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6 unusual facts about Alf Ramsey


Alf Ramsey

A mix of mistimed substitutions by Ramsey and an inspired goalkeeping performance by Poland's Jan Tomaszewski, who made many crucial saves, meant that the match finished 1-1.

Sir Alf also had a sporadic column in the Daily Mirror in the late 1980s and early 1990s, his thoughts written down by Nigel Clarke.

He also appeared, in illustrated form, in the Roy of the Rovers comic, when he took over as caretaker manager of Melchester Rovers while Roy himself was in a coma.

Ramsey came under pressure to restore the fit-again Jimmy Greaves to the side: but he stuck to his guns and kept faith with Greaves's replacement, Geoff Hurst, who vindicated Ramsey's judgement by scoring a hat-trick in a 4–2 win (after extra time) at Wembley.

Despite having more experienced strikers in his squad, Ramsey selected young Geoff Hurst as Greaves's replacement, once again seeing potential in the young West Ham forward.

Geoffrey Green

On the architect of England's victory Sir Alf Ramsey: "Given to doctrinaire, puritanical, even apparently humourless, he has nonetheless dedicated himself to one end – victory. A lone wolf, he yet managed to build up a team spirit among his men unknown before in any international squad."


1973–74 Football League

Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England having failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.


see also

Hugh Johns

Other memorable games that he covered included Scotland's victory over World Champions England at Wembley in 1967 and another night of English anguish in 1973 as Alf Ramsey's team failed to beat Poland at Wembley and missed out on a place at the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals tournament (the match was only shown live on ITV, with highlights being shown on BBC later in the evening).