Last Boy of ’66

My story of England’s World Cup winning team

By Geoff Hurst | Publisher: Ebury Publishing

About the book

And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!

Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.

But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.

The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.

Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.

In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.

Editions of Last Boy of ’66

Hardcover
ISBN 9781529938487
Paperback
ISBN 9781529938494
EBook
ISBN 9781529938500
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9781529942651

Read an Excerpt

And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!

Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.

But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.

The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.

Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.

In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Last Boy of ’66 about?

And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!

Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.

But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.

The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.

Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.

In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Last Boy of ’66?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Memoirs

Where can I read a sample of Last Boy of ’66?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781529938487

How long is Last Boy of ’66 and how many pages does it have?

Last Boy of ’66 has 304 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Last Boy of ’66?

Geoff Hurst

Who is the Publisher of the book Last Boy of ’66?

Ebury Publishing

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Last Boy of ’66 is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781529938487) and paperback(ISBN 9781529938494) and ebook(ISBN 9781529938500) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781529942651)

Where can I buy Last Boy of ’66 online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Last Boy of ’66 from below

Where can I buy Last Boy of ’66?