I was 12 years old in 1966 and football mad.
The semi-final against Portugal clashed with a family outing to the cinema in Taunton to see My Fair Lady which was agony for me as I tried everything to get out of going. During the 10 minute interval at the cinema I sneaked out and appeared in the King Arms next to my Dad as the menfolk all went for a quick drink. This is before kids were allowed in pubs and Dad was a strange mixture of angry and proud as I quickly begged him for the half time score as the pub had the radio on, I think it was one nil to England then I was escorted out of the pub and the whole visit lasted about 3 minutes.
Mum went mental at me when I reappeared in the cinema as she had even had the Gents toilets searched in my absence. The day of the final I was at my Uncle and Auntie's in Watchet and had already cleared watching the final on her TV in the lounge. My cousins Andy & Russ, two and four years older than me respectively, had absolutely no interest in football at all and I spent the first 90 minutes nervously watching the match on my own. By the time the match went into extra time I was making such a noise that my cousins joined me as they couldn’t believe I was so excited by a game of football.
After the match I didn’t stop smiling for at least a week and I wonder if I will live to see England lift the cup ever again?
John Warren
Memory added on August 3, 2016
Comments (Add your voice)
No comments have yet been added to this memory.
