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Spurs Odyssey Book Review

Unique insight into England’s most memorable day

An iconic picture. England win the 1966 World Cup

A great percentage of you were not alive on July 30th, 1966. I was. Born in August 1952, I was only 13 but like most lads of my age I was a mad keen football fan. Why, I had already had the privilege of seeing my heroes from The Shelf at White Hart Lane. Spurs’ masterful goal-scorer Jimmy Greaves had already etched himself into my mind as my all-time sporting hero, and was a member of Alf Ramsey's 22-man England squad.

What happened on Saturday July 1966? Why, England won the World Cup at Wembley, of course! Where was I? You’d expect me to say that, like millions of others, not just in Britain, but around the world, I was glued to the television and was able to witness those wonderful words of BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme – “Some people are on the pitch! They think it’s all over! It is now!”. Well, dear reader, I have to tell you that in 1966 I was a dedicated Boy Scout – a patrol leader no less – and whilst England were beating West Germany 4-2, I was hugging a transistor radio at a scout camp at Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, probably no more than 15 miles from Wembley as the crow flies. I might as well have been at the other end of the world, such was the isolation I felt from those memorable and glorious scenes. Of course, when I had committed to the camp in the Autumn of 1965, I had no idea that England would reach the prestigious final, let alone win it.

I did get to see the game, because I recall it was replayed within a week of the big day, AND I also saw the feature film “GOAL” in my local cinema when it was released, but as we all know, there is nothing like being there, or as an acceptable second – watching the game live on the telly.

Spurs Odyssey contributor Norman Giller was there, and in his 101st book – “JULY 30 1966 FOOTBALL’S LONGEST DAY” (ISBN 978-0-9567711-6-2) – he tells how he was at Wembley covering the game, and how he became the only football journalist to find his way into the England dressing room after the game.

If you aren’t old enough to have experienced 1966 in person, you might also not be aware that Norman Giller was one of a pack of sports writers held in high esteem in those pre-Internet, pre-social media, pre-sports channel days. In May this year, Norman attended the 69th Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year Dinner. Also present were other revered sports’ writers of the past such as Brian Glanville, Ken Jones (cousin of our own legendary Cliff Jones), Hugh McIlvanney, David Miller, Brian Scovell, Nigel Clarke and Colin Malam. Brian James and Steve Curry were unable to attend, and many famous names have passed on in the years since 1966. As a paper boy, I used to enjoy one of the perks of the job, which was to browse through the precious daily cargo which I delivered. The Daily Express was no tabloid in those days, and I well remember the offerings of Norman Giller, Desmond Hackett and ace cartoonist Roy Ullyett, along with the writing of those eminent names in other newspapers.

Norman, as regular Spurs Odyssey readers know, counts Jimmy Greaves as a personal friend, so, despite Jimmy’s severe stroke last year, and his ongoing battle against the resulting impairment, Jimmy naturally gets more than a mention and Norman is able to pass on the great man’s personal insight into the events of 1966. However, for reasons well known, Jimmy would rather forget about the 1966 World Cup.

“JULY 30 1966 FOOTBALL’S LONGEST DAY” is not just another account of England greatest football achievement. It is not just an education for those too young to have been there. The book gives a unique hour by hour insight into the events of the day as they unfolded, and the celebrations which followed. Even those of us who did live through the joyful experience of that summer (even if it was from a scout camp!) have plenty to enjoy and learn from this book, written in Norman Giller’s inimitable style. Norman includes numerous accounts of ordinary people, like you and I, to add a personal touch to this history. Norman offers potted histories of the 22 man squad, and management team. There is so much more to read, including an interview featuring Bobby Moore and Jimmy Greaves, and full statistics from the 1966 World Cup Final Tournament.

I was alive in 1966, and whenever a major International tournament such as Euro 2016 crops up, England 1966 usually gets a mention. This year sees the 50th anniversary of that great win, and Norman Giller’s book adds another dimension to the story. I heartily recommend the book to any football-loving home.

You can order a copy of the book direct from the author Norman Giller.

Signed copies are available from www.normangillerbooks.com

Norman Giller writes for Spurs Odyssey every Monday.

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