AS football remembered the 50th anniversary of England’s finest footballing two hours, somebody in Australia tweeted, “can you believe it, they are still crowing about something that happened 50 years ago – have they not go anything better to do?” Actually, as far as football goes, we do not have anything for notable to commemorate. Sad as […]
Tag: World Cup 1966
The wake-up calls we ignored and why England should look to Germany
IF there is one subject that was bound to distract politically-minded people in these troubled times it is the state of English football, particularly after England’s second major exit in a matter of days. It was a genuine privilege to be asked to speak at an event hosted by the Lewes Labour Party that coincided […]
Last hurrah: The meaning of 1966
IN 1993, I met Alan Ball and spent an entire evening talking to him about his career. It was a surreal experience, sitting next to a man who had actually won the World Cup. He played a key role, producing the cross that created Geoff Hurst’s disputed goal and was still running strong after 120 […]
Football Read Review: A new slant on that 1966 story
THERE have been many books written about the 1966 World Cup – a few pop up every time some form of anniversary is celebrated. And why not? It is, after all, the very high point of England’s football history, and sadly, unlikely to be repeated any time soon. One of the latest batch is 1966 […]