Whenever England plays in a World Cup, we often see a recap of that day’s events from 60 years ago. Sir Geoff Hurst, the only surviving player from that team, is frequently asked about various aspects of it.
One he was asked how he thought the England team of ’66 would have done if they played against the Lionesses.
“I think we’d have won 1-0” he replied. “Only 1-0?” questioned the reporter.
“Yes,” said Geoff. “There’s only me left now, and I’m 83.”
There are always stories to explore about the Boys of 66. This time, we look at their careers 10 and 20 years later, recalling the fond memories of the amazing World Cup tournament in Mexico, 1986.
The 1966 winning team were all together 19 years on, playing West Germany in a friendly at Elland Road, Leeds. A grand repeat were arranged, to help victims from the Bradford fire. No one in the England team had any doubts of taking part in such a great arrangement. Nearly 20.000 spectators turned up to vitness this very special happening. The West Germany team had seven of their player present from the final in 1966 present.
Match details for England – West Germany; Elland Road, Sunday 28 July 1985, Result: England 6, West Germany 5.
England: 1. Gordon Banks, 2. George Cohen, 3. Ray Wilson, 4. Nobby Stiles, 5. Jack Charlton, 6. Bobby Moore, 7. Alan Ball, 21. Roger Hunt, 9. Bobby Charlton, 10. Geoff Hurst, 16. Martin Peters. Goalscorers: Hurst (3), Ball (2), Peters.
Selected subs: Cyril Knowles, Jimmy Armfield, Alan Mullery, Norman Hunter, Trevor Cherry, Mervyn Day
West Germany: 1. Hans Tilkowski, 2. Friedel Lutz, 3. Max Lorenz, 4. Franz Beckenbauer, 5. Willi Schulz, 6. Klaus Fichtel, 7. Bernd Hölzenbein, 8. Siggi Held, 9. Uwe Seeler, 10. Wolfgang Overath, 11. Lothar Emmerich. Goalscorers: Hölzenbein, Seeler (2), Overath.
The 1966, England’s team, 10 and 20 years later. Reflections on those special players and what their lives where like at the time.
1. Gordon Banks; Goalkeeper, Leicester, (28 years in June, 1966)
In 1976, goalkeeper Banks ended his three-year retirement from professional football. After losing the sight in his right eye in a 1972 car accident, he took on coaching duties with Stoke City. In 1976, he agreed to a one-year stint playing in the United States for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League (NASL).His time with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers marked a successful final chapter for the World Cup winner, as he played alongside notable stars like George Best and returned to competitive form despite his visual impairment. A year after the reunion game, and 20 years on from 1966, in 1986, Gordon Banks was officially retired from professional football and not involved in any type of managing or as a player, spent his time running businesses, making public appearances, and working as a community coach and club ambassador.
Gordon Banks died on the 12 February 2019 (aged 81).
2. George Cohen; Right-back, Fulham, (26 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, England’s the 1966 World Cup-winning right-back was managing the non-league football club Tonbridge Angels. He was also navigating a career in property development until he was diagnosed with bowel cancer late in the year at the age of 36, which began a 14-year battle with the illness. In 1986, George Cohen was navigating his post-playing life and working as a businessman. Having retired from professional football due to a severe knee injury in 1969, he had transitioned into the business world, keeping busy working in his own property development company, George R Cohen Properties.
George Cohen died on the 23 December 2022 (aged 83).
3. Ray Wilson; Left-back, Everton, (26 years in July, 1966)
By 1976, England’s 1966 World Cup-winning left-back Ray Wilson had entirely stepped away from football. Wilson moved to Oldham Athletic on a free transfer in 1969. In 1970, he moved again to Bradford City. He served as caretaker manager at Bradford from September to November 1971. He took command for ten games, before moving on to concentrate on his business outside of football. In 1986, former England and Everton footballer Ray Wilson was successfully running his own undertaker’s business in his native Huddersfield, having famously left the professional game years prior. Having retired from playing in 1971, Wilson stepped away from the spotlight and set up his funeral firm in West Yorkshire. He worked as an undertaker for more than 25 years before fully retiring in 1997.
George Cohen died on the 15 May 2018 (aged 83).
4. Nobby Stiles; Midfield, Man Utd, (24 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, Nobby Stiles was wrapping up his playing career and serving as a player-coach for Preston North End in the English second tier.Throughout that season, Stiles operated primarily as a reserve team coach while making occasional first-team appearances. In 1986, Nobby Stiles was managing West Bromwich Albion. Having taken over the managerial role in September 1985, his brief five-month stint concluded in February 1986, which marked the end of his professional managerial career.
Nobby Stiles died on the 30 October 2020 (aged 78).
5. Jack Charlton; Defender, Leeds, (31 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, Jack Charlton was the manager of English club Middlesbrough, whom he had successfully guided to the First Division. Alongside his managerial duties, he also worked as a television pundit for ITV, co-commentating on the 1976 British Home Championship match between Scotland and England at Hampden Park. During the 1975–1976 season, his Middlesbrough side made a strong run in the League Cup. In January 1976, his team played a memorable two-legged semi-final against Manchester City, ultimately losing 4-1 on aggregate. In 1986, Jack Charlton took charge as the manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team. Appointed in February, this marked the beginning of a legendary “Golden Era” for Irish football, eventually leading the nation to their first-ever major tournaments.
Jack Charlton died on the 10 July 2020 (aged 85).
6. Bobby Moore; Defender, West Ham, (25 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, In 1976, legendary England captain Bobby Moore divided his football calendar between the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the English Second Division, playing for San Antonio Thunder in NASL and Fulham in English Second Division. He also represented Team America (May 1976), paired up with Pelé and other NASL stars to represent a special all-star squad. They played in the USA Bicentennial Cup Tournament, famously facing the English national team at JFK Stadium. In 1986, Bobby Moore ended his managerial career with Southend United in April. Shortly after, he transitioned into the media, taking a job as the sports editor for Britain’s newly launched tabloid newspaper, the Sunday Sport.
Bobby Moore died on the 24 February 1993 (aged 51).
Embed from Getty ImagesBOBBY MOORE
England
7. Alan Ball; Midfield, Everton, (21 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, Alan Ball played the majority of the year with Arsenal before transferring to Southampton in December. In the spring 1976, Ball played four matches on loan in South Africa for Hellenic FC before returning to Arsenal to finish out the English season. In the summer 1976, following the resignation of long-time Arsenal manager Bertie Mee, newly appointed manager Terry Neill decided to take the squad in a different direction. In December 1976, 31 years old, Ball played his final game for Arsenal. Later that month, he was sold to Southampton for a fee of £60,000. In 1986, He was serving as the manager of English football club Portsmouth. During this period, he was successfully building a squad that would soon secure promotion to the top flight of English football, laying the groundwork for their return to the First Division.
Alan Ball died on the 25 April 2007 (aged 61).
21. Roger Hunt; Forward, Liverpool, (28 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, Roger Hunt was working in his family’s haulage business near Warrington. Having retired from professional football a few years prior, he had recently joined the Pools Panel, a British committee that met to predict the outcomes of postponed football matches. 1986 marked the 20th anniversary of England’s World Cup victory, and while many of his 1966 teammates were still active in coaching or management at the time, Hunt was successfully managing his post-playing career in the transport and haulage industry. He remained largely removed from the public eye during this period, having retired from international duty in 1969 and finished his club career at Bolton Wanderers in 1972.
Roger Hunt died on the 27 September 2021 (aged 83).
9. Bobby Charlton; Midfield, Man Utd, (28 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, legendary English footballer Bobby Charlton had a brief, surprising stint as a player-manager for Waterford FC in the League of Ireland.His time with the Irish club was remarkably short and involved unique circumstances. He signed for the club in January 1976 at the age of 39 to help spark renewed interest in local football. By the end of February, his contract unraveled. Other clubs in the league began objecting to handing over portions of their gate receipts, leading Charlton to return to Manchester. In 1986, Sir Bobby Charlton served as a director for Manchester United, having returned to the club in 1984. His most defining action that year was persuading the board to appoint Alex Ferguson as manager, a decision that launched an era of massive success.
Bobby Charlton died on the 21 October 2023 (aged 86).
10. Geoff Hurst; Forward, West Ham, (24 years in July, 1966) (84 years of age)
In 1976, Geoff Hurst had a busy transitional year playing for three different soccer clubs and beginning his move into football management. Hurst’s activities throughout the year included finishing up his Football League career in England with West Bromwich. In January 1976, he moved to Ireland to play four matches for League of Ireland side Cork Celtic. He then transferred to the USA to play for the Seattle Sounders of the NASL. He had a successful stint as the team’s second-leading scorer, helping guide the club to its first-ever play-off appearance.Upon returning to England, he officially retired from club football and was named player-manager of non-league side Telford United. In 1986, Geoff Hurst was working in the business world as an insurance salesman, having successfully transitioned into a new corporate career. After stepping away from football management in the early 1980s—which included a stint coaching Kuwait SC being the assistant manager of England, and also having managed Chelsea. He built a new life in the insurance industry.
16. Martin Peters; Midfield, West Ham, (22 years in July, 1966)
In 1976, Martin Peters was playing for First Division club Norwich City. Having joined the club in March 1975, the midfielder was a key figure for the Canaries, and his standout performances earned him the club’s Player of the Season award both in 1976 and 1977. In 1986, Martin Peters was transitioning away from professional football, earning a living in the insurance business while making media appearances and occasional football-related features.
Martin Peters died on the 21 December 2019 (aged 76).
Life Abroad
The path of a professional footballer can turn and twist as opprtunities comes and goes. The 1966 World Cup winners became special icons for most people on the planet. They got offers from all type of places, as many jumped on good and maybe not so good offers. In English speaking countries, such as South Africa, Canada, USA, Hong Kong and Australia, became popular destinations were these heroes were still popular years after 1966.
To see so many of the eleven, being tempted to play in South Africa during those Apartheid years, becomes strange in many ways, but also an adventure to highlight. George Eastham, a member of the 1966 World Cup squad, made his move to South Africa as early as 1970, with his father being some sort of a pioneer down there. Eastham played for Cape Town City and later returned to represent Hellenic. He later became manager of his former club Stoke City. When stepping down from his position, Eastham quit professional football completely and emigrated to South Africa in 1978. He set up his own sportswear business as well as being a football coach for local black children (being a noted opponent of apartheid). He was also chairman of the South African Arsenal Supporters’ Club. Eastham died on 20 December 2024, at the age of 88. Since his death, only three members of the 1966 World Cup Winning squad of England, Geoff Hurst, Terry Paine and Ian Callaghan, are still alive.
During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, we had seen several aging stars in the English game, beating the boycott, signing contracts with South Africa (white only) clubs. England internationals, Johnny Byrne and Johnny Haynes were down there and of course those connections made it easier for others to follow.
Examples include Gordon Banks (Hellenic), Roger Hunt (Hellenic), Bobby Charlton (Arcadia Shepherds), Bobby Moore (Cape Town City), Geoff Hurst (Cape Town City), and Alan Ball (Hellenic), who played for these clubs during different times and seasons. Jack Charlton traveled to South Africa in 1979 with the “Mainstay All Stars” tour, led by his brother Bobby Charlton. The group of retired British football stars played exhibition matches against top South African teams, overcoming the boycott.
When the NASL began to flourish in North America in the mid-seventies, several of the 1966 players tried their luck there. From the starting eleven, Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, and Geoff Hurst played in the NASL. Banks had success with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Moore played for the San Antonio Thunder and Seattle Sounders, Hurst also played for the Seattle Sounders, and Ball had stints with the Philadelphia Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, and Geoff Hurst played briefly in Ireland. Bobby Moore had a short spell in Denmark. Alan Ball played for short spell in Hong Kong, with Eastern AA. Charlton, played as a guest stint for the Australian club Newcastle KB United in 1980. Bobby Moore, turned out for Sydney City (then known as Sydney Hakoah) in the National Soccer League.Geoff Hurst, played for Sydney City in 1974. Martin Peters also had a brief stint with Sydney City as a guest player in 1980.
Much More
The strangest fact about England’s 1966 World Cup win is that they practically won and lost the tournament’s trophy in the exact same year. Four months prior to the tournament, the original solid gold Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from a public display in London. It was later found wrapped in newspaper, hidden under a bush, by a hero dog named Pickles.
Beyond the stolen silverware, the 1966 England squad (who famously defeated West Germany 4-2 to claim the trophy) had several other special and bizarre traits:
The mother of England stars Bobby and Jack Charlton, Cissie Charlton, brought eleven “miraculous medals” given to her by Catholic nuns to the final and gifted them to the players.
The squad was unique in featuring two brothers playing together in a World Cup final. Attacking midfielder Bobby Charlton and his older brother, defender Jack Charlton.
England remains the only men’s World Cup champion to have never gone on to win another major international trophy.
The players did not have modern agents, vitamin supplements, or fancy training regimens. They ate a simple lunch of chicken before the final.
Sir Geoff Hurst is hosting an exclusive event on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at The May Fair Hotel to celebrate 60 years since the historic triumph.
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