This week in history...The World Cup kicks off in Middlesbrough!

[BoroHistorian]

56 years ago this week the FIFA World Cup was in full swing in Middlesbrough. On 12th July 1966 the Soviet Union beat underdogs North Korea 3-0 at Ayresome Park. Of course the Asians would go on to recover and knock Italy out of the tournament.

What are your memories of the tournament?


(Image: Teesside Star, held at Teesside Archives, U/S/723)

 

[fmttmadmin]

That photo caption takes some beating. Really capturing the life and times of Cold War Europe, the Berlin Wall and post Korean War.
I know several fmttm readers witnessed some of the games at Ayresome - would be great to get their memories.

 

[ArthurKaye]

I went to all three games at Ayresome Park decked out in World Cup Willie t shirt, cap and rosette.
During the tournament I was in Benny's the barber's on Borough Road with my dad one Saturday morning.
While we were waiting our turn the door opened and the whole of the North Korean squad came in for a trim.
Around that time a favourite on the telly was Batman, I had just turned eleven and had a splendid Batman t shirt on.
They were obviously impressed and a couple of the players picked my up and said "Ahh Batman".
My dad gave me some money and I dashed around the corner to buy a World Cup Special magazine from Romar Parish's which had photo's of all the teams in the tournament.
All the North Korean team signed their team photo and I managed to keep that magazine until leaving home when it unfortunately disappeared forever.