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'I’m not sure if I was cheering for England or not' | Brian Kerr on 1966 World Cup

Brian Kerr recounted how he attended the 1966 World Cup finals and why he found himself watching ...



Soccer

'I’m not sure if I was cheering for England or not' | Brian Kerr on 1966 World Cup

Brian Kerr recounted how he attended the 1966 World Cup finals and why he found himself watching the scoreboard at one game in particular.

Speaking to Off The Ball’s Aviva roadshow in association with Pepsi Max, Kerr explained how he ended up at the World Cup final.

“I was at the World Cup final in 1966. I had a brother who lived in England, as many of us at the time probably did in the 1950s,” said Kerr.

“He rang my Da on the night of England’s first game against Uruguay, it was on the black and white telly, and they drew 0-0.

“He rang the house - we had a phone as well we were very posh - and he asked my Da, ‘would he let the young fella [Brian Kerr] come over I might be able to get tickets,’” he said.

The former Republic of Ireland manager said he attended the rest of England’s group games against Mexico and France and attended their quarter-final against Argentina that was so boring the crowd ended up watching the scoreboard.

“I remember it well because at the same time England and Argentina were playing, North Korea were playing Portugal,” Kerr said.

“On the roof of the stadium there was a fella putting up the score from the other match and I remember he went up and we’re presuming he’s going to Portugal but he went over to Korea and put up a one.

“England-Argentina was brutal so we were all watching the scoreboard and it got to the stage North Korea were three up against Portugal.

“Portugal turned it around, Eusebio got three and they won 4-3,” he explained.

With England in the World Cup final on home soil, Kerr admitted that he may have got carried away at the time and supported England in the final.

“My brother somehow got a ticket for the World Cup final for me,” said Kerr.

“My claim to fame in Drimnagh for many years was that I went to the 1966 World Cup final.

“Jaysus, I’m not sure if I was cheering for England or not. I might've gotten dragged along with it at the time and was happy for them to win it, but it was some match,” he said.

Brian Kerr was speaking at our latest roadshow from the Aviva Stadium in association with Pepsi Max. The full final chat with Brian Kerr, Stephanie Roche, David Meyler and Damien Delaney will be released on Tuesday night on our Facebook and Youtube channels #OTBAviva #ForTheLoveOfIt

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