Sir Geoff Hurst: the man, the memory, and the moments now finding new life through BUDDS
There are footballers, there are legends, and then there’s Geoff Hurst - a man whose career is so closely tied to one afternoon that it would be easy to forget everything else.
Except, as he reminds you within minutes of speaking, that afternoon hasn’t faded at all.
“People still talk to me today… telling me where they were and what they were doing” he says, still proud of his historic achievement.
Sixty years on, the 1966 World Cup final isn’t just a football match. It’s a shared national memory and Hurst is its living, breathing centrepiece. But the story of Hurst, and what he’s doing now with BUDDS, is far more layered than a single hat-trick.
The Day That Never Left Him
The numbers are simple enough.
Three goals. 100,000 people inside Wembley. England 4-2 West Germany.
But the way Hurst talks about it, it’s never really about him: “It was the team side of it… the camaraderie,” he explains.
That theme - team over individual - comes up again and again. It’s not nostalgia, it’s almost a quiet insistence. In an era now dominated by individual brands and highlight reels, Hurst’s version of greatness is refreshingly different. And yet, he allows himself one small bit of cheek.
“A remarkable day… scoring a hat-trick which hasn’t been done since,” he says, before quickly adding, “Mbappé got three but they got beat… and two were penalties so that doesn’t count!”
That dry humour has never left him.
Not Supposed to be There
What makes the story even better is this: he almost wasn’t there.
Hurst didn’t start the tournament, he didn’t expect to play and he didn’t even think he’d ever play for England. “It was never on my radar,” he admits.
It took an injury to Jimmy Greaves for the door to open in ‘66 - and when it did, Hurst was ready.
That readiness is a theme that quietly defines his career.
“I was happy to be part of the squad… and when my chance came, I was ready.”.
No ego. No frustration. Just patience - and then came history.
The Striker Who Nearly Chose Cricket
Even more bizarrely, football wasn’t even his only path.
Hurst was a promising cricketer and even played a first-class match - though his recollection is typically self-deprecating. “I got nought and nought not out!” he laughs.
His entire football career pivoted on a single decision by Ron Greenwood though, who moved him from midfield to striker almost on a whim. The result? 14 goals in 27 games.
Cricket was “out the window” and that meant football history could begin.
West Ham, Wembley, and the Myth
While 1966 defines him publicly, Hurst’s club career with West Ham United is just as important.
FA Cup winner, European Cup Winners’ Cup winner, World Cup winner. All at Wembley, within a short span and all for the same club.
As Hurst himself puts it: “West Ham won the World Cup, not England!”.
It’s a line that perfectly captures both pride and humour - and a reminder that this wasn’t just one moment, but a golden era built around a core of players who genuinely knew each other.
From £7 a Week to Priceless History
One of the most fascinating parts of his story - especially in the context of BUDDS - is how football’s value has changed.
“My first wage at West Ham was about £7 a week,” he recalls. Even after winning the World Cup, he was earning around £90 a week - figures that feel almost fictional compared to today’s game.
But what those players lacked in wages, they’ve made up for in legacy.
And that’s where BUDDS comes in.
The Shirt that Became History
Few items in football carry the weight of Hurst’s 1966 final shirt.
The iconic red number 10 - worn because England lost a coin toss to wear the home kit - has become one of the most recognisable pieces of sporting memorabilia in the world.
“It’s fantastic… when you see a red shirt” he says. When part of his collection was sold through Budds in 2021, that very shirt set a world-record price.
And yet, the decision to sell came from a surprisingly human place.
“I spoke to my daughters, ‘if I'm no longer on in this earth, what sort of things would you like?’ And I was really referring to the World Cup medal, World Cup shirt… And one said, ‘I quite like that settee in the living room!’ So within two to three weeks, it had all gone.”
No grand strategy or financial planning. Just a family moment - and suddenly, history changed hands.
Why BUDDS Matters to Him Now
That story is exactly why his involvement with BUDDS feels natural. This isn’t just about selling items, it’s about preserving moments.
Through auctions, items like: 1966 shirts, medals and match-worn kits, become tangible connections to football’s past. And for fans, owning one isn’t about money, it’s about being part of that story.
The Last Man Standing
There is, however, a more reflective side to the conversation. Hurst is now the last surviving member of that 1966 starting XI.
“It makes me very sad… when I see photographs of us together,” he admits. The camaraderie he talks about so often didn’t end in 1966. It continued for years - golf days, reunions, friendships that outlasted careers.
Which is why the legacy matters even more now.
No Regrets - Not Even One
Perhaps the most telling moment comes when he’s asked whether 1966 ever felt like a burden. A shadow over everything else he achieved.
His answer is instant, “not for one single second.”. There’s no fatigue in him when he talks about it. No sense of being trapped by history. Only gratitude.
A Legacy You Can Now Hold
That’s what makes this latest chapter with BUDDS feel so fitting.
Because this isn’t just about looking back. It’s about passing something on.
As revealed in the inaugural episode of Unmissable in Sport - BUDDS’ new podcast hosted by Tim Murphy and David Convery - Sir Geoff Hurst isn’t just telling stories… he’s actively adding to the next chapter of football history.
During the episode, it was confirmed that Hurst will be contributing 20 to 30 items into BUDDS’ upcoming World Cup-themed auctions across May and June, including rare artwork and a highly sought-after print tied to his legendary career.
And that’s the thing with Hurst - even now, he’s not holding onto the past for the sake of it. He’s letting it live on.
Through collectors. Through fans. Through people who want to own a piece of something that still means everything.
Because these items aren’t just memorabilia.
They’re moments.
From One Story… to Thousands More
And Hurst’s involvement also opens the door for others.
Because as the memorabilia market continues to grow - and with another World Cup on the horizon - there’s never really been a better time to dig into your own football history.
Programmes. Shirts. Tickets. Signed items.
That thing tucked away in a drawer that you’ve always said, “I’ll sort that one day.”
That day might be now.
BUDDS are currently offering free online valuations, giving fans the chance to find out exactly what their piece of history is worth - and potentially see it become part of a much bigger story.
The Final Word
Sir Geoff Hurst will always be remembered for one day in 1966.
But what this podcast - and this partnership with BUDDS - really shows is that his story didn’t end there.
It’s still evolving.
And maybe that’s the real legacy.
Not just what happened at Wembley… but how, decades later, people are still finding new ways to be part of it.
