I was about 14 years old when I first went to watch a football match with my father. I really loved these outings watching Lincoln play at Sincil Bank. We went quite often. Our love of football and these family outings were memorable. 1966 was a very special year - London was the venue for the World Cup finals. I had to drive down to London to take a friend to the airport. She was going back to Canada where she now lived. I intended to travel on to Hastings to meet my uncle and accompany him to a dinner. Apparently we were going to meet the Australian Prime Minister. On the way there I arranged to stay in London overnight at my cousin’s home – she lived near Holloway Prison.
My cousin telephoned me before I left to say “England’s playing Portugal and I’ve got tickets for us both.” “I can’t go”, I told her. “I’m meeting my uncle and going to that special dinner with the Australian Prime Minister.” She said “Cancel it – it will be amazing – come to the football with me.”
Well, you might guess that I cancelled the dinner, took my friend to the airport and then I went to Wembley Stadium with my cousin for the football. England won! There was great jubilation – now England were going to be in the final. What a night!
We were then invited to go to another match on the Thursday. I think it was Portugal v. the Soviet Union. Of course we went and we stood really near to the tunnel where the players come out on to the field. We had a wonderfult time and chatted to the stewards in that area.
They asked us if we were going to Saturday’s match when England were playing Germany. We told them we hadn’t got tickets. “Well you can still come,” they said. “On Saturday go to turnstile number ? or letter number ?” (I can’t remember the exact instructions) “Ask for Jack and you’ll get in.”
I had my own driving school at the time and I had to be back in Lincoln as one of my pupil’s driving test was on the Friday. The test was at 1pm. I told my cousin that I couldn’t possibly make it. She quite rightly said “This is a chance in a lifetime – you’ve got to come back.”
That night we went out into London as we had tickets for a Shirley Bassey concert. It was eventful – but that’s another story.
Early Friday morning I drove back to Lincoln – my pupil passed their driving test and I told my Mother that I was going back to London the following morning. She was not pleased and said “You can’t be driving all over England like this.” I expect she was worried.
I was not going to miss this opportunity. I left Lincoln at about 5.30am the next morning and reached London by 9am.
I met up with my
cousin and concern had begun to cross my mind. I began to be quite worried and
apprehensive. “What will they be expecting from us?” I said. My cousin replied
“Oh don’t worry – we’ll just give him a fiver.” And off we went.
On the way there we bought hats with England on. People were asking us to sell
our tickets – some offered £200 (which was a lot of money in 1966). We hadn’t
even got a ticket!
The atmosphere was wonderful.
We went to the turnstile as arranged. We said to the man “we’ve got to ask for Jack.” He replied – “you’re alright, go through.” So we went through and stood near the tunnel. You may, if you look at the television coverage in slow motion, be able to see us hanging over the side.
The match was brilliant, exciting, amazing, exhilarating! My cousin and I watched England win the World Cup in 1966. We even saw the Queen!
We never did see Jack – and would love to see him to thank him for one of the most wonderful times of my life.
Nicola Chadwick on behalf of Audrey Barker, Lincoln
Memory added on September 1, 2016
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