World Cup July 1966 on the telly

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:15 am

On this day...
The 1966 World Cup Competition got underway.
If you were around then, it was all in black and white as colour tellies were still a year away and broadcasts of regular colour programmes even longer.
Here's the Radio Times cover from 9July1966 and what was on...
(If you're interested in what was in the Radio or TV Times from the Fifties onwards, follow Graeme Wood on Twitter)

: B6B2D152-EE9A-47F3-97C7-B046155EB693.png (1.21 MiB) Viewed 4075 times

: 6C0F5292-4D91-44B4-9015-1107410C809C.png (1.36 MiB) Viewed 4075 times

: 5B8BF7BF-E0CE-4BBD-824A-A2182D2E539B.png (1.68 MiB) Viewed 4075 times

2 Bee Holed · Post by **2 Bee Holed** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:22 am

Where was the England flag?

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:46 am

I was only young, but remember my dad and my uncle going off one evening to Goodison to watch a match (not England of course) and then when the final was played we were on holiday on the Isle of Wight at a hotel. The bar was suddenly all decked out for the occasion and chairs set up facing a tele. Us littlies had to sit on the floor at the front and the adults sat behind. I remember my dad sitting there with his beer in an old fashioned barrel glass and the controversy raging in the bar surrounding our third goal.

Selby Claret · Post by **Selby Claret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:54 am

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:22 am
Where was the England flag?

It is the Welsh edition...

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:59 am

Before Three Lions, there was...
https://youtu.be/TA3btKkbZpU

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:02 am

Tournament programme

: world cup touranament programme.jpg (309.82 KiB) Viewed 3979 times

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:03 am

Far too many familiar names & shows on there to me than I want to admit.

Paulclaret · Post by **Paulclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:12 am

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:22 am
Where was the England flag?

In 1966 the flag of St George was rarely seen at England games. If you watch the game you will see nearly everybody is carrying a Union Jack.

Burnley1989 · Post by **Burnley1989** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:18 am

That was the case up until the 90’s

Carport · Post by **Carport** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:35 am

Wonder how much that football programme fetches now

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:33 am

The tournament brochure was quite common. The image is from eBay where the brochure was signed by all the players going for £450.
WC final prog also common but signed takes that up into several hundreds.

alf_resco · Post by **alf_resco** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:39 am

I was travelling through Germany on final day. Just after half-time, we called in at a small petrol station somewhere outside Frankfurt and the bloke who owned it was watching on a small black & white tv in the shop. Four of us then went in and started watching and naturally started shouting for England, much to this bloke's annoyance. We stayed till the end but he took defeat with good grace. I imagine he's long gone by now but for the rest of his days he must have been gutted at having to have watched it surrounded by English folk in his own little petrol station.

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:42 am

Some great nostalgia in those TV listing for the Saturday before the competition got underway two days later with England playing out an uneventful.0-0 draw with Uruguay.
Posted above was Dark Cloud's dad and uncle going off one night to Goodison Park. Some great matches in that group none more so than the first Friday night of the competition when Hungary defeated Brazil 3-1 on a very wet night. Florian Albert was magnificent that night.for Hungary with the whole.of Goodison chanting his name.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:50 am

We always went on camping holidays every summer. My Mum and Nan, and 4 kids.
My Dad and elder brother never joined us. They took in the Korea v Italy match at Ayresome Park, which the Koreans won to everyones delight.
That summer we went to Ireland. Staying on Achill Island the day of the final, no tv at all. I can remember someone telling us that England had won, and me and my younger brother going mental.
It was a great holiday, but I've always regretted no being at home watching the telly.

This Sunday as the Gods would have it I'm on earlys, which is a 4.00am alarm call. I'm off to the pub regardless, but dreading extra time and penalties. I could be heading to work half cut, and half asleep. All worthwhile if we win mind.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:26 am

David Attenborough still on the telly 55 years later.

Winstonswhite · Post by **Winstonswhite** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:31 am

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:18 am
That was the case up until the 90’s

I’ve never understood that. Does anyone know why fans didn’t wave the England flag?

Burnley1989 · Post by **Burnley1989** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:42 am

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:31 am
I’ve never understood that. Does anyone know why fans didn’t wave the England flag?

I remember asking my Dad when I was watching the Italia 90 video.

What a great video by the way! The one with Gazza on the front

Edit: he didn’t know either

Thehistoryteacher · Post by **Thehistoryteacher** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 12:07 pm

mikeS wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:33 am
The tournament brochure was quite common. The image is from eBay where the brochure was signed by all the players going for £450.
WC final prog also common but signed takes that up into several hundreds.

An original Final programme is just about the hardest to buy - there are so many reprints and outright fakes you really do have to know your stuff .. there are pages and pages of advice on how to identify a real one

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 12:09 pm

mikeS wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:26 am
David Attenborough still on the telly 55 years later.

And Doctor Who.

JohnDearyMe · Post by **JohnDearyMe** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 12:16 pm

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:50 am

That summer we went to Ireland. Staying on Achill Island the day of the final, no tv at all. I can remember someone telling us that England had won, and me and my younger brother going mental.
It was a great holiday, but I've always regretted no being at home watching the telly.

Achill Island, lovely part of the world.

Funny how football is so much more all encompassing in many ways now in our society.

BobSykes · Post by **BobSykes** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:05 pm

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:31 am
I’ve never understood that. Does anyone know why fans didn’t wave the England flag?

I guess because England and Great Britain were utterly synonymous in those days, referred to interchangeably as one and the same. Whilst the other home nations had their flags and anthems, we took the British ones as ours. I'd have thought a more tactful approach and the George flag became predominant before the 90s though?

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:38 pm

The only random things I can remember reading about the 66 WC, are Pickles the dog finding the stolen trophy, and of course World Cup Willie.

And one of the downsides of that tournament was the fact that Pele was kicked out of the competition quite literally.

Bewitched, Juke Box Jury, The Likely Lads and The Munsters are the only shows I recognise from those listings. Besides Dr Who obviously.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:40 pm

The UK always was four separate countries, but once the move to devolution and regional assemblies took place from the late 1990s, that is definitely more so today than it was in 1966.
There are lots of videos on YouTube of the 66 WC final, and this colour example shows there were St George's England flags present, the Union Flag was more predominant.https://youtu.be/PXb306p1BrM

DAVETHEVICAR · Post by **DAVETHEVICAR** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:48 pm

Watched the final on the seafront at Lyme Regis , the semi final in a pub in Poole and the Quarter Final in a pub in Ryde- Isle of Wight.
All during a camping holiday around Devon and Dorset.
Doesn’t seem 55 years ago.

exilecanada · Post by **exilecanada** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:56 pm

Off topic a little, but here goes: Which team is designated the away team Sunday? If it's England, what are the probabilities of us wearing red, we have quite a good record when wearing red.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:02 pm

DAVETHEVICAR wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:48 pm
Watched the final on the seafront at Lyme Regis , the semi final in a pub in Poole and the Quarter Final in a pub in Ryde- Isle of Wight.
All during a camping holiday around Devon and Dorset.
Doesn’t seem 55 years ago.

You need to go camping this weekend DAVETHEVICAR.

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:55 pm

For those who want to revel in it again the full game, in glorious colour is on C4 at 5.40 today. Set your recorder.

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:01 pm

minnieclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:55 pm
For those who want to revel in it again the full game, in glorious colour is on C4 at 5.40 today. Set your recorder.

Sam Matterface on comms as well, which I think is a nice touch.

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:34 pm

exilecanada wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:56 pm
Off topic a little, but here goes: Which team is designated the away team Sunday? If it's England, what are the probabilities of us wearing red, we have quite a good record when wearing red.

I don't think there is a red option now, unfortunately there's an awful dark blue 2nd kit with a garish red badge. If it were up to me it would be Italy in blue/white/blue and England white/royal-blue/white.

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:42 pm

Rileybobs wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:01 pm
Sam Matterface on comms as well, which I think is a nice touch.

Nnnnoooooooooo!!!

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:41 pm

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:38 pm
The only random things I can remember reading about the 66 WC, are Pickles the dog finding the stolen trophy, and of course World Cup Willie.

And one of the downsides of that tournament was the fact that Pele was kicked out of the competition quite literally.

Bewitched, Juke Box Jury, The Likely Lads and The Munsters are the only shows I recognise from those listings. Besides Dr Who obviously.

Pele was treated disgracefully by the teams in the group that played at Old Trafford and Goodison Park,Hungary, Bulgaria and Portugal. They all took.turns at him.with the worst.reserved for.Brazil's last.game against Portugal. He was literally kicked.out of the game and tournament with probably the final insult of being kicked in the air by an opponent and then kicked again before he hit the ground.

bob-the-scutter · Post by **bob-the-scutter** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:06 pm

I was 10 but remember it vividly. Always thought it was in colour but got mixed up with watching the movie released later on, GOAL, which was in colour.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:13 pm

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:41 pm
Pele was treated disgracefully by the teams in the group that played at Old Trafford and Goodison Park,Hungary, Bulgaria and Portugal. They all took.turns at him.with the worst.reserved for.Brazil's last.game against Portugal. He was literally kicked.out of the game and tournament with probably the final insult of being kicked in the air by an opponent and then kicked again before he hit the ground.

Yes what got me with the Pele incidents was it was clearly pre-mediated thuggery, and they were determined to end his tournament in any manner they could whether fair or foul. And even by the standards of those days it was pathetic behaviour, which should have resulted in harsh punishments, but to my knowledge none of those nations suffered any sanctions for their thuggish acts, so much for the beautiful game.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:28 pm

My Mother, now 85, was convinced she was a jinx and booked an appointment at the hairdressers, it worked .... but we're struggling to find one open at 8pm on a Sunday night for tomorrow !

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:35 pm

World Cup Willie

: C8216C13-DD4C-46D5-9527-43DEAB927853.jpeg (68.55 KiB) Viewed 3416 times

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:39 pm

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:22 am
Where was the England flag?

The Union Flag was used extensively in England until the 1990's.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:47 pm

Ticket for the final would have cost you Ten Bob or 50p.
Compared with a ticket for the Euro final tomorrow on offer for over two grand.

: 1AA2515D-0818-49DC-99B9-B14D689CDE46.jpeg (185.18 KiB) Viewed 3397 times

: 14FE554F-55EA-4D19-B2F3-6657D3C4C012.png (837.1 KiB) Viewed 3397 times

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:27 pm

It’s staggering to see how poor the quality of football is.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:28 pm

Just watching this. I wasn't around at that time, but can someone explain why teams never bothered to put hardly any players in the penalty area when they won a corner?

It looks bizarre now.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:30 pm

Rileybobs wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:27 pm
It’s staggering to see how poor the quality of football is.

It's still entertaining, but so much slower.

Is that because the ball was heavier or were they just not the finely tuned athletes they are today?

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:36 pm

fidelcastro wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:30 pm
It's still entertaining, but so much slower.

Is that because the ball was heavier or were they just not the finely tuned athletes they are today?

Not as athletic and nowhere near the same technical ability as today’s players.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 6:39 pm

Plenty of tackles and dissent on show that would be instant yellow cards these days too.

Top Claret · Post by **Top Claret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:10 pm

My Dad and his uncle attended the final, whilst myself, mum and sister watched it through a TV rental shop in Wembley surrounded by ticket less Germans

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:12 pm

Not noticing much spitting going on, either.

Volvoclaret · Post by **Volvoclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:12 pm

Just missed it on C4. Who won?

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:13 pm

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:12 pm
Just missed it on C4. Who won?

You'll have to buy a paper tomorrow

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:14 pm

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:12 pm
Just missed it on C4. Who won?

No spoilers please I recorded it

Volvoclaret · Post by **Volvoclaret** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:16 pm

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:13 pm
You'll have to buy a paper tomorrow

I'll nip out and get a Pink

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:22 pm

Final Programme for 1966. Cost price 2s 6d half a crown or 12 and 1/2 pence.
Final programme for 2020 Cost price £10.

: 1966 final programme.png (899.8 KiB) Viewed 3244 times

: 1966 final prog ins.png (1.66 MiB) Viewed 3244 times

: final programme 2021.jpg (30.36 KiB) Viewed 3244 times

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:23 pm

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:12 pm
Not noticing much spitting going on, either.

Its like walking football, Id be surprised if they broke sweat never mind needed to gob