Those were the days; I punched the ball into the net.

[owl sees all]

Maradona. Well yes he did knock in that goal with his hand. That was the hand of god though. Not Maradona this time. Much closer to home. In fact he scored a hat trick in the final of the World Cup, to see off the  Germans 4-2. An English sporting hero. who also played first-class cricket for Essex County.

 

Who was he? Sir Geoff Hurst of course.

 

 

Born in Ashton-under-Lyme , Lancashire, in 1941 (82). Family moved to Chelmsford, Essex when he was 8. His father Charlie was also a professional footballer.

 

Cricket played an important role in Geoff's sporting life early on. And even after a successful trial with the Irons, as a 17 year old, he continued to play regularly for the Essex Second XI. He made his first-class debut in a match for Essex against Lancashire in 1962. But that was indeed the peak.Two innings and zero runs in that game. At the end of that cricket season, he decided to concentrate more on football with West Ham, but played in the odd match for his county, before ditching cricket in 1964.

 

The World Cup in 1966 was a famous occasion for English Football, and Geoff more than played his part. 

 

The punching incident came, two years later in 1968. The first, of his 6 goals, in a match on 19th October 1968, as Sunderland were humbled 8-0 at the Boleyn Ground, in East London, was the dodgy one.

 

Hurst controversially admitted some time afterwards, that he punched his first goal into the net.  When asked about his admission he replied. ''I don't feel guilty about it one bit. I've had plenty of good goals ruled out.''

 

Sir Geoff finished his England playing career in 1972, in the qualification stages for the 1972 European Championships, and again it was against West Germany, He was awarded 49 caps and scored 24 goals.

 

Cub playing record

 

Period..........Team.................Appearances.......Goals

 

1959-72......West Ham United.....499................248

1972-75......Stoke City.................x108..................30

1975-76......West Bromwich Alb..x10iiiiiiiiiiiiiiixxx2

1976............Seattle Sounders........24iiiiiiiiiiiiiiixxx9

1976............Cork Celtic...................x9.....................3

 

17 years..-..5 clubs..-..650 Appearances..-..292 goals

 

Managerial career

 

Period.........Team........................Role

 

1976-79......Telford.....................Player-manager

1979-81......Chelsea....................Manager

1982-84......Kuwait Sporting......Club coach

 

Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE, is the only player of the 1966 World Cup winning team still alive. 

 

 

Thinking about that first goal in 1968.

 

[champers]

One of 2 World Cup winners born in Ashton-under-Lyme. Who was the other?

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, champers said:

One of 2 World Cup winners born in Ashton-under-Lyme. Who was the other?

Great question Champs. I didn't know, and had to look it up.

 

Surprised to see there were three World Cup winners.

 

Quote from https://www.artuk.org

 

'''Sir Geoff Hurst, who bagged a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup win over West Germany at Wembley, was born in Ashton in 1941 and spent his early years living in neighbouring Denton before his family moved to Essex.

 

Jimmy Armfield OBE, a former Blackpool star, who was a substitute in the same game, was also born and raised in Denton and was captain of the England side before Bobby Moore.

 

Simone Perrotta, being the third Tamesider to lift the famous trophy with Italy in 2006. The star was born in Ashton in 1977 to Italian parents and spent five years there attending the old St Ann’s Primary School on Burlington Street.'''

[owl sees all]

It is Ashton-under-Lyne - Not Ashton-under-Lyme as I spelt it.

 

What a silly-billy. Simply must do better.

[champers]

Not sure I would count Jimmy Armfield. Substitutes were not allowed in the 66 World Cup and he didn't play at all during the competition.