Sir Geoff Hurst's 70th Birthday:
Remembering a nation united in celebration
Sir Bobby Charlton was recently asked if he bored of discussing the events of July 30, 1966. "Oh, no, not at all. As soon as the whistle went I said to my brother: 'You know, Jack, life for us will never be the same again. And I was right. Kids come up to me all over the world and ask, (awed whisper) 'Did you play in the World Cup final'? or: 'Did you score a hat-trick'? And I say: 'No, that was Geoff Hurst'.
This year, on 8th December, Sir Geoff Hurst will be celebrating his 70th birthday. As the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final, his place in footballing history is assured but it is the impact that victory had on the nation that stands out in Sir Geoff's mind.
'Having experienced the full impact of a World Cup win on the country as a whole, I know a win lifts the spirits of the whole nation, not just football fans. The team of '66 were surprised and humbled by the reaction - it was tremendous.'
Since that day, the memories of our national football team's victory are kept alive as they are passed from generation to generation. Today, as preparations are underway to celebrate Sir Geoff's birthday, and in a time where we hear more about troubles than triumphs, his management team want to jog our memory to a time when the nation was united in celebration of our boys victory on the football pitch.
Sir Geoff's recollections about the impact of the event are shared by many including veteran BBC commentator Barry Davies, then working for ITV and the Sunday Times, who has been quoted as saying, "There was an immense feeling of national pride. I remember the atmosphere in Trafalgar Square and it was something akin to VE Day I would imagine.'
And Sir Bobby Charlton remembers, "We'd no idea how the whole of England had become gripped with World Cup fever. It was only after we won,.. that it began to dawn on us what it meant to everyone. People were hanging out from every open window."
Were you in Trafalgar Square with Barry Davies? Was your granddad hanging out of the window to celebrate the moment? Did your dad run on the pitch when the whistle blew at Wembley? Was there a party? Did you put out the flags in celebration? Did you hear Ken Wolstenholme utter those immortal words? Or did you have to be at work while trying to keep up with events on the pitch?
By sharing your memories and photographs, and those of your friends and family, we can build a picture of the nation on 30th July, 1966 as a lasting tribute to a day when the nation united and celebrated with the team that lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.
As a former President of the children's charity, Sparks, Sir Geoff is guest of honour at this year's annual Winter Ball to be held on 8th December, 2011 - the day of Sir Geoff's birthday. HRH Princess of Kent will be presenting him with a Life Presidency award for the charity.
Your memories of 1966 will be part of this glittering occasion. The best ones will be included in a book to be presented to Sir Geoff during his birthday celebrations.
Sir Geoff has long championed the importance of the national squad, knowing that if you lift the cup, you lift the nation. It will be a fitting tribute to present a picture of the country in celebration to the man who did his bit to make it happen.