After following all the games on tv, the World Cup experience really began for me on the Wednesday before the Final. A work colleague who had obtained a ticket couldn't go to Wembley so he decided to raffle the ticket. Of course I paid a pound (old money) to enter the raffle, but I was unsuccessful. However, I knew the person who won it was being his friend's best man on that Saturday. So I flew down four flights of stairs and offered him "30 bob" (£1.10s) for a ticket costing 15 shillings which he accepted and I left work the proud and excited owner of a World Cup Final ticket.
On the Saturday, of course, I wanted to enjoy and soak up the atmosphere
around the stadium, but was worried about losing my precious ticket or indeed,
having it stolen. The solution, I decided to put it in my sock. I purchased my
"World Cup Willie " hat, rosette and programme (all of which I still
have). Time to enter the ground and I removed my shoe and sock to retrieve my
ticket.
I was behind the goal opposite the tunnel and went through a variety of
emotions first as Germany scored, it couldn't be true could it, that wasn't in
the script and in the second half Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst found the net.
At last the final whistle! We embraced complete strangers and shook hands with several Germans. It was like that back in 1966!
I will never forget the emotions as Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy, the England team came round to share the moment with the fans, Nobby Stiles dance and the smile on the Queen's face as fans sung "God save our gracious team"
On the way home a little rain and oops I went into the back of another car at the traffic lights. No worries, we looked at the minor damage shook hands and went home to celebrate. After all we had just won the World Cup. Matt Atkins
Memory added on September 1, 2016
Comments (Add your voice)
No comments have yet been added to this memory.
