1966 World Cup Exhibition: The Boys of 66

50 years on from England’s iconic World Cup, the National Football Museum have worked with The FA to bring the glorious summer of ’66 back to life.

With stories from the people who made the games, played the games and watched the games that made the 1966 World Cup such a memorable tournament, the 1966 World Cup Exhibition celebrates England’s success and looks at the legacy of that win.

In this online exhibition we look at the Boys of 66 who contributed so much to help England lift the Jules Rimet trophy on 30 July 1966.

The exhibition has been made possible thanks to a £302,500 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant.

Ramsey appointed

Ramsey meets with the FA’s International Selection Committee, 5 February 1963, to select the England team to face France later that month. Ramsey would take complete control of squad selection from this point on.

Alf Ramsey was viewed by many as England’s first ‘proper’ manager; taking over squad selection previously overseen by committee. Previously manager of Ipswich Town, he guided them from Third Division South obscurity to Division One champions.

“I think England will win the World Cup. We have the ability, strength, character and perhaps above all the players with the right temperament. ”

- Alf Ramsey, 21 August 1963

Finding the winning formula

In April 1966 Ramsey’s men won 4-3 against Scotland at Hampden Park to clinch the British Home Championship and show the world why they were one of the pre-tournament favourites.

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The Boys of 66

01. Gordon Banks 02. George Cohen 03. Ray Wilson 04. Nobby Stiles 05. Jack Charlton 06. Bobby Moore 07. Alan Ball 08. Jimmy Greaves 09. Bobby Charlton 10. Geoff Hurst 11. John Connelly 12. Ron Springett 13. Peter Bonetti 14. Jimmy Armfield 15. Gerry Byrne 16. Martin Peters 17. Ron Flowers 18. Norman Hunter 19. Terry Paine 20. Ian Callaghan 21. Roger Hunt 22. George Eastham

Ramsey submitted his 22 man squad on 2 July 1966 following intensive training at Lilleshall, Shropshire and four international friendlies in ten days. The team’s headquarters for the tournament was Hendon Hall, 5 miles north of Wembley stadium.

“I am not suggesting for one moment they are the best twenty-two players in the country, but most certainly they are twenty-two of the best players in the country. ”

- Alf Ramsey, July 1966

Gordon Banks

Ramsey gives a lift to Banks during a training session, July 1966.

In a glittering nine year stint as England’s number one, Gordon Banks established himself as the world’s greatest goalkeeper. Banks didn’t concede a goal from open play enroute to the 1966 World Cup final, winning keeper of the tournament. Making almost 500 appearances for Leicester City and Stoke City, he was named FIFA’s goalkeeper of the year on six occasions.

“The best of his era and, possibly in history…no goalkeeper can ever have worked harder at his trade. ”

- Sir Bobby Charlton

George Cohen

George Cohen (second right) celebrates with the crowds at the Royal Garden Hotel during the official World Cup Banquet, 30 July 1966.

Quick, mobile and ever willing to support in attack, George Cohen’s overlapping runs down the flank were a constant threat to opposition defences. Cohen replaced Blackpool’s Jimmy Armfield as England’s first choice right back in 1964 and through sheer determination never looked back. A one-club man, Cohen made over 450 appearances for Fulham.

“The best full back I ever played against. ”

- George Best

Ray Wilson

Ray Wilson (right) of Everton and Liverpool's Roger Hunt (left) run around Goodison Park displaying the Jules Rimet trophy before the 1966 Charity Shield.

Ray Wilson was the oldest member of the World Cup team with vast international experience behind him going into the competition. A precise tackler with fantastic distribution, Wilson loved to attack and rarely made a mistake. A string of excellent performances saw him rated the best left-back in the tournament by foreign football writers.

“He was the complete full-back, a man who could attack and defend with equal competence. ”

- Sir Geoff Hurst

Jack Charlton

Jack Charlton's Leeds United tracksuit top from the 1972 FA Cup final.

A competitive, no-nonsense central defender, Jack Charlton was a late developer who didn’t make his England debut until just before his 30^th birthday. The ideal partner for the stylish Bobby Moore, Charlton put his body on the line and covered Moore whenever he ventured upfield. A one-club man, Charlton made a club record 629 league appearances for Leeds United.

“His positional sense was brilliant…he was magnificently dominant in the air, at both ends of the pitch. No one was more influential in keeping people around him completely focused. ”

- Sir Bobby Charlton

Bobby Moore

Moore prevents a West Germany attack in the 1966 World Cup final.

Bobby Moore was a leader on the pitch and an inspiration to others. Ramsey made him his captain at just 22 and the composed central defender went on to lead his country 90 times. Bobby made 544 appearances for West Ham United and was voted Footballer of the Year in 1964 and BBC Sport Personality of the Year in 1966.

“My captain, my leader, my right hand man. Without him England would never have won the World Cup. ”

- Sir Alf Ramsey

Nobby Stiles

Stiles controls possession for England during the 1966 World Cup final.

Nobby Stiles was a brick wall in the England midfield, his desire to win was one of the key elements that helped lead England to victory.

His tireless running and persistent tackling alongside another young, energetic midfielder in Alan Ball, gave licence to Ramsey’s full backs to get forward and attacking talents to express themselves.

“I don’t know of any forward who can look forward to playing against Nobby Stiles. ”

- Jimmy Hill

Bobby Charlton

Bobby Charlton by artist Peter Edwards, 1991.

Bobby Charlton was England’s primary inspiration, combining great skill and awareness with grace and elegance. After the Munich Air Disaster, Manchester United manager Matt Busby rebuilt his new team around him. From his deep-lying midfield position, Charlton was the lynchpin of the England attack. His sportsmanship and work ethic were as famous as his thunderbolt of a shot.

“There has never been a more popular footballer. He was as near perfection as man and player as it is possible to be. ”

- Sir Matt Busby

Alan Ball

Alan Ball's Football Walk of Fame plaque.

Dynamic midfielder Alan Ball was the youngest member of the 1966 side. High in energy with incredible stamina, Ball’s key responsibility was to protect right-back George Cohen and break forward in wide positions in support of the attack. A month after the World Cup he left Blackpool to join Everton for a British transfer record fee of £112,000.

“His energy observed no natural law. The more he expended, the more he appeared to have. ”

- Hugh McIlvanney, journalist

Martin Peters

Martin Peters fires England's second goal in the 1966 World Cup final as Jack Charlton looks on.

Stylish midfielder Martin Peters was described by Ramsey as ‘a player ten years ahead of this time’. Handed his debut just weeks before the tournament, Peters seized the opportunity. Renowned for his supreme versatility, off-the-ball running, and clever one-touch passing, he would often ghost into forward positions to get on the end of crosses.

“People didn’t notice him because he played so many perfect first-time balls – the kind of passes that others would deliver after taking a touch. ”

- Bobby Moore

Roger Hunt

Roger Hunt appeals to the referee before England's third goal was given against West Germany.

Forward Roger Hunt worked tirelessly for his country in 1966. Hunt modified his natural out-and-out goal scoring instincts to assume the role of selfless runner, creating space for others to exploit. His intelligent running and sublime movement, combined with a refusal to shirk responsibility made him indispensable to Ramsey’s side.

“You could make huge plans around him, and he was greatly missed when he wasn't there. ”

- Bobby Charlton

Geoff Hurst

Geoff Hurst's boot from the 1966 World Cup final. After the game the boot was bronze plated by Adidas.

Iconic forward Geoff Hurst remains the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Hurst started his career as a midfielder, until West Ham manager Ron Greenwood chose to switch him to attack in 1962.
The original target man, his movement, strength and ability to lay the ball off created space and width for others to exploit.

“Brave as they come: the strength of his running and his ability to drag defenders out of position are phenomenal. ”

- Ron Greenwood

Jimmy Greaves

Jimmy Greaves lies in a bath with his bandaged leg rested up on a chair following a bad tackle he received during the England v France group game.

Jimmy Greaves was an instinctive goalscorer with telepathic positional sense, tremendous acceleration and fast finishing that tormented opposition defences.

A shin injury against France meant he would watch the rest of the tournament from the sidelines. Greaves racked up 44 goals in 57 games and the six hat-tricks he scored still stand as an England record.

“Jimmy was one of the geniuses of soccer at scoring goals. There’s no doubt that if he hadn’t been injured he’d have played in a World Cup final. ”

- Geoff Hurst

Alf Ramsey

Alf Ramsey's Third Division South, Second Division and First Division winner's medals from his time as Ipswich Town manager.

Born on 22 January 1920 in Dagenham, Ramsey was a reliable right-back for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, captaining England three times during his 32 international appearances.

Ramsey’s modern tactical approach was complimented by a strictness that emphasised physical fitness and demanded high standards of performance and reliability.

“The most powerful man I’ve come across in footballing business. When he said something you jumped. ”