“But it was decided for me,” said David Alterton
Saturday 30 July 1966 is the most famous day in the history of British sport. England beat West Germany 4-2 to win the World Cup Final.
Ninety-seven thousand people packed Wembley stadium to witness one of the most dramatic World Cup football matches and I spoke to someone who was there at the old Wembley stadium on that momentous day for English football.
We all like to say I was there. Sixty years on they believe approximately 3,000 who were at Wembley are still alive to tell the tale. One person who can is David Alterton from March, now 83. David was a young computer programmer working in London living in a Lancaster Gate flat close to Hyde Park at the time of the World Cup.
England were awarded the eighth World Cup in August 1960 at the time of the Rome Olympics. Ironically the only other major bidder for the tournament was West Germany.
England’s new manager Sir Alf Ramsey said on his appointment in 1963 that England would win the World Cup. David remembered being confident himself, though he did worry about Brazil who had won the last two World Cups.
david gets his 1966 world cup tickets
In early February 1966 David returned to his hometown in Cambridgeshire for the weekend to see his parents and his brother Norman, and as he said to catch up on the latest gossip. He was in for a surprise. “Norman had bought a pack of England World Cup tickets for the two of us through his contacts with the local FA and the plan was he would go and see them with me,” said David.
The pack comprised ten matches, the six matches in England’s group, the quarter final, semi final, third place play off and the final. Each match ticket cost seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) apart from the final which was ten shillings. A grand total of £3 17/6.
on tour with march town cricket club
However, David was in for another surprise in April. Norman’s love of cricket changed his plans, and he decided he didn’t want to go and asked David to sell his tickets. Norman was a leading bowler in the March Town Cricket Club 1st XI and their annual tour to Kent coincided with the opening week of the tournament. Plus, unlike David he didn’t rate England’s chances.
David was also on the club’s cricket tour so missed England’s opening two group games.
He did remember watching the opening game of the tournament, on Monday 11 July, the 0-0 bore draw against Uruguay in the hotel bar after returning from that day’s cricket match. England defeated Mexico in their second group match 2-0 to bring hope to the nation and David.
david makes his world cup debut
Cricket tour over David made his World Cup debut as a spectator standing on the terraces at Wembley for England’s final group encounter against France on 20 July, which they won two nil. England topped their group and had set up a quarter final against Argentina at Wembley on Saturday 23 July.
The quarter final proved to be England’s toughest match prior to the final. In a tempestuous encounter, the Argentina captain Rattin was sent off after 35 minutes and thanks to a Geoff Hurst header after 77 minutes England came through 1-0. “Even with ten men Argentina were the best side. We were lucky to win,” said David.
David can recall being even more confident now with Brazil already out. “of course we were going to win it. “Who’s going to beat us now” remarked David.
Three days later the home nation beat Portugal 2-1 to set up the famous match against West Germany who had defeated the Soviet Union by the same scoreline in the other semi final at Goodson Park.
a busy day
David had a busy day in prospect on World Cup Final day. In addition to football, he was due to meet his girlfriend and another couple for an early evening meal before attending a music event in Windsor.
David arrived at the ground about 45 minutes before the 3pm start and easily found a space on the terraces directly in line with the goal line. “What I did notice when I first got onto the terraces was that the West German flags outnumbered the England flags by about three to one. Most of the English flags were Union Jacks and not the Cross of St George,” said David.
the final action
It was a breathtaking match. Both sides were at one time in the lead but after 90 minutes, it was England 2 West Germany 2 which meant thirty minutes extra time. David’s early evening meal was in doubt. “But there was no way I was leaving now,” said David.
England took the lead after 101 minutes when Hurst scored one of the most talked about goals in football at David’s end of the pitch. Did the ball cross line after coming down off the crossbar? We will never know for sure, but the Russian linesman said yes. “I probably had a better view than the linesman. It happened very quickly and I doubt very much if all the ball was over the line,” said David.
In the dying minutes of the game some people were on the pitch when Hurst scored England’s fourth goal.
David, who missed the trophy presentation, was off down Wembley way. After a quick phone call to his girlfriend, he was now in a race to the restaurant. Too late for the main course David remembered having two sweets before they headed off to his music event.
no cricket at march!
Meanwhile, on the day of the World Cup Final David’s brother Norman was looking forward to playing cricket for March 1st XI against Royston at The Avenue. Unbeknown to him, the two captains had other ideas. I asked my father Mike Wallis who recalled an early morning conversation with Royston skipper Brian Gadsby where they decided due to an early morning shower to call off the match. I got the impression from my dad that neither team was keen to play although without prompting he remarked “Norman was furious.”
Meanwhile, David was in a much better mood. “Things could not have gone better; Alf Ramsey was right. “He was a bit of chancer, but we had a good team,” said David.
brotherly love
There are many people who claim to have been at Wembley stadium on Saturday 30 July, some who could have been, and those that were. Norman fell into the second category while David was there to witness the biggest day in the history of British Sport thanks to his cricket loving brother.
Hear the full story of what it was like to watch England win the 1966 World Cup below.