WARRINGTON’S Mayor Geoff Settle is calling for locally based World Cup winner Roger Hunt to be given the freedom of the borough.
It is fifty Years since Hunt lifted the World Cup for England in one of the arguably greatest victories of all time.
Geoff says there have been many calls for him to be knighted and he is affectionately called ‘Sir’ Roger by Liverpool supporters.
Now he is calling for him to receive the Freedom of the Borough not only for his footballing career but also because of the loyalty he has shown to Warrington where he was born and lives running the successful family haulage business in Glazebury, before a second retirement.
Geoff said: “There is a very strong case for Roger who played in all six games in the 1966 competition, scoring three times, as England went on to win the Jules Rimet trophy after a 4–2 extra time win over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley.
“He went on to make 492 appearances for his league clubs, FA Cup, League & European appearances scoring 285 goals before retiring in 1972 when he joined his family’s haulage business in Galzebury where he still lives.”
The Mayor had the privilege of meeting Roger Hunt at the Lymm Hotel earlier this year when they celebrated the Brazilian Teams stay in 1966. He said ‘Sir’ Roger was a true gentleman who stayed and chatted to everyone. I told him of how I used to stand on the Kop and cheer him on in the sixties and of course watched the game on our black and white TV although I remember it in colour.
“I know we have celebrated two worthy recipient in my Mayoral year as Freeman and Freewomen which is unheard of but fifty years after England last won the World Cup coinciding with Warrington Town FC’s fantastic achievement I have to raise the issue.”
In 2000, Hunt joined fellow 1966 heroes in receiving an MBE after a campaign by sections of the media surprised by the lack of recognition for their part in England’s biggest day in football and he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006, recognising his achievements in the English game.
Geoff added: “I placed a comment on social media on Sunday and 24 hours later it had reach nearly 1700 people and been retweeted by Liverpool FC.
Comments received on the Mayor’s Facebook site include.
Dorothy Oxford wrote “Roger Hunt came to my school, Beamont Juniors, around 1964. He was so friendly to the children and spent lots of time with us. He was a great guy even before the World Cup!” and Graham Logan wrote “So many wonderful memories! ‘Sir Roger’ was a wonderful striker and a true gentleman; an absolute credit to the game.”
England World Cup winner Roger Hunt in his Liverpool days – PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
