In the summer of 1966, England’s World Cup squad did something unexpected in the days before the biggest match in their lives — they played golf and cricket. Manager Alf Ramsey set up camp at the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton, London, where the grounds gave his players room to breathe, laugh, and switch off from the weight of the tournament.
Ramsey was known for being private and methodical. He understood that a squad locked in a hotel room stewing over tactics would crack under pressure. At Roehampton, formal training sessions shared the schedule with lighter activity. Players picked up cricket bats, teed off on the putting green, and ribbed each other the way teammates do when they’re genuinely at ease.
Nobby Stiles, the tenacious Manchester United midfielder, was a regular on the cricket pitch during the squad’s downtime. He brought the same intensity to batting as he did to marking opponents — which made for great entertainment among his teammates.
Ramsey, Jimmy Armfield, and Ray Wilson were among those seen together at training sessions, reflecting the close-knit structure Ramsey built around the squad. He kept a tight group — 22 players focused on one goal.
Even the staff joined in the relaxed atmosphere. Trainer Les Cocker, Ramsey himself, physio Harold Shepherdson, and Jimmy Greaves were photographed reading morning newspapers at Roehampton — a far cry from the image of a team in crisis mode before a World Cup Final.
The cricket games drew in the whole squad. Before the semi-final against Portugal, Stiles was batting while Alan Ball took the field — two of England’s hardest workers sharing a laugh between competitive fixtures.
Alf Ramsey’s calm presence was central to the squad’s mood throughout the tournament. He projected quiet confidence, and his players absorbed it.
Captain Bobby Moore took part in the cricket too, rolling his arm over in the nets with the same composure he showed on the pitch. Moore’s relaxed leadership on and off the field set the tone for the group.
Between sessions, Ramsey was often seen in quiet thought at Roehampton. The World Cup Final against West Germany at Wembley was 24 hours away, and the preparations were deliberate and calm.
Jimmy Greaves and Jimmy Armfield were among the players who made the most of the quieter moments at Roehampton. Greaves, despite ultimately missing out on a place in the final squad, remained a lively presence in the camp.
The cricket matches drew in names from every position. Bobby Charlton swung his bat as Terry Paine, Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Gerry Byrne, and Peter Bonetti all watched on — a snapshot of a squad that genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.
Geoff Hurst, who would go on to score a hat-trick in the final, was visibly cheerful during the squad’s cricket sessions. No one watching him that afternoon would have guessed what he was about to do at Wembley.
Off the cricket field, players gathered in small groups to talk and unwind. Greaves held court with Moore and goalkeeper Ron Springett, the kind of easy, unscripted bonding that no training drill can manufacture.
On the golf course, Roger Hunt worked on his putting while Ron Flowers and John Connelly watched. These were proper footballers taking sport seriously — even when the sport wasn’t football.
The day before the final, the full squad assembled at Roehampton to listen to Ramsey’s final briefing. Every man in the group was focused. This was the last gathering before they walked out at Wembley against West Germany.
Brothers Bobby and Jack Charlton were both part of the squad and both part of the fun. After a cricket session, the two were photographed side by side — two siblings from Ashington, Northumberland, on the verge of winning the World Cup together.
On the putting green, Jimmy Greaves lined up shots alongside his teammates, a moment of levity sandwiched between the discipline of tournament football. The balance between focus and fun defined England’s preparations at Roehampton.
Jack Charlton took his turn bowling on the improvised cricket pitch, with George Eastham keeping a close eye on his technique. The squad mixed freely — defenders, midfielders, and forwards all sharing the same patch of grass.
Bobby Charlton headed out to the golf course at Roehampton on the eve of the final. Less than 24 hours later, he would be playing at Wembley with a World Cup winner’s medal within reach.
Jimmy Greaves brought energy and humor to the camp throughout the tournament. His personality kept the mood light even as the stakes climbed higher with each round.
Nobby Stiles gave his full concentration to the putting green at the Bank of England Sports Club, with Jack Charlton and Jimmy Armfield watching closely. On July 30, 1966, England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time. The hours spent at Roehampton — the putting, the batting, the laughter — were every bit a part of that victory as the training drills.
