Tales of England’s World Cup win
After remonstrating with the policeman over his decision, he punched him in the stomach resulting, unsurprisingly, in a warrant being issued for his arrest.
You can only imagine the mood among the spectators and the cash splashed on any mutt with a vaguely football-related name.
Dumpton Park closed in 1996 – ironically the year England next held a major football tournament, Euro 96.
That, however, could be disrupted by atmospheric changes and those fiendish French signals jumping across the Channel.
The issue rose its head in the summer of 1966 – just as everyone was glued to the set watching the progress of Alf Ramsey’s men.
Particularly hit was BBC1, which took the lion’s share of the final’s TV audience, with the Beeb helpfully saying “the viewer must help himself by making sure he has a proper aerial”. bargain in the November of 1966 you could have stumbled across the chance to buy a little piece of history with a rather practical purpose.
Geerings had snapped up a number of Imperial Model 70 typewriters (kids, ask you parents if you’re not sure what they are) from the press box at Wembley and were selling them on for a £15 discount – which given that’s the equivalent today of £290 is nothing to be sniffed at.
Used by “British and foreign correspondents” some were more niche than others, with keyboards on offer including “English, German, French and Russian”.
Still, they came with a guarantee and had witnessed England lift that trophy, so a bargain all round especially as they were “indistinguishable from new”.
And while the thoughts of today’s World Cup stars heading down to the county to open shops or work with local non-league sides seems ludicrous, the 1966 winning squad were far more connected to reality despite all becoming household names for their performances during that golden summer.
Take Bobby Moore, for example, the man who led the England team to success and lifted the trophy. In the April of 1978, he was the star guest at the opening of a new branch of bookmakers Ladbrookes in Ramsgate – cutting the ribbon on the store and meeting fans. Right-back George Cohen moved down to west Kent in the 1970s and contacted Tonbridge Angels about any roles they may have.
He ended up managing the Angels – leading them to victory in the Kent Senior Cup in 1975. Meanwhile, 3,500 fans flocked to watch the Angels play an all-star team in 1974 which included the likes of hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, ‘keeper Gordon Banks and midfielder (and scorer of England’s second goal in the final) Martin Peters.