Stars pay tribute to voice of '66

March 27, 2002

The World Cup victors

Kenneth Wolstenholme, the commentator who uttered the most famous words in English football - ‘They think it's all over . . . it is now’ - has died in a private hospital at the age of 81.

England's 1966 World Cup heroes, whose 4-2 victory over West Germany inspired the comment, last night led the tributes to Wolstenholme, who died on Monday.

He scored a place in sporting history with the famous line uttered as Geoff Hurst secured England's Wembley triumph with a final goal.

He died in Mount Stuart hospital in Torquay, Devon, with his daughter by his bedside after being admitted to the hospital last week for treatment for heart failure.

Ashington-born Sir Bobby Charlton said: ‘Sixty-six is not just about the players, it's about Kenneth Wolstenholme as well. All the lads will be very, very sad.

‘He always seemed to have been included whenever we got together, and I'm very sorry to hear that he's gone. But he's there forever, his words are there forever.’

Sir Bobby's brother Jack, who was also part of Sir Alf Ramsey's victorious side, added: ‘I knew Ken very well. After he made that remark in 1966, he was invited to every occasion there was in London.

‘Wherever we were, he would turn up and he just became a good friend.’

Martin Peters, who scored one of England's goals in the final, said of the famous line: ‘It came out of the blue and was perfect for the time and the end of the game. The quote will live forever.’

Wolstenholme was brought up in Salford, Greater Manchester, and went on to become the first presenter of Match of the Day in 1964.

He commentated on 23 successive FA Cup finals and five World Cups before being ousted at the BBC, just after the 1970 World Cup, to make way for David Coleman.

He was a Second World War hero, serving as a bomber pilot from 1939, flying first on low-level daylight raids and then as a member of the elite Pathfinder Force.

He took part in more than 100 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. After the war he began broadcasting in Manchester and in 1948 he did his first television commentary, even though he had never seen a television in his life.

Wolstenholme meets Pele and Gordon Banks outside Wembley.

From The Journal

Copyright (c) 2000-2002 Sue Kelly