1966 - a year seared into the consciousness of England football fans.
It feels like a lifetime ago. If many of us can't remember that blazing July day at Wembley Stadium when skipper Bobby Moore proudly hoisted aloft the Jules Rimet World Cup, more will be able to recall when it was famously '30 years of hurt' since that rare moment of glory as noted in the chart-topping song . As it stands, for those who follow the national team, it's currently '56 years of hurt' - and counting.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar due to kick off at the weekend, we're looking back at previous tournaments, recalling the Newcastle United connections, and remembering what else was going on in those years. We've already covered the World Cup finals of 1950, 1954, 1958, and 1962.
READ MORE: Newcastle United at the World Cup: 1950 - Wor Jackie and George Robledo
England's 1966 World Cup win came in the midst of a remarkable period in modern British history when profound changes were taking place in politics, society and popular culture. Mention of that year conjures up images of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Carnaby Street, the mini skirt and the Mini Car, Twiggy - and much more. Yet it was English football’s finest moment which has come to symbolise that most vibrant of decades.
The 1965-66 season saw Newcastle United back in the top flight after four seasons in the doldrums of Division Two. Managed now by the club's 1950s FA Cup-winning former captain, Joe Harvey, the bulk of the campaign was spent scrapping around the bottom third of the league. A 15th place finish was satisfactory enough, although United again exited both of the Cups in the early rounds. There would be much more for fans to cheer by the end of the decade.
There was little direct Newcastle United involvement in the World Cup, and St James' Park even missed out on hosting some of the group stage matches to Sunderland's Roker Park and Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park - a fact that rival fans would enjoy bringing up for years afterwards.
The only Magpie who got anywhere near the England squad was a now little-remembered player called Keith Kettleborough. The midfielder, who made 33 appearances for United in his one season at the club, 1965-66, was called into Alf Ramsey's 'shadow squad', but failed to make the final cut.
Ashington -born brothers Jack and Bobby Charlton - two of the many great local players who could have but didn’t play for Newcastle United - were integral to England’s success. (Jack would go on to manage Newcastle in the mid-1980s). Former Magpie George Eastham was part of the squad, as was Leeds United’s Gateshead -born centre-back Norman Hunter.
More than 32 million people watched on television as England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time - although you could also have tuned in to watch Laurel and Hardy , Juke Box Jury and Here’s Harry , starring the comedian Harry Worth.
For the people of Britain living their lives in 1966, meanwhile, the average wage was around £20 a week, the average car was on sale for £950, the average house was on the market for around for £3,600, while a pint of beer would knock you back 1s 10d - less than 10p in today’s money.
In the news headlines at the time, Prime Minister Harold Wilson was attempting to broker peace in the Vietnam War, the Kray Twins were quizzed by police over the murder of rival London gangster George Cornell, while singer Bob Dylan was badly injured in a motorbike accident near his home in New York state.
And providing the soundtrack to England's World Cup success 56 years ago were the likes of Chris Farlowe at number one in the UK charts at the time with Out Of Time , the Mamas and Papas with Monday Monday , and The Kinks with Sunny Afternoon.
NEXT TIME: World Cup, 1970 - Mexico
READ NEXT:
- Newcastle United at the World Cup: 1954 - The sometimes-forgotten Magpies striker
- Newcastle United at the World Cup: 1958 - three Magpies and the arrival of Pele
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Newcastle United at the World Cup: 1962 - The infamous 'Battle of Santiago'
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Strictly speaking - Tyneside's old ballroom dancing halls in 10 photographs
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The Beatles' chart-topper and the Newcastle hotel where the song was written
