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14 - Following the Final on Holiday Ray McLaughlan: listening on a trans-Atlantic liner

I was 14 years old in 1966 and was crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner with my mother on the day of the final. I wasn't particularly interested in football but when I heard that the match was being broadcast in the ship's library I went along to hear. Although the ship was carrying more than a thousand passengers there were no more than 30 other listeners, all men I think, crowding around the library's radio.

It was exciting listening and the atmosphere in the library was tremendous and so loud that the bookcases were practically shaking! When it was all over I went to find my mother and told her that England had won the World Cup. She said something like, "that's nice," and then we immediately carried on talking about other things as if winning the World Cup was of no great significance.

I kept a diary at the time and many years later checked the entries of the voyage. Much to my disappointment there was no mention of the World Cup Final. I wrote about things I obviously considered more important at the time like what I had for breakfast, being seasick and the film matinees I watched in the ship's theatre (such as The Sandpiper with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton). A lost opportunity to record my experience on the day!

Oh well, at least I do remember it and have been able to write about here, so thank you Replay Memories of 66.

Ray McLaughlan


Memory added on July 30, 2016

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