WINTERBOTTOM TO RAMSEY

 

October 3rd 1962, I was old enough to understand that my national team, England were not exactly lighting up the European championships. This competition was known as the European Nations Cup and it was the second time the tournament had been held. England refused to join the inaugural tournament in 1960, which Russia had won. You may remember that England also took some time to join in with the World Cup (1930-1950). In this game Hellawell, Crowe, Hinton and Charnley played....know them?

In February 1963, they played their first fixture (a qaulifier) at Hillsborough against France. Over 35,000 came along to see the home team rescue the game with a penalty by Ron Flowers of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The game ended 1-1.

This saw the end of Walter Winterbottom's reign as England manager, a post he had held since 1946, when the English FA reluctantly decided that their national side should have a full time manager. Winterbottom had know idea that his hands were going to be tied behind his back, as the FA were determined to run the national side as they always done since the 19th Century. Eventually, Winterbottom was "given his cards".

Alf Ramsey, who had played in the England side that were thumped by Hungary in 1953 at Wembley, was appointed England manager, "under his terms" in February 27th 1963. This meant that he picked the team and not the "Select Committee". But, at the time Ramsey was still looking after Ipswich Town in the First Divsion (a team he had taken to the First Division title in 1961-2) in their first season at the top of the FL. The FA Select Committee helped Ramsey select the squad and gave him 3 days to coach them. Clearly not long enough for Alf.

With his team unprepared, he suffered a 2-5, defeat in Paris, in the second leg. Within three minutes of the start they were a goal down and 3-0 down at half time. Bobby Smith of Spurs and Bobby Tambling of Chelsea scored our goals, but England was out of the tournament and the French were beaten by Hungary in the quarter-finals. Spain won overall and Hungary came third.

Next for Alf, in April 1963, England were beaten by Scotland at Wembley 1-2, this was Gordon Banks' debut. Bryan Douglas scored our reply, then in May, when Ramsey left Ipswich, they drew with Brazil 1-1 (Douglas again), then beaten Czechoslovakia 4-2, East Germany 2-1 (Hunt and Charlton) and Switzerland 8-1 (Charlton 3, Byrne 2, Douglas, Kay and Melia scored) on tour.    

Prior to the Czech game, captain Jimmy Armfield was injured so Alf pulled the master stroke and appointed Bobby Moore in his place, a West Ham player who had only won 11 caps and who became England's youngest captain.      

In August 1963 Alf announced that England would win the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

Back in October, in Cardiff, Wales were beaten 4-0 (Bobby Smith 2, Greaves and Charlton) and then to celebrate the FA's Centenary, England beat a FIFA XI; Terry Paine and Greaves scored in a 2-1 "friendly" win.  To finish up 1963, Northern Ireland were beaten 8-3 (Greaves 4, Paine 3, Bobby Smth). It all looked promising under Alf's control.......

PS do you know who these are.....

Name them!