1966 and all that. 1970 and all what? How football can affect governance. Well, maybe.

1966 and all that. 1970 and all what? How football can affect governance. Well, maybe.

British politics and football might seem like strange bedfellows with little in common. Naturally, it is crucial to have

the right person in the “Number 10” position in both areas, and politicians seem to be tempted to wrap themselves in

any public praise whenever there is a little on-field success.

But can football affect or mould the country’s political climate? Can a rolling ball influence the zeitgeist? It’s been

said that a rolling stone doesn’t collect moss.

The idea that Harold Wilson’s Labour Party swept into power on a wave of optimism and feel-good factor was spread

a few times after England won the World Cup in 1966. The issue is that Wilson’s government had been in power for

around four months by the time the Three Lions’ victory occurred on July 30.

“England only win the World Cup when Labour are in power,” Wilson allegedly said after Bobby Moore had raised

the “still-gleaming” Jules Rimet trophy. World Cup Willie didn’t really aid the Wilson administration in gaining

power, but there may have been some post-event glory-hunting involved.

Four years later however, as England were eliminated from the 1970 tournament, a mere four days before Labour

were turfed out of power in favour of Ted Heath’s Tories, the situation is less clear.

After the election defeat, Wilson, probably in somewhat chastened mood, was at pains to dispel any thought that the

demise of England’s prospects of defending the World Cup had any bearing on the outcome of the General Election.

“Governance of a country has nothing to do with a study of its football fixtures,” he is reported as remarking. There’s

evidence to suggest however that others, and even Wilson himself may not have been so sure.

This was a few years after Wilson’s famous “white hot heat of the technological revolution” speech, but the Gannex-

donned prime minster had surely insulated himself against a rainy day event, and still had his ‘man-of-the-people’

charm in place; with the ever-present pipe speaking of a calm and assured performance.

Conversely, for the Conservatives, Ted Heath appeared a starched shirt sort of upper class Tory, all hunched

shoulders when laughing, and happiest on his ‘Morning Cloud’ yacht. It hardly seemed to chime with the working-

class voters. In early June, some bookmakers were even offering odds of 20-1 against a Tory victory.

With his pipe already in place, it seemed that Wilson could merely don his slippers to complete the set and ease to

victory. After all, what could go wrong?

The England team still had many stars from the victory of 1966, and were considered one of the favourites for the tournament.

The England team seems ready for a fierce trophy defence out in Mexico. Even though some of the ’66 glory boys had

left, players like Banks, Moore, Ball, Hurst, Peters, and Bobby Charlton were still present. They were joined by

players like Terry Cooper, a left-back for Leeds, who was polished, Colin Bell, who had a beautiful promise, and Allan

Clarke, who had yet to be discovered.

This combination, together with the assurance that came with being the World Champions, reinforced the notion

that England was one of the tournament’s favourites, if not the only exceptional team. Naturally, on top of this, the

team’s leader was the mastermind behind the Wembley victory four years prior.

Comfortable, if unspectacular 1-0 victories against the East European pair of Romania and Czecheslovakia,

sandwiched a loss by a similar score to the Pele-inspired Brazil. Even that defeat however did not dampen

expectations. It was a game where England had been competitive with the South Americans, and but for a scuffed

finish from Jeff Astle late on, may even have managed a draw.

Defeat however, put England into the quarter-finals as group runners-up, and pitted them against West Germany.

This was the team they defeated four years previously however, and expectations remained high as they entered the

pitch in Leon.

Bobby Moore leading England out to face West Germany.

The 1966 World Cup Final was the one match that most encapsulated the athletic bond between two countries.

Conflicts between England and Germany, whether they are West or unified, are always contentious and fiercely

contested, regardless of the sport.

The Leon quarterfinal was no exception. Even by the tournament’s overall norms, the day was oppressively hot, and

the heat was going to negatively impact the events. Harold Wilson had thought that the warm weather would help

him back in Britain. Ramsey’s perspective on the impact of metrology on his fortunes was different.