ALWAYS IN THE HUNT, MBE

It's his 80 birthday today.
Here is Roger Hunt, earlier, along with artist Paul Trevillion outside the National Museum of Football, Manchester, where Roger was inducted into into the National Football Walk of Fame. He played in every game during England's World Cup campaign in 1966, where his three goals (2 against France and one against Mexico) in the Group stage, set the country up for the rest of tournament.

Hunt made his England debut in 1962 under Walter Winterbottom and kept his place when Winterbottom "retired".

Winterbottom's successor was Alf Ramsey, whose ideal team involved runners and Hunt would "run his socks off" for his manager. Hunt won 32 caps, replacing Jimmy Greaves who was injured, between 1962-9 scoring 18 goals and only playing in one defeat. He scored on debut in April 1962 against Austria in a 3-1 win at Wembley.

Born in Glazebury Lancashire, Hunt played for Stockton Heath, Bury and Devizes Town before joining Liverpool.

"Sir" Roger of the Kop, as he is known,  made his debut for Liverpool in 1959 v Scunthorpe in Div 2, under manager, Phil Taylor, when Shankly took over the club, revitalised it, lifting his team from Division 2. Hunt then was top scorer for the club for the next 8 years. Liverpool gained promotion to Division One in 1962 when Hunt scored 41 goals in 42 matches. Liverpool then won First Division League titles in 1964, 1966 and an FA Cup win in 1965 scoring against Leeds.
He is credited with being the first goalscorer to feature on Match of the Day v Arsenal, in a 3-2 win on 22nd August 1964

After 492 games he scored 286 goals (most ever until overtaken by Ian Rush), finishing his career at Bolton (76 apps 24 goals). His testimonial at Anfield involved the 1965 FA Cup team and England's World winners. 50,000 turned up. Hunt was awarded the MBE in 2000 and was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2006. He has donated his World Cup medal, FA Cup medal and 1964 League medal.

One wonders why he never tapped the ball in when Geoff Hurst's "disputed goal" bounced down from the cross bar in the World Cup Final. Obviously Roger knew the ball was IN. Here he is!

https://vimeo.com/151903603
In 1972 Hunt retired joining the family haulage company and sat on the "Pools' Panel".