Ahead of Saturday long-suffering fans of the England football team can always look back with nostalgia on one year when West Ham helped win the World Cup for England.
1966 was the year that Bobby Moore’s team defeated West Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final on 30th July in a nail-biting and controversial match. But two goals from Hammers legend Geoff Hurst in extra time secured a victory for the home team. For the first – and only – time since the competition began in 1930, an England captain and West Ham hero Bobby Moore was able to hold the Jules Rimet trophy aloft in triumph.
England’s group in July 1966 consisted of Uruguay, Mexico and France. England won the group after two wins against France & Mexico and a draw against Uruguay to give them 5 points.
England faced Argentina in the quarter final’s at the old Wembley stadium on 23rd July 1966 and it was our own Geoff Hurst who scored the only goal in the 78th minute to put England through to the semi finals.
The semi finals were played against Portugal in front of 90,000 supporters at Wembley Stadium. It was a Geoff Hurst again contributing to the second goal with an assist to allow Bobby Charlton to get his second goal and win the game 2-1.
The famous final was played against West Germany in front of 96,924.fans at the old Wembley Stadium. The West Ham fueled England team won 4–2 after extra time to win the Jules Rimet Trophy. The England team became known as the “wingless wonders”, on account of their then-unconventional narrow attacking formation, described at the time as a 4–3–3. The match is remembered for England’s only World Cup trophy, Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick – the only one ever scored in a World Cup Final .
Enjoy the World Cup while it lasts!