England would go on to win the tournament, defeating West Germany 4-2 in extra time at Wembley on July 30.
Hail the Champions:
* Alfred Ernest Ramsey, a.k.a. Alf Ramsey, manager, born January 22, 1920 in Dagenham, East London. As player (a right back): 1943-49 Southampton, 1949-55 Tottenham Hotspur (a.k.a. Tottenham or Spurs, North London). As manager: 1955-63 Ipswich Town (Suffolk), 1963-74 England, 1977-78 Birmingham City (West Midlands), 1979-80 Panathinaikos (Athens, Greece).
* 1 Gordon Banks (no middle name), goalkeeper, born December 30, 1937 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. 1958-59 Chesterfield, 1959-67 Leicester City, 1967-72 Stoke City (Staffordshire, including their 1967 appearance in the United Soccer Association as the Cleveland Stokers), 1977-78 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (of the old North American Soccer League).
* 2 George Reginald Cohen, right back, born October 22, 1939 in Kensington, West London. 1956-69 Fulham (West London).
* 3 Ramon Wilson (no middle name), a.k.a. Ray Wilson, left back, born December 17, 1934 in Shirebrook, Derbyshire. 1952-64 Huddersfield Town (Yorkshire), 1964-69 Everton (Liverpool), 1969-70 Oldham Athletic (Greater Manchester), 1970-71 Bradford City (Yorkshire, player-manager).
* 4 Norbert Peter Stiles, a.k.a. Nobby Stiles, midfielder, born May 18, 1942 in Manchester. 1960-71 Manchester United, 1971-73 Middlesbrough, 1973-75 Preston North End. Managed the NASL's original Vancouver Whitecaps 1981-84.
* 5 John Charlton (no middle name), a.k.a. Jack Charlton, born May 8, 1935 in Ashington, Northumberland. 1952-73 Leeds United.
* 6 Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore, a.k.a. Bobby Moore, the Captain, born April 12, 1941 in Barking, East London. 1958-74 West Ham United, 1974-77 Fulham, 1976 on loan to the NASL's San Antonio Thunder, 1978 Seattle Sounders (the original NASL version), 1978 Herning Fremad (a club in Denmark that later merged with another to form FC Midtjylland). Despite his name and his London origin, he never played for West London club Chelsea.
* 7 Alan James Ball, a.k.a. Alan Ball or Alan Ball Jr., midfielder, born May 12, 1945 in Farnworth, Lancashire. 1960-61 Ashton United (Greater Manchester), 1962-66 Blackpool (Lancashire), 1966-71 Everton, 1971-76 Arsenal (North London), 1976-80 Southampton (Hampshire), 1978-79 on loan to the NASL's Philadelphia Fury, 1979-80 on loan to the Vancouver Whitecaps, 1980-81 back to Blackpool, 1981-83 back to Southampton, 1983 Bristol Rovers (Gloucestershire). Later managed arch-rivals Southampton and Portsmouth, and yet was beloved by both clubs' fans. His father, James Alan Ball or Alan Ball Sr., had also played and managed.
* 8 James Peter Greaves, a.k.a. Jimmy Greaves or Greavsie, forward, born February 20, 1940 in Manor Park, East London. 1957-61 Chelsea, 1961 AC Milan (Italy), 1961-70 Tottenham Hotspur, 1970-71 West Ham United, then bounced around the south of England until 1980. Was injured in the Group Stage and did not play in the knockout rounds. Later co-hosted Saint and Greavsie, a soccer-themed TV talk show with former Liverpool star Ian St. John.
* 9 Robert Charlton (no middle name), a.k.a. Bobby Charlton, forward, born October 11, 1937 in Ashington, younger brother of Jack. 1956-73 Manchester United, 1974-75 Preston North End (player-manager), 1976 Waterford United (Ireland). Also played county cricket for the Essex youth team.
* 10 Geoffrey Charles Hurst, forward, born December 8, 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. 1959-72 West Ham United, 1972-75 Stoke City, 1975-76 West Bromwich Albion, 1976 Seattle Sounders. He is the only man ever to score a hat trick (3 goals) in a World Cup Final. His 2nd goal made the difference, but many people still think it didn't cross the line. (I've seen the film a few times. I think it the goal was correctly given.)
* 11 John Michael Connelly, winger, born July 18, 1938 in Barrowford, Lancashire. 1956-64 Burnley, 1964-66 Manchester United, 1966-70 Blackburn Rovers (Lancashire), 1970-73 Bury (Greater Manchester). Played only in the opening game against Uruguay.
* 12 Ronald Deryk George Springett, a.k.a. Ron Springett, goalkeeper, born July 22, 1935 in Fulham, West London. 1955-58 Queens Park Rangers (a.k.a. QPR, West London), 1958-67 Sheffield Wednesday (Yorkshire), 1967-69 QPR again. Although he was England's starting goalkeeper in the 1962 World Cup, he did not play in the 1966 edition.
* 13 Peter Phillip Bonetti, goalkeeper, born September 27, 1941 in Putney, West London. 1960-79 Chelsea, 1975 loan to St. Louis Stars (NASL), 1979 Dundee United (Scotland), came out of retirement to play 2 games for Woking (Surrey) in 1986. Did not appear in the 1966 World Cup, and famously took the heat for England getting knocked out in 1970 when he filled in for Banks, who was ill.
* 14 James Christopher Armfield, a.k.a. Jimmy Armfield, right back, born September 21, 1935 in Denton, Lancashire. 1954-71 Blackpool. Although he was acclaimed "the best right back in the world" during the 1962 World Cup, an injury kept him out of the 1966 edition. Later managed Leeds to the 1975 European Cup Final, losing to Bayern Munich.
* 15 Gerald Byrne (no middle name), a.k.a. Gerry Byrne, left back, born August 29, 1938 in Liverpool. 1957-69 Liverpool. Famously helped Liverpool win the 1965 FA Cup Final despite playing most of the game with a broken collarbone. Selected for the 1966 World Cup team, but did not play in the tournament.
* 16 Martin Stanford Peters, midfielder, born November 8, 1943 in Plaistow, East London. 1959-70 West Ham United, 1970-75 Tottenham Hotspur, 1975-80 Norwich City (Norfolk), 1980-81 Sheffield United (Yorkshire), 1982-83 Gorleston (Norfolk).
* 17 Ronald Flowers (no middle name), a.k.a. Ron Flowers, midfielder, born July 28, 1934 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. 1952-67 Wolverhampton Wanderers (West Midlands), 1967-69 Northampton Town, 1969-71 Telford United (Shropshire). Although he played for England in the 1962 World Cup, he did not appear in the 1966 edition despite being selected for the team. His brother John Flowers was a successful player for hometown club Doncaster Rovers. So was their uncle George Flowers.
* 18 Norman Hunter (no middle name), centreback, born October 29, 1938 in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. 1962-76 Leeds United (Yorkshire), 1976-79 Bristol City (Gloucestershire), 1979-82 Barnsley (Yorkshire). The epitome of the "Dirty Leeds" teams of the latter half of the Sixties and the first half of the Seventies, during the 1972 FA Cup Final in which Leeds beat Arsenal, a Leeds fan held up a banner reading "NORMAN BITES YER LEGS." He was known as Bites Yer Legs Hunter from then on. Legend has it that, when he broke his own leg in training, someone told the club trainer, "Norman has broken a leg," and the trainer said, "Whose is it?" He was named to 2 World Cup squads, but only made 1 appearance, in 1970.
* 19 Terence Lionel Paine, a.k.a. Terry Paine, winger, born March 23, 1939 in Winchester, Hampshire. 1957-74 Southampton (Hampshire), 1974-77 Hereford United, 1979-80 Cheltenham Town (Gloucestershire). Injured in the match with Mexico, and never played for England again.
* 20 Ian Robert Callaghan, midfielder, born April 10, 1942 in Liverpool. 1960-78 Liverpool, 1978 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL), 1978-81 Swansea City (Wales), 1981-82 Crewe Alexandra (Cheshire). Did not play in the World Cup.
* 21 Roger Hunt (no middle name), forward, born July 20, 1938 in Glazebury, Cheshire. 1958-69 Liverpool, 1969-72 Bolton Wanderers (Lancashire). Hurst has always said that if there had been any doubt that his 2nd goal had crossed the line, Hunt would have rushed in to put it over. Instead, Hunt turned away to celebrated it, suggesting that it was totally legit.
* 22 George Edward Eastham, forward, born September 23, 1936 in Blackpool, Lancashire. 1953-56 Ards (Bangor, Northern Ireland), 1956-60 Newcastle United (Tyne and Wear), 1960-66 Arsenal, 1966-73 Stoke City (teammates with Banks, including in their sojourn in Cleveland), 1974-76 Hellenic (Cape Town, South Africa). Best known as the player whose legal case broke England's maximum wage for footballers. This did not stop him from playing for England in the 1962 World Cup, although he was not put into any of the games for the 1966 edition. Later fought apartheid in South Africa as a white manager of black teams.
On the books of these teams at the time: 3 for Liverpool, 3 for Manchester United, 3 for West Ham United, 2 for Blackpool, 2 for Leeds United, and 1 each for Arsenal, Blackpool, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Including Ramsey, these men could be claimed at one time or another by these teams: 4 for West Ham; 3 each for Liverpool, Man United, Southampton, Stoke and Tottenham; 2 each for Arsenal, Blackpool, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Leeds and Preston; and 1 each for Ashton, Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Bradford City, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Burnley, Bury, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra, Gorleston, Hereford, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Northampton, Norwich, Oldham, QPR, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Swnasea, Telford, West Brom, Woking and Wolves.
Also with England at the 1958 World Cup: Bobby Charlton.
Also with England at the 1962 World Cup: Wilson, Moore, Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Connelly, Springett, Armfield, Flowers, Hunt, Eastham.
Also with England at the 1970 World Cup: Banks, Stiles, Moore, Ball, both Charltons, Hurst, Bonetti, Peters, Hunter.
Some of them might have made the team for England at the 1974 World Cup, but England did not qualify.
Queen Elizabeth II handed the World Cup itself, the Jules Rimet Trophy, to Captain Bobby Moore. There is a movement to convince her to grant him a posthumous knighthood. But if Horatio Nelson, Alan Turing and John Lennon aren't going to be posthumously knighted, then Moore stands little chance. Thus far, the Queen has knighted 2 members of the team: Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst.
All of the players lived to see the 25th Anniversary of the achievement. All lived to see the 30th and the 40th, except for Moore: He died of colon cancer on February 24, 1993. He was only 51.
Alan Ball, the youngest member of the team, died on April 25, 2007. He was only 61. His father had also died young, in a car crash at age 57. John Connelly died on October 25, 2012, apparently of heart failure. He was 74. Ron Springett died on September 12, 2015, also apparently of heart failure. He was 80. Gerry Byrne died on November 28, 2015, of complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 77.
Now, in addition to Byrne's battle with Alzheimer's, 4 other members of that team are experiencing dementia: Wilson, Stiles and Peters have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Jack Charlton says, "I haven't got a memory now. I forget things easily." He is no longer allowed to drive, or to go fishing alone. Stiles, Banks and Greaves are also battling cancer. Greaves, the Football League's all-time leading goalscorer, has had strokes, and is now wheelchair-bound.
Their numbers do not include Jeff Astle, perhaps the best-known English footballer to have had football-related dementia. He starred as a forward for West Midlands club West Bromwich Albion, and played for England in the 1970 World Cup. Nor do they include Gerd Müller, the German star who did not make that World Cup, but would eliminate England from the 1970 edition and win it in 1974, and was diagnosed last year.
Pat Wilson, Ray's wife, says, "There are people he played with at Huddersfield and Everton with Alzheimer's. They are all over. They have talked about heading the leather ball causing it."
The balls of that era were heavier than they are today, and, being made of leather, got heavier still when wet.
The surviving players have a golf outing every year. John Stiles, Nobby's son, says, "It's a real shame he can't go to the get-together anymore, because he loved going. He loved the camaraderie they had. That is what made them so special. But, unfortunately, like so many who played in that era and headed those heavy balls, my father has now got dementia. Many other players have some sort of degenerative brain disease."
When an event like winning a world championship happens, they say the participants and the spectators "will never forget."
Sadly, we now know that this is not necessarily true.
UPDATE: In 2018, Jimmy Armfield died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma on January 22; and Ray Wilson died of Alzheimer's disease on May 15.
In 2019, Gordon Banks died of cancer on February 12, and Martin Peters died of Alzheimer's disease on December 21.
In 2020, Peter Bonetti died on April 12, of what was only listed as "a long illness"; Norman Hunter died from COVID-19 on April 17; Jack Charlton died of lymphoma on July 10, also having dealt with dementia; and Nobby Stiles died on October 30, from the combined effects of cancer and dementia.
In 2021, Jimmy Greaves died of cancer on September 19; Roger Hunt died on September 27, of what was only listed as "a prolonged illness"; and Ron Flowers died on November 12, of an undisclosed cause.
So, as of July 11, 2022, the following 6 players are still alive: George Cohen, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan and George Eastham. And Charlton has now been diagnosed with dementia, too.
So, as of July 11, 2022, the following 6 players are still alive: George Cohen, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan and George Eastham. And Charlton has now been diagnosed with dementia, too.
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