Nobby Stiles, 66 and all that…
by Dave Shepherd
Thanks for the memories!
We recently learnt of the passing of Nobby Stiles, who has just sadly died following that terrible disease - dementia.
My first ever Football Tournament was a joint collaboration with Manchester United. We were fortunate to be invited by Manchester City Council to host a 'civic reception' in the town hall. The club (MUFC) asked Nobby to address our visitors with a welcome speech. It was the first time I had met him, and I also think it was the first time he had made a formal speech. Bobby Charlton and Martin Edwards the club CEO were also there. He came across to me as being a very quiet and private person, nothing at all like his 'fierce' professional image.
I was extremely fortunate to see him playing in all of England's World Cup games in 1966. Back then I lived in Sevenoaks in Kent so it was an easy journey for me to Wembley. To get a 66 Final ticket you had to buy a complete set of every one of England's games but I wanted to see all the games anyway. I travelled to Wembley on my own - I was 18 at the time. The tickets were in the same block for every game behind the goal - opposite to the tunnel end. I didn't know anyone, but standing in the same place, for every game, you quickly got to know everyone around you. By the time the second game came around we were all mates, and the England chanting grew 'on mass' for each game. By the time of the third game, we'd arranged to meet for a 'fry up' in a cafe on Wembley High Street. Corporate Hospitality - we were obviously way ahead of our time.
The England Team was blessed with its array of great stars, but two of the most unlikely players were adopted by the fans and quickly became England's cult heroes - Alan Ball, and Nobby Stiles.
Nobby was the least likely looking footballer you could ever imagine, but what he lacked in grace, he made up for in aggression - with his own style of ferocious tackling. His ability at marking star players out of the game was extraordinary. Indeed without him, England, I am sure, would not have won the World Cup. He was the heart and soul of the team. Every team had their own 'destroyer', and ours was Nobby. His game against Portugal where he nullified the great Eusebio in the semi final won England that game.
He lacked the elegance of Bobby Charlton, the authoritative coolness of Bobby Moore, and only Alan Ball matched his wholehearted desire to win. He fought every game as if it was his last.
Nobby Stiles was a hero and a character, featuring in one of the best and most memorable periods of my time.
To him, I say 'thanks for playing apart in my own history, by providing me with such wonderful memories - you were truly inspirational to us all'. RIP.
The Far Post