I WONDER how many readers realise that Friday marks the 50th anniversary of England’s famous World Cup Final victory over West Germany at Wembley?Most of us can remember where we were and what we were doing when a momentous event took place.

For me, this would include the outbreak of the Second World War, the dropping of the Atom Bomb on Hiroshima and the Cuban Missile Crisis. How gripping they were at the time and how frightened we felt.

The football in July, 1966 was a more joyous, yet equally tense, occasion which gripped the nation and I can remember it vividly.

I was playing cricket for Northwich against Knutsford at our wonderful old Carlton Road ground in the Manchester Association.

The club had just returned from a tour to the West Country where we’d watched the semi-final victory against Portugal on tv at Cheltenham CC.

Alas, it looked as if we would miss out on final day because the sun was shining and we were fielding.

However, when we had reduced Knutsford to 26-4, a small black cloud hovered over the ground just before 3pm, dropped a cupful of rain – and off we rushed off into the pavilion, leaving skipper Terry Melia standing out there in the middle fuming as he had taken the four wickets and was fancying all 10!

One of our players – the brilliant George Goulding, I think it was – had brought along a portable television and installed it on the bar just in case.

Both teams – plus umpires and Mr Melia – crowded round in whites and we never budged until that final whistle went and England had won 4-2.

We finished our cricket match in the twilight at well past 9pm.

Oh! happy days Mike Talbot-Butler BEM Sandiway