Behind him in goal was the consistent, and solid Gordon Banks, considered at the time to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Alongside him in defence was Leeds United’s towering centre-half Jack Charlton, older brother of Manchester United’s Bobby who had scored the goals that took England past Portugal in the semi-final.
Also in the team were club mates Martin Peters, and Geoff Hurst. All three West Ham players were destined to write their name in football’s history books when England met West Germany in the final. England won 4-2, after extra time, to lift the trophy for their only ever time. Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick and Martin Peters the other. The final goal came with the last kick of the match when Hurst was put through by a huge upfield pass by none other than Bobby Moore.
It was Bobby that led his team up the Wembley steps to lift the Jules Rimet trophy. In pure Bobby Moore style he was seen to wipe the mud off his hands prior to shaking hands with the Queen who presented the World Cup to him in gleaming white gloves. He became an instant national hero, a star, and a celebrity. He was soon awarded the Order Of The British Empire.
His 50th cap came in a 5-1 England win over Wales at Wembley, of course. A rare disappointment followed when England surprisingly lost to Yugoslavia in the European Championship of 1968. The next World Cup took place in Mexico in 1970 with England automatically qualifying courtesy of their 1966 win. It proved to be an even more eventful tournament for their captain.
When England were in Bogota, Columbia for a warm up match he was arrested following an allegation of theft of a bracelet from a jewellers shop. He was eventually released and the matter dropped but it was an unsettling incident. Despite this he played his customary faultless game throughout the tournament.
Perhaps his greatest England performance came when England lost 0-1 to eventual winners Brazil. His goal saving tackle on winger Jairzinho seemed to personify his class. At the end of the game arguably the world’s greatest player at the time Pele exchanged shirts with the man that had all but tamed the Brazil attack. However defeat against an avenging West Germany followed. Despite the fact that England had been winning 2-0, a remarkable comeback saw them lose 2-3. England were out and flew home having failed to retain the World Cup.
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
YES! Bobby Moore (had a stint with the Sounders). I remember learning of and following his skills as I was a youth player in the late 60s in this neck of the woods. A huge influx of British aeronautical engineers to our area for work at Boeing let us kids know about Bobby Moore.
You menion Geoff Hurst! a long time Sounder! Gordon Banks, Rodney Marsh, George Best. A good list of names!
Anyway, Bobby was a true great. and a very solid defender.
best,
DM
2 - Dr Dreadful
Douglas,
If Bobby Moore were alive today, he'd be telling you to put 'http://' in front of your website address in the URL box before you post your next comment.
3 - Douglas Mays
Dr., here is how retarded I am on the computer...I am just trying to navigate myself back to my main edit page to fix the damn thing. You would be entertained by the URL...
Dude, walk this computer moron thru this. I know it is completely simple. What the hell links get clicked?...
4 - Dr Dreadful
It's quite simple, Douglas. Next time you post a comment, before you click on the Publish button, look at the information in the little boxes situated directly above where you write your comment, and below the brown bit with the admonition against personal attacks.
The first one, which is headed 'Name:' is self-explanatory. Underneath that is a box headed 'URL:', in which you type the web address of your own site (in your case, your Myspace page) or any site you may care to link to. It is to this box that I would like you to turn your attention.
The problem with yours is that you have left out the 'http://' component from the beginning of your web address. Which means that anyone trying to click on the little blue thing that says '[URL]' next to your name at the top of your published comment will just end up on a dud page.
The fix is as easy as pie. All you have to do is type the 'http://' in at the front before you hit Publish. You only have to do it just the one time, and your browser will remember it.
5 - Douglas Mays
Oh, that is all. Shoot, here I am ging to the home page and all!!! Geez... Sometimes it is right in front of me....
6 - Dr Dreadful
Congratulations, Douglas - the link now works.
...Although the message I get on my screen says you've deleted your Myspace page. However, that's your problem, not mine!
7 - Douglas Mays
ugh....
8 - Dr Dreadful
There you go...
:-)
9 - Douglas Mays
Oh man, this damn URL thing right above the comments.... And I thought it was something deep in the archives of my Blogcritics bio and other original settings.
computer spaz douchebag...
OK< BACK TO FOOTBALL!!! thanks for your help of a 'special needs' blogger....
DM
10 - alessandro
I love reading about English legends from the 50s and 60s.
11 - Douglas Mays
back to soccer!!!
Bobby Moore, had a stint in the USA with Sounders. the new SOUNDERS FC just hired Sigi Schmid as head coach. A new MLS powerhouse on it's way!
Had to use Bobby Moore as a route to weasel in a comment about my team. Great player, great team...
futbol,
DM
12 - Jeff
Well weasled Douglas !
Will check out the Sounders webpage if I can find it - be interested to see how your season shapes up !
please keep the comments coming
Jeff