Sir Geoff Hurst

About

Geoff is a World Cup winning footballing legend. He is the only player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

Geoff Hurst (Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE) played for West Ham United where he spent 13 years scoring 180 goals in the First Division. He joined Stoke City in 1972 where he spent three years before finishing his Football League career with West Bromwich Albion.

Hurst was initially a strong-running midfielder but was converted to a centre forward by manager Ron Greenwood. West Ham won the FA Cup in 1964 with Hurst scoring the second equaliser in a tight and exciting 3–2 victory over Preston North End at Wembley.

Geoff Hurst’s name has almost become synonymous with the World Cup in 1966, he scored a hat-trick in the final becoming the first player in history to do so, and to date, he is still the only player to accomplish the remarkable feat.

He also remains the most recent British-based player to notch a double hat-trick in a top-flight league match: he achieved this remarkable feat in a First Division match against Sunderland at Upton Park on 19 October 1968, which saw the Hammers defeat the Wearsiders 8-0.

Hurst went to play football in Ireland, USA and Kuwait before returning to England to play for Telford United.

Geoff Hurst moved into management and coaching after his playing career. He was assistant to his ex-West Ham boss Ron Greenwood after the latter took over the England job in 1977, player-manager of Telford United and manager of Chelsea from 1979–81. He joined Chelsea, then in the Second Division, before the 1979–80 season, initially as assistant manager to Danny Blanchflower.

Hurst’s contribution to the English game was recognised in 2004 when he was inducted in the English Football Hall of Fame. Hurst is also one of the few footballers who have been knighted, and this recognises his contribution to the game.

A new statue of Geoff Hurst by Sculpture For Sport was unveiled outside local club Curzon Ashton in December 2010. He is shown alongside fellow 1966 squad member Jimmy Armfield and Simone Perrotta, all World Cup medal winners born in the borough of Tameside whose council commissioned the work.

One of the most respected figures in football, Geoff Hurst is in demand as an after dinner speaker for his football anecdotes and World Cup memories.