Celebrating a historic moment in English football, it has been 30 years since the Mirror played a crucial role in bringing back the iconic symbol of that monumental day.
During the 1966 World Cup final, Geoff Hurst made history by scoring three goals with the legendary Slazenger ball against Germany. However, German player Helmut Haller ended up with the ball after the chaotic aftermath of the game.
The ball’s return to England was a sensational story filled with intrigue, involving helicopter pursuits and a substantial sum of approximately £80,000 to retrieve it, while Haller was pursued by media outlets from all over the globe.
In 1996, Haller, who passed away in 2012, met with representatives from the Mirror at Heathrow Airport amidst a frenzy of journalists demanding the return of the ball, which had been in his possession for years.
He shared with the Mirror how he had taken the ball home in 1966 and gifted it to his son Jurgen for his 5th birthday. As the Euro 96 tournament approached, there was a growing demand for the ball to be brought back to England.
For years, the ball had been stored in Jurgen’s cellar until its eventual return. Once back in England, Hurst and the former German goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 84, recreated the iconic moment of Hurst’s second goal during the 1966 final.
While Haller disputed the validity of the goal, he was willing to return the ball to Geoff Hurst. The ball now resides in the National Football Museum, where it is carefully preserved away from direct light to retain its original ‘orange glow’.
The Mirror’s efforts in April 1996 led to the eventual return of the ball, which was officially handed over to Geoff Hurst on April 26, 1996, marking nearly three decades since his historic World Cup performance at Wembley.
Geoff Hurst, now 84 and remembered as the hat-trick hero, emphasized the priceless nature of the ball, stating that anyone handling it must wear white gloves. Reflecting on its significance, he remarked that only World Cup winners are allowed to touch the ball without gloves, highlighting its historical value.
Currently entrusted to Wiebke Cullen, the 48-year-old Collections Manager at the National Football Museum, the ball’s care is a top priority. Cullen emphasized the ball’s irreplaceable nature, underlining the importance of stringent security measures and insurance coverage for such a