Sad news AGAIN, I'm sorry to say, as we hear of Roger Hunt's death. This news' item tells his history.
Somehow, Roger Hunt became the almost-forgotten man of English football's finest hour. Not by Hurst, who never fails to credit his strike partner for his contribution to the making those three unique World Cup Final goals. Not by Liverpool supporters, by whom he remains so beloved that the official website still insists on calling him Sir Roger at every opportunity. Although, like Moore, he was never knighted.
During that World Cup tournament, Hunt was overshadowed by the majesty of Bobby Moore, the genius of Bobby Charlton, the miracles of Gordon Banks, the over-drive of Alan Ball, the deterrent called Nobby Stiles, that unique hat-trick by Geoff Hurst, even the ghostliness of Martin Peters. So somehow Roger Hunt became the almost-forgotten man of English football's finest achievement. BUT, not by Hurst.
Team manager, Alf Ramsey, made it clear that if Jimmy Greaves recovered from injury then the choice for second centre-forward would be between him and Geoff Hurst. Greaves was never fit! Hurst scores.....
Hunt played for Stockton Heath and then Devizes Town before he went to Liverpool, playing between 1958-64 and then he went to Bolton Wanderers 1969-72. Hunt made his Liverpool debut and scored his first goal for the club on 9 September 1959 in a Second Division fixture at Anfield against Scunthorpe Utd; Hunt scored in the 64th minute to give the Reds a 2–0 victory. No-one at Anfield ever forgets that his 244 goals in 404 league appearances, had much to do with raising them from the muddy trough of the old Second Division, to two English championships and their first FA Cup for years in 1964-65.*
In August 1964, Hunt also scored the first ever goal seen on the BBC's Match of the Day.
That tally remained the Liverpool scoring record until Ian Rush came along. Even then Hunt stayed ahead of the Welsh wizard on Football League goals.
But how many football fans beyond Merseyside can honestly say they remember how many Hunt scored in that halcyon World Cup tournament? He scored as many goals, as Geoff Hurst in the Final itself. One in the 2-0 win against Mexico. Both in the victory over France, also 2-0. I remember seeing those goals (on telly of course) and I don't remember much over excitement as Hunt went about his business. Hunt, the reliable, played every minute from the first kick of the opening match.
*Liverpool have been FA Cup winners in 1964-5, 1973-4, 1985-6, 1988-9, 1991-2, 2000-1, 2005-6: AND Runners Up 1913-4, 1949-50, 1970-1, 1976-7, 1987-8, 1995-6, 2011-12.
Hunt is back row: on GK Banks' right
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