Hand over at Waterloo reunites Hurst and ball
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Geoff Hurst was reunited yesterday with his hat-trick ball from the 1966 World Cup final. Unless, of course, it wasn't.
The Daily Mirror are lauding their own feat in bringing the famous orange item back from Germany, where it was taken after the 1966 final by one of West Germany's beaten team, Helmut Haller.
But Hurst's manager, Dave Davis, still reckons he is going to get his hands on the real thing at Leamington Spa on Tuesday, when a man known only as "Wolfgang" has promised to hand it over during an appearance by Hurst to mark the final's 30th anniversary.
The Mirror ball arrived on a flight to Heathrow yesterday and was swiftly transferred, under careful supervision, to the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station where it was officially handed over to Hurst by Haller, who flew into England on Thursday. It was the first time Hurst had clutched the ball since he drove it past the West German goalkeeper on 30 July, 1966, to seal England's victory. The ball will be on display at the terminal in a glass cage to mark this summer's Euro 96.
In the meantime, Hurst's World Cup team-mate Martin Peters, is wondering where the shirt he exchanged after the final has got to. Expect to hear more very soon from the German who swapped that shirt... Uwe Seeler.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments