Geoff Hurst

Sir Geoff Hurst is remembered best as the England striker who, in the 1966 World Cup Final, scored three goals against the Germans. The eventual outcome of the game was a 4-2 win for England. There was considerable controversy (which persists until this day) regarding one of the goals in which the ball may (or may not) have crossed the goal line before being awarded by the referee after extensive consultations with his Russian linesman.

He also had a distinguished playing career, principally with the London side, [West Ham United F.C.]?. In the period from 1959 to 1972 he made more than 400 league appearances, helping West Ham to win both the [F.A. Cup]? in 1964, and in 1965, the [European Cup Winners Cup]?. In all, he scored 252 goals in 502 games, and to this day remains a legend amongst Hammers fans.

Hurst was capped 49 times for England, scoring 24 goals at international level.

In 1972 Hurst moved from West Ham to [Stoke City F.C.]? for £75,000, which, in those days, was a considerable sum of money for a football player. He scored 37 goals in 128 games for Stoke before being transferred to West Bromwich Albion F.C. for the sum of £20,000 in the twilight of his playing career.

He also played cricket for Essex against Lancashire?, making him the only first-class cricketer to have won a World Cup winner's medal.

He was knighted in 1998, becoming Sir Geoff Hurst, M.B.E.