Where Were You In 1966?

[samkydd]

Most people old enough remember where they were when Kennedy was assassinated, or when man first stepped on the moon, but of those of us who were around then does anyone remember seeing the inbetween bit, the 1966 World Cup final?

My parents had been invited to a wedding and although only 5 years old I wanted to stay at home with my elder brothers to watched the football. Unfortunately me being the youngest and my next brother being only 8, we were suitably scrubbed up and suited and had to go to this wedding of someone we didn't know (a cousin I think). We moaned throughout the ceremony and after we arrived at the reception we were very annoyed to discover that only my parents had been invited and there were no places set at the table for us.

I remember that we convincingly offered a practical solution by volunteering to get the bus home, but instead two more places were quickly set and we were wedged in between fat aunties and uncles. By the time kick-off was getting near we were the only male guests left in the place because everyone else had disappeared into the working mens' club over the road to watch the final on television, and even the groom managed to see most of the game!

After weeks of collecting stickers, World Cup Willie memorabilia, wall charts, and just about everything you could collect with our meagre pocket money this was the biggest anti-climax you could imagine. Stuck in some village hall with a load of women relatives bored witless listening to their tittle-tattle, and too young to get into the working mens' club with the rest of them.

I didn't get to see the game for years and that was at the pictures, that awful film called Goal, which was not exactly Match of the Day, it was dreadful, all close up camera work of people's feet with the ball etc, the disparate worlds of sport and art colliding like a Nobby Stiles taking someone out with a crunching tackle from behind. I think the only time I saw it in full as broadcast originally was when they did a 20th anniversary celebration of the victory in 1986.

Do any of you remember what you were doing on 30th July 1966? Did anyone go to see it live? Did anyone not give a toss about the World Cup?

NB. The couple who wed on that memorable day in 1966, assuming that they're still together and still alive, will be celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary this July! God I feel old!

[alan gowdy]

(samkydd @ May 28 2006, 06:15 PM) Most people old enough remember where they were when Kennedy was assassinated, or when man first stepped on the moon, but of those of us who were around then does anyone remember seeing the inbetween bit, the 1966 World Cup final? My parents had been invited to a wedding and although only 5 years old I wanted to stay at home with my elder brothers to watched the football. Unfortunately me being the youngest and my next brother being only 8, we were suitably scrubbed up and suited and had to go to this wedding of someone we didn't know (a cousin I think). We moaned throughout the ceremony and after we arrived at the reception we were very annoyed to discover that only my parents had been invited and there were no places set at the table for us. I remember that we convincingly offered a practical solution by volunteering to get the bus home, but instead two more places were quickly set and we were wedged in between fat aunties and uncles. By the time kick-off was getting near we were the only male guests left in the place because everyone else had disappeared into the working mens' club over the road to watch the final on television, and even the groom managed to see most of the game! After weeks of collecting stickers, World Cup Willie memorabilia, wall charts, and just about everything you could collect with our meagre pocket money this was the biggest anti-climax you could imagine. Stuck in some village hall with a load of women relatives bored witless listening to their tittle-tattle, and too young to get into the working mens' club with the rest of them. I didn't get to see the game for years and that was at the pictures, that awful film called Goal, which was not exactly Match of the Day, it was dreadful, all close up camera work of people's feet with the ball etc, the disparate worlds of sport and art colliding like a Nobby Stiles taking someone out with a crunching tackle from behind. I think the only time I saw it in full as broadcast originally was when they did a 20th anniversary celebration of the victory in 1986. Do any of you remember what you were doing on 30th July 1966? Did anyone go to see it live? Did anyone not give a toss about the World Cup? NB. The couple who wed on that memorable day in 1966, assuming that they're still together and still alive, will be celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary this July! God I feel old!

On that date I was watching England win the World Cup, and very good it was too. Unfortunately in subsequent years it's become increasingly embarrassing how we have to refer back to that long-ago event as the last time we won the damn thing. Give it a rest chaps. After inventing the game England should be winning every third or fourth one.

[samkydd]

(alan gowdy @ May 28 2006, 06:51 PM) On that date I was watching England win the World Cup, and very good it was too. Unfortunately in subsequent years it's become increasingly embarrassing how we have to refer back to that long-ago event as the last time we won the damn thing. Give it a rest chaps. After inventing the game England should be winning every third or fourth one.

Unfortunately our history is made up of just one-offs; Waterloo, the relief of Mafeking, WW1, the abdication, WW2, the Mini, The Beatles, 1966 World Cup Final, the M25, the Millennium Dome, the rugby World Cup, and of course Jade Goody!

[penfold]

Probably on a swing in the local park, having been taken there in a pushchair by Mum. I was 2 1/2...

[smudge]

Either in me pram, or crawling round me Mum's feet !

SMUDGE

[Rob Compton]

It was my 13th birthday!

rgds
Rob

[theuofc]

Hello, Sam

Not sure you know this: the 1966 World Cup Final is out on DVD. I realise it's not the same as seeing it at the working men's club when you were a lad, but at least you get interviews with team members and other special features that sound pretty good.

Cheers,

Barbara
----------------------

Available at amazon.co.uk and perhaps cheaper at other video sources:

1966 World Cup Final [2002] DVD

ASIN: B000063KLS
Catalogue Number: BBCDVD1134
Digitally remastered
The Summer of '66 Special Documentary
Exclusive commentary with five of the 1966 England team: Jack Charlton, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, George Cohen and Gordon Banks
Exclusive interview with the late Kenneth Wolstenholme
Exclusive interview with Tina Moore
Player profiles
Picture gallery

[DB7]

A glint in the milkman's eye.

[tonewheel]

I watched the 1966 final on tv and remember Billy wright giving his preview and half time analysis. It was a hot day made even hotter by extra time.I was in a band at the time and it was a dash to get to the venue on time.I watched the film Goal a couple of years later but I thought it was a limp affair not really capturing any of the atmosphere of the tournament

[Harbottle]

Probably toddling. I recall seeing some of that ghastly film Goal when it was shown on TV some years ago, I say "some" as it gave me a headache what with all that zooming in and out of feet etc. I have the 1966 Wolrd Cup Final DVD which is the B&W BBC coverage.

[smudge]

(DB7 @ May 28 2006, 08:39 PM) A glint in the milkman's eye.

Wasn't that about the time the dairies were using the slogan, "Are you getting enough ?"

SMUDGE

[rjd0309]

Ten years old, working in me Dad's garage to build a launcher for a model rocket.

Whenever I used the electric drill, little blue-white sparks appeared inside the drill housing. This fascinated my little brother, who tried to get a close-up look at them by holding the drill close to his eyeball. You guessed it, his hair got wound around the drill bit and yanked out! Had to wear his baseball cap the rest of the summer.

Robert

[David Brent]

My family had emigrated to Australia the previous year.
Being a football mad schoolkid I was so upset that I wasn't in England at a time when all that excitement was going on.
I had a World Cup Willie poster on my bedroom wall at the time.
There was no live television coverage in those days but they did broadcast it on ABC Radio.
So I lay in bed from just before midnight until after 3.00am listening to the game on my small radio.
I also had to wait until the film "Goal" reached our shores before I saw the action in colour.
I remember it well. I invited my first Australian girlfriend Linda to come to the flicks with me to see it. She unfortunately had to go with her parents to visit relatives, so I went with a bunch of Pommie mates to the film instead.
Pure pride and homesickness enveloped us all.

We've been waiting for the next one ever since.

[foha80]

30th July 1966-how could I ever forget it.That was the day Stenhousemuir thrashed Forfar Athletic 4 - 0

Terry

[Steve Crook]

(foha80 @ May 29 2006, 09:22 AM) 30th July 1966-how could I ever forget it.That was the day Stenhousemuir thrashed Forfar Athletic 4 - 0 Terry

Stenhousemuir won a game?
I'm still waiting for that wonderfully tongue twisting score "Forfar five, Fife four"

Steve