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1966 and all that - an evening with Nobby Stiles

Nobby Stiles in Maidstone
Nobby Stiles in Maidstone

England World Cup legend Nobby Stiles regaled fans with stories of 1966 during a visit to Maidstone last night.

The diminutive star will forever be remembered for dancing along the Wembley touchline, clutching the Jules Rimet trophy, complete with toothless grin.

He was guest of honour at a sportsman's dinner hosted by Maidstone United at the Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne, where he entertained a large gathering with his vivid recollections of that famous day, plus his beginnings as a teenager signed by Matt Busby in 1957.

One of only two Englishmen to win both the World Cup and European Cup - he shares the honour with Sir Bobby Charlton - he spoke about the Busby Babes, the Munich tragedy in 1958 and the loss of the finest footballer he ever saw, Duncan Edwards.

And he revealed that he has never been forgiven by his wife over a 'wardrobe misunderstanding' before the World Cup Final.

He said: "She asked me what colours she should wear and I told her England's, of course. When we were being presented to the Queen before kick-off I looked up and couldn't understand why she was waving at the German captain Uwe Seeler - and he was waving back.

"Then it dawned on me, we were in red for the game and the Germans were in our normal colours. She was wearing white and black and thought Seeler was me!"

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