England to conquer world again soon, says FA chief Greg Dyke
Tuesday 5 January 2016 19:14, UK
England have the foundations in place to help steer the team to World Cup glory soon, says Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.
The 50th anniversary of England's triumph over Germany was marked with analysis of the historic match in a Monday Night Football special.
On Tuesday, Dyke continued the celebrations by hoisting aloft the Jules Rimet trophy in the company of four of England's 1966 heroes Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Gordon Banks and George Cohen at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington - the same venue for the team's celebratory dinner in 1966.
"It was one of the most remarkable sporting years in English history and I am standing next to this golden reminder," Dyke said.
"I genuinely believe the building blocks are in place to one day soon emulate the 66 winners.
"We owe it to them. We owe it to a generation of teenage dreamers to show we can do it again."
The day marked the first of a number of events planned this year to celebrate England's only major football success, while exhibitions will also be held at Wembley and the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Hurst famously scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win in the final, with Peters also on target, while Cohen played right-back and Banks in goal.
"Anyone of my age will tell you it was one of the days of their life," Dyke added.
"I can remember going to at least three of the games. I couldn't get a ticket for the final and watched the match on a little black-and-white telly at my aunt's house.
"Alf Ramsey (England's manager) announced beforehand that we would win it, and he never wavered. It was the tournament when England welcomed the world for the first time and our football hot-beds in the north showed their passion for the game on a global stage.
"We have to make sure we tell those stories and keep them alive. No-one will forget the achievements of the North Koreans or the antics - and that's the polite version - of Argentina and their captain (Antonio) Rattin, or the goals of Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton, and others.
"It is important to remember and pay tribute to each and every player in the final and also in the squad. We hope the celebrations cement the 66 winners their place in history and hope a new generation will hear their story and be inspired by it."
