1966 and All That: My Autobiography - Softcover

Hurst, Geoff

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747241872 ISBN 13: 9780747241874

Publisher: Headline, 2002

Synopsis

Geoff Hurst's unique hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final catapulted him to international superstardom and changed his life forever. Now, in this updated edition of his long-awaited and bestselling autobiography, he recalls England's greatest sporting moment, and reveals the inside story of what it was like playing with and against some of the greatest names in history - Pele, Moore, Beckenbauer and Charlton.

His assessment of today's superstars, packed with insight from one of the game's true legends, must be read, as England look to the future with an exciting young squad.

About this title

Review

How many "years of hurt" is it now? As England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst relates in his evocative, challenging autobiography 1966 and All That hardly a day goes by without someone reminding him of the hat-trick he scored in the Wembley Final that brought football "home" the last time.

The referee had the whistle in his mouth ... Bobby Moore, untroubled and completely in control as usual, chested the ball down, played a short pass to Alan Ball, received the return and looked upfield to see where to play it next. I remember Jack Charlton screaming at him, "Kick the f****** thing out of the ground!"

Moore didn't, of course. With the final seconds ticking away he conjured a perfect pass to the galloping Hurst--the young West Ham striker with just seven international caps, who found himself spearheading Alf Ramsey's "wingless wonders" in English football's biggest ever game.

The rest you probably think you know, but 1966 and All That is far from a rehash of rosy memories of the glory days. Hurst reflects on the "Ramsey years" with a critical eye, relating it all with refreshing candour--Ramsey's fierce loyalty to his players, matched only by his failure to grasp the first principles of public and personal relations; the anguish of Jimmy Greaves, the man Hurst controversially replaced; England's rise and fall, which saw Ramsey sacked in 1974--along the way revealing sides of legends like Pele, Beckenbauer, Banks and the Charltons, that put flesh on the fables, including the inside take on one of the most bizarre stories in World Cup history, when England captain Moore was arrested for jewellery theft at the 1970 tournament.

There's also plenty of fascinating, forthright stuff on the "forgotten" Hurst--his phenomenal scoring record at club level, (though spending the bulk of his career at West Ham and Stoke kept medals to a minimum); a management career which will probably be best remembered for an acrimonious dismissal by Chelsea, that ended up in the courts; and his involvement in promoting England's 2006 World Cup bid, which provides a revealing glimpse at the political machinery driving football's world authorities.

Hurst has plenty to say--not least on the England players who have inherited the weight of expectation he helped create in 1966--and the status accorded to a living sporting legend gives him the licence to speak freely. It's a combination that makes for engrossing reading. --Alex Hankin

Review

Stands out from the standard ghosted autobiographies ... the period detail gives it huge charm (Simon Barnes, The Times)

Riveting (Mike Pattenden, The Times)

Refreshing to read a football biography with genuine, intelligent insight (Waterstone's Books Quarterly)

About this edition

• Publisher: Headline
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0747241872
• ISBN 13: 9780747241874
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448