Skip to content

World Cup scrapbooks document 'fantastic' 1966 win

Rachael Lewisin Solihull
News imageBBC A man holding 4 scrapbooks while smiling into the camera he is wearing a stripey green and white top and has white hair and glasses. BBC
Dave Badger was 22 when he watched England play in the 1966 World Cup

As England fans prepare for the start of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, one man is reminiscing on the Three Lions' last win 60 years ago, with the help of his own personal archive.

Dave Badger, from Solihull, West Midlands, was 22 when he travelled across the country watching nine matches on home soil in 1966.

"I got married in the March, and the World Cup started in the July. I had a deal with my wife, that she didn't mind that I went to all the matches. The atmosphere was fantastic." Badger said.

Badger has since created four scrap books of memories of the tournament including tickets, newspaper cuttings, rosettes and hand-written score charts.

News imageA photo of four scrapbooks opened up with newspaper cuttings and other photos and tickets.
Badger has since created four scrap books of memories from the tournament.

Matches were played at stadiums across England, including Villa Park in Birmingham.

Badger said: "Because I was a regular at Villa Park, it was quite a nice feeling, and very different going to support the national team. The atmosphere with the different sets of teams was brilliant."

"Going through Birmingham, although we travelled by car, everybody had flags outside the cars, it was all happening."

News imageA photo of a ticket up close. It's a yellow ticket with red writing for the world cup Eighth final
Matches were played at stadiums across the country including Villa Park in Birmingham.

Badger was also at the final at Wembley on 30 July 1966, when England beat West Germany 4-2.

"We had a fantastic day out, and the thing I can remember about it, there were lots of cars with open tops.

"When we were travelling home, everybody was outside, standing up in the cars, waving their flags. It was so exciting." Badger added.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.