This is a collection of unique and often unseen archive photographs from the 1966 World Cup, commemorating English football's finest hour and capturing the curious charm of the tournament both on and off the pitch. It is the story of an event, a sport, a nation, a people and an era told and illustrated with warmth, wit and originality. "1966 Uncovered" is an off-beat, insightful and thought-provoking portrait of the 1966 World Cup and Britain in the 1960s - far more than just a collection of match reports and standard agency photographs. The book opens with an interview with Sir Bobby Charlton and Franz Beckenbauer, in which they relive their memories of the 1966 tournament, cast their eyes over images even they haven't seen before and exchange views on the world of football. Four main chapters follow the tournament around the country from the regional group stages in the North-East, Midlands, North-West and London, to the knock-out stages and of course the Final. The text and images capture the unique flavour of the times and of the tournament off the field as well as on it - with Alan Bennett's characteristically personal afterword providing the perfect counterpoint.An additional appendix section gives the reader a revealing insight into how the event was covered by the photographers of the day.
Table of Contents
Foreword: Sir Bobby Charlton & Franz Beckenbauer; Introduction; North East; Midlands; North West; London; Final; Afterword: Alan Bennett; Photographers' appendix; Index; Acknowledgements.
Accolades
Winner of British Sports Book Awards: Best Illustrated Title 2007.
Author Biography
Peter Robinson trained at Leicester College of Art and The Royal College of Art, and began his professional career in 1965. After working on The Football League magazine he was invited by Sir Stanley Rous on behalf of FIFA to photograph the Mexico '70 World Cup. Over a period of 35 years, Robinson has covered 9 World Cups, the English and Scottish leagues, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the European Cup/Champions League (he was at Heysel in 1985 and in Barcelona 1999 for Manchester United's victory over Bayern Munich). He has run his own photographic agency, and has mounted major exhibitions of his work. Football Days, the best-selling book commemorating his life's work won the Illustrated Sports Book of the Year award in 2004. He is based in London SE1. Doug Cheeseman is a freelance designer and art director. Since 1988 he has worked as designer and director of the football magazine When Saturday Comes during which period the title developed from groundbreaking fanzine to the definitive voice on football culture. He also art directs WSC books, an independent book publisher in its own right. His other design work includes: Shot! - Images of football in the seventies, This is Soccer - Images of the 1994 World Cup, Football Days - Classic Football Photography, Golfing Days - Classic Golf Photography and Cricket - Celebrating The Modern Game Around The World. He is based in London SE23. Harry Pearson is a sports columnist for The Guardian and author of The Far Corner: A Mazy Dribble Through North East Football, shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. He has also written a number of other travel-related titles that have seen him hailed as the new Bill Bryson. He lives in Hexham, Northumberland
