One of Tameside’s three World Cup winners was on hand to help launch a major exhibition marking 50 years since England’s historic victory.
A statue of Jimmy Armfield stands in Ashton-under-Lyne alongside World Cup final hero Sir Geoff Hurst in recognition of their role in helping their country claim their only major trophy win in 1966.
And Jimmy said he hoped the current generation could match their achievement as he was one of the first people to view an exhibition dedicated to the landmark at the National Football Museum.
The 80 year-old from Denton was joined by teammates Sir Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt as well as dignitaries from the Football Association at the unveiling at the attraction on Friday.
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He said: “It’s great to celebrate- if there was one of these celebrations in Germany they’d have one every year.
“We wouldn’t have been able to believe that when we finished and all went home in 66 after the final that we wouldn’t have won anything else for 50 years.
“I couldn’t believe that would happen so it’s time now for England to change that.
“We’ve got to look ahead and see where we can go. Because for the 66 squad, and who’s left of us now, we’re always behind England.
“Every year all the 66 players have a reunion, and although every year the worst part is one dropping off, we’ve all remained friends and that’s so important.”
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Jimmy Ball, the son of star midfielder former City manager Alan Ball, was also present and said: “Young kids might ask their parents who was Alan Ball, and for us as a family that legacy is something we adore, and we’re very proud.”
Sir Geoff Hurst’s boots (cast in bronze and on special loan from the Adidas Archive), Bobby Moore’s tracksuit, Pele’s training kit and boots and even a urine sample jar used to test Jack Charlton will be on display alongside a host of fan memorabilia.
The iconic Jules Rimet Trophy and 1966 World Cup winning ball will be at the centre of the interactive exhibition, which attempts to give visitors a flavour of the atmosphere of the tournament.
The exhibition is part of a wider project called Memories of 66 and was made possible thanks to a £302,500 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant and a second 1966 World Cup Exhibition will open at Wembley next month.
FA Chairman Greg Dyke, who was also present, said: “It’s something very special to us all.
“If England won the World Cup today you’d see that it pulls in people, even those not really interested in football.
“In 1966 suddenly football became important to the whole nation.”
