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Geoff
Hurst
(England)
Geoff Hurst stands unique
as the only man to have scored a hat-trick in a World
Cup final. He was born in Ashton-under-lyne,
Lancashire, in 1941 and turned professional with West
Ham United. Between 1959 and 1972 he made over 400
league appearances and scored 180 goals, helping the
Hammers win the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup
Winner's cup the following year. Both matches were at
Wembley and Hurst made it a remarkable hat-trick in
1966, when England lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.
His second goal in that final was one of the most
controversial in World Cup history when his shot hit
the crossbar and bounced over the line(?). Hurst had
made his debut, against West Germany, only five months
before the World Cup and it was an injury to Jimmy
Greaves that saw him into the side in the finals,
where he scored the winner against Argentina in the
quarter final. He also appeared in the 1970 World Cup
and in 1972 he moved to Stoke City before finishing
his career at West Bromwich Albion. Hurst won 49 caps
and scored 24 goals for England. He managed Chelsea
and Telford United and assisted Ron Greenwood with the
national squad. His appearance for Essex against
Lancashire means that he is the only first-class
cricketer to have won a World Cup winner's medal at
soccer
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