England’s 1966 World Cup winning team is still revered to this day, but only one player from that iconic squad remains – Sir Geoff Hurst.
When 4-4-2 was the order of the day, Sir Geoff Hurst wouldn’t have been able to lead his team up front without a player to run with him, but now he is the ultimate lone striker.
Hurst, a West Ham United and England legend, is in a league of his own, literally. At 82, he retains the tall, lanky frame that helped him attack opposition defenders in an era when two-footed tackles were barely permitted and breaking a leg would earn you a yellow card.
Hurst’s life has been one of utter triumph and unprecedented joy. Until Kylian Mbappé’s arrival in 2022, the former striker remains the only player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, scoring three goals against West Germany on that beautiful afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
Hurst’s eyes light up as he talks about the decisive goal of his iconic hat-trick, the controversial second goal that wasn’t even sure it crossed the line and the amazing celebrations he shared with his team-mates. As his story reaches a climax, he is painfully reminded that he is the only member of Sir Alf Ramsey’s team who can tell the tale since Sir Bobby Charlton died last October aged 86. Now he reflects on memories with his beloved wife Judith, whom he married two years before that World Cup triumph.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football at Wembley Stadium, Budweiser’s “Bring it Home” campaign Ahead of Euro 2024, Hurst reflected on his former teammates and friends who have now passed away. “Obviously it’s very sad,” Hurst said, remembering those days.
“I spent a lot of time with the players, not just playing but playing golf with them a lot over the years afterwards, and it makes me very sad whenever I see team photos or pictures of two or three of us that were in any of the photos we’ve had over the years.”
“Yeah, that’s it really. It’s very sad. They’re all gone. I’m not the oldest yet, I’ve got a while to go. Jack (Charlton) is older than me, George (Cohen) is older than me, Ray (Wilson) is older, so I’ve got a while to go before I’m the oldest.”
Charlton died shortly after suffering a fall at a care home in Knutsford, leaving Hurst officially as the only surviving player born in 1966. Sadly, it had been many years since Hurst had last spoken to the Manchester United legend.
Asked if he remembered his last conversation with Charlton, Hurst took a deep breath and replied: “I don’t remember. I hardly saw or heard from him again after my golfing days were over. When I saw him in the crowd at a Manchester United game I began to realise something was wrong.”
“They’d always naturally look to Bobby and then all of a sudden he wasn’t there. Nothing was said and he kept very wisely silent about the whole thing. So after his golfing days ended many years ago there was very little contact. But Bobby Charlton, I mean, he was incredible. You can tell just by talking about him. One of our true greats, then and now.
“For Manchester United he scored 250 goals from midfield in 750 games. For England he scored 49 goals from midfield in 106 games. Harry Kane beat him but he’s an forward.” Wayne broke his other records but again he was a forward and Bobby scored all his goals from midfield. It’s incredible.”
Hurst was on the bench for the first three games of the tournament, having to play as reserve for the great Jimmy Greaves, who was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.
However, a superb performance and winning goal against Argentina in the quarter-final, followed by an assist in the semi-final against Portugal, forced Ramsey to use him in the final. The England manager’s surprising decision to play Hurst rather than Greaves, in an era before substitutions in football, was rewarded with Hurst’s hat-trick.
Hurst can recite the micro-movements and intricate details of goals as if he scored them yesterday. For Hurst, it’s no longer about him. He wants to see Gareth Southgate emulate Ramsey, Jude Bellingham emulate Charlton and Kane emulate his incredible ruthlessness in front of goal.
“Right now we’re just focused on the expression we use – taking it home,” Hurst added about this season. “We want to win the Euros. We’ve been disappointed enough times so it would be fantastic to do that. And I would say to the players: ‘Go for it!'”
“We have a very good squad. We’ve talked about the squad and it’s one of the best we’ve had in a while and the team spirit is very good. We are favourites, not that we’ll win it, but we are favourites, so it’s about time. I would like to see us win a major trophy in my lifetime. I’m 82 now and I never thought I’d be talking about it 60 years after winning it.”
Budweiser teams up with Sir Geoff Hurst to urge England to “Bring the Victory Home”.
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England are the favourites to win Euro 2024 this summer and will have the chance to get their hands on Nike’s latest home and away kits before kick-off.