City library remembers 1966 World Cup 'heroes'

World Cup winners from Leeds United are being remembered by the city's librarians 60 years after England's victory.

A photograph of the players being welcomed back to the city in 1966 will be put on display at Leeds Central Library, alongside a book featuring their signatures.

Special collections librarian Antony Ramm said the victory of the players, which included Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter, had brought "huge pride" and the city was "lucky that this amazing moment was immortalised".

"Hopefully, reliving this historic moment at the library will help get everyone that bit more excited about this summer's tournament too and we can see football come home again," he said.

The signatures, photograph and book date back to 3 August 1966 when the then Lord Mayor of Leeds, Alderman Joshua S Walsh, hosted a civic reception for the footballers at Leeds Civic Hall.

Starting centre-back Charlton and Hunter, who was a member of the 22-man squad but did not play in the tournament, received a heroes' welcome following England's 4-2 win in extra time against West Germany.

They attended alongside Leeds United manager Don Revie and Les Cocker, Whites coach and England boss Alf Ramsey's assistant.

Newspapers at the time reported Walsh had told the esteemed guests he had never watched a football match until the final, which brought him "tremendous excitement".

Councillor Asghar Khan, executive member for communities at Leeds City Council, said the image had captured a "truly historic moment" at a "time of celebration for the entire nation".

"It's wonderful that library visitors will get the chance to relive it and hopefully it will be just the start of a memorable summer for football," he added.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, with England's campaign beginning on 17 June with a match against Croatia in Arlington, USA.

The 1966 image can be viewed online as part of the Leodis archive, as well as in person at the library.

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