When people think of 1966, one thing immediately comes to mind: England winning the World Cup. Sixty years later, and with the World Cup of 2026 about to start, England will try again to add a second win and end “sixty years of hurt”.
But 1966 stands out for so many reasons.
Even today, football fans can recite the famous words of commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme as Geoff Hurst iced victory over West Germany.
“Some people are on the pitch… they think it’s all over… it is now!”
And it was. By four goals to two, England lifted the trophy, and little Nobby Styles, all five feet, six inches of him, went on a merry dance around the pitch with the trophy on his head.
It was a World Cup that gave people many lasting memories, including one that happened four months before England lifted the trophy.
That famous World Cup trophy was stolen.
And if it hadn’t been for an ordinary dog named Pickles, football history might have been very different.
The Biggest Football Tournament on Earth
The summer of 1966 was an exciting time in Britain. The swinging sixties were in full flow, with The Beatles at the height of their fame, and, for the first time, the World Cup was to be held in England.
In 1960, England had been chosen as the host nation for the 1966 tournament over rival bids from West Germany and Spain.
For the first time, football was coming home.
Hosting the tournament became a matter of national pride. Actually winning it in front of a national audience was something that dreams were made of. But before the football started, the famous Jules Rimet Trophy, awarded to the World Cup winners, was sent on a tour of the country as part of the build-up.
Then disaster struck.
The Day the World Cup Was Stolen
On 20 March 1966, the trophy was on display at Westminster Central Hall in London as part of a stamp exhibition. Security was arranged, but unlike today, when cameras and sensors can monitor 24/7, the trophy was not under constant surveillance. It was during a brief period when the guards were on patrol, or distracted, that thieves got inside the building and removed the trophy from its display case.
