On This Day – 7th March
It was on this day in 2000 that the five ‘forgotten’ 1966 World Cup winners finally got the recognition that they deserved.
Alan Ball, George Cohen, Roger Hunt, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson attended Buckingham Palace on 7th March 2000 to be awarded MBEs.
The five players had not been acknowledged properly for their parts that they played in England’s historic win in 1966.
The other six players from the team who beat West Germany at Wembley had all been previously honoured. There had been numerous calls for the remaining five to receive acknowledgement.
The other players were Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, Jack Charlton, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.
Sir Alf Ramsey, the manager had been knighted for masterminding England’s success.
The World Cup win 54 years ago still remains the greatest footballing achievement in England’s history.
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