I AM ashamed to admit that the whole World Cup triumph of 1966 passed me by. The only thing I remember was thinking how pretty Bobby Moore’s wife Tina looked.

My excuse is that, being only 24-years-old at the time and having two small sons aged three and one, football was not my first priority.

But this time, I have watched every nation’s matches and found them all enthralling.

I was hoping and dreaming that those wonderful young men of the England squad and their gentlemanly manager Gareth Southgate could emulate the team of 1966. Even though they couldn't manage that, they have brought a certain pride back to English supporters and England by their

performances.

I was crossing everything for luck, which would have been easier in 1966, when I somehow managed to miss all the euphoria.

Mrs W P Carter,

Marston Crescent,

Acomb, York