Geoff Hurst

Geoff Hurst

Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst Kt. MBE (born 8 December 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire) is a retired England footballer best remembered for making his mark in history as the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win (2-2 at full time) over West Germany at the old Wembley. Such an achievement was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he was only five months and eight games into his international career, and was not considered his country's premier centre forward.

In club football Hurst played for West Ham United where he spent 13 years scoring 180 goals in the First Division. He joined Stoke City in 1972 where he spent three years before finishing his Football League career with West Bromwich Albion. Hurst went to play football in Ireland, USA and Kuwait before returning to England to play for Telford United. Hurst became manager of Telford in 1976 and after three years joined Chelsea but was sacked in August 1981.