Scorer of an unmatched hat-trick in the most glorious British sporting triumph of the Queen ’s 70-year reign, World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst recalled how quick-wittedness avoided an embarrassing own goal that wonderful July day.
With the Germans beaten 4-2 and England’s players climbing Wembley Stadium’s steps to be presented with the Jules Rimet trophy by Her Majesty, Sir Geoff was second in line to receive his medal behind captain Bobby Moore.
The Queen was waiting to present the coveted cup in her mustard hat and coat plus long white gloves.
Sir Geoff, who netted a disputed second goal in the final, watched as Moore realised his hands, dirty after 120 minutes of football, might smudge the monarch’s pristine cloth gauntlets.
“Bobby noticed the Queen was wearing gloves. He had the foresight not to dirty the Queen’s gloves,” said Sir Geoff on Monday at Wembley.
“He wiped his hands on the parapet just before he collected the trophy.”
The emergency clean-up did the job and Moore, Hurst and the rest of the players enjoyed celebrating under old Wembley’s famous Twin Towers rather than the Tower of London.
Sir Geoff, 80, and one of only three survivors from that team alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Cohen recall the day as something of a blur.
And the great fan of the Queen cannot remember what she said if anything when he collected his medal.
“She doesn’t say much when you have 11 or 12 people coming,” he said wryly.
Back at Wembley with ex-player and pundit Karen Carney to host a picnic ahead of the Big Jubilee Lunch in the stadium on Sunday, June 5, Sir Geoff said football can bring people together.
Around 1,000 locals in North London will be invited with the FA encouraging clubs all over the country to hold their own events on Thank You Day.
West Ham hero Sir Geoff has met the Queen four times – in 1966, for his MBE then knighthood and when asked to present a rose from Kew Gardens.
“All I remember about the knighthood is you go through a rehearsal with a man before,” he said. “You kneel and she puts a sword on your shoulder. You’re told when the Queen steps back a little it’s time to go, don’t carry on talking – exit right.”
Sir Geoff was upset Liverpool fans booed the national anthem and Prince William before Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea. The protests are anti-establishment and started in the 1980s when Margaret Thatcher targeted the city while the 1989 Hillsborough disaster was followed by an official cover-up that wrongly blamed Reds fans for 97 deaths.
“I don’t understand why all of a sudden people start booing the national anthem,” said Sir Geoff. “If people told me why I still wouldn’t understand it. I was absolutely amazed.
“It just reflects this crazy world we’re living in these last two years. It’s pure madness, really.”
He expressed pleasure that the Queen, 96, appeared healthy despite missing Parliament’s state opening last week before going to the Windsor Horse Show.
“The photograph of her the other day in the car – she didn’t half look well. I thought it was from some time ago,” said Sir Geoff.
