs star Harry Kane would fit straight into the squad of ‘66 and should be regarded as world class. He said: “I played with Harry about two years ago when I was promoting walking football with Barclays.
“I think he scored six in the game and he kept asking for the ball, kept on calling me Sir Geoff. I was really embarrassed. “He’s a complete striker and he’s fit, dedicated, a down-to-earth guy. He’s not a big-headed superstar which goes back to the team I played with when we had world-class players who did not behave like superstars. “He’s good in the air, a good trainer, good character. He’s a team player. Take away the goals, and look at some of the goals he creates in that position.
“He’s good with both feet, good in the air.
“I bumped into Kieran Trippier a year or two ago and he talked very highly about England boss Gareth Southgate.
“You’ve got people like Kane, a senior player now leading the country and a good captain as well.
“They have been quite successful, because of the way they have been playing and the camaraderie and team spirit.
“It’s very important, hence the relative success we’ve had in the last two or three years.”