Above the fireplace, Sir Geoff Hurst is suspended in midair having unleashed a fierce left-footer on goal. England’s hero, a split second from the hat trick in a classic image from the 1966 World Cup final.
Some people were on the pitch as per Kenneth Wolstenholme’s immortal line of commentary, but they are not in this shot and Adron O’Connor takes his cue as he steps into the front room of his home in Bristol.
‘They think it’s all over,’ he beams. Almost 60 years on, at the age of 81, his mind is increasingly confused by Alzheimer’s but there are moments of clarity when memories rush in from the distant past and a glint in his eye when a ball enters the conversation or an old photograph helps to jog a memory.
Adron was standing on Wembley’s terraces that day in July ‘66. He still has the ticket stub among his array of souvenirs. Also, the match day programme and a copy of the Evening News he bought in London on the way home, which details the drama.
With the newspaper set for print before the final whistle, the score reads 2-1 to England, the headline and sub-headings have been hastily amended to record the late German equaliser and extra-time being played, and the 4-2 victory is confirmed only in the stop-press column running down the right edge of the front page.
Next week, when England take on Wales in a friendly, Adron will retrace his steps, back to Wembley where he will take part in the wonderful partnership struck between the Football Association and the Alzheimer’s Society.
Adron still keeps the ticket stub among his collection of souvenirs, along with the match day programme and a copy of the Evening News he picked up in London on the way home
The England team celebrate Geoff Hurst’s hat trick against West Germany at the old Wembley
He will walk out of the tunnel as one of the Alzheimer’s mascots selected to mark the occasion by walking out alongside Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Sir Geoff sent the invitation in a video message, and there was not a dry eye in the house as Adron’s wife Anna fired up the laptop and his son Darren joined him at the kitchen table to listen in.
Darren had accompanied his father to England’s final game at the old Wembley, in October 2000, when Kevin Keegan’s team were beaten 1-0 by Germany. They were also together at Ashton Gate when their beloved Bristol City made it into the playoffs on the final day of last season.
Adron has been a regular at Ashton Gate since the 1950s. ‘My uncle used to go, and he took me along when I was quite young,’ he recalls. ‘Ever since I started going, I just wanted to keep going.’
He can recall John Atyeo in his pomp. Atyeo is Bristol City’s greatest ever player, the club’s scorer with 351 goals in 645 appearances over 15 years from 1951, and five in six England appearances for England.
‘I had a friend who was my best man,’ says Adron. ‘His dad worked at Ashton Gate, and he would let us into the ground before kick-off, and we sometimes sat in the ringside seats closest to the pitch.’ That was how he first came to meet his hero Atyeo.
Another of Adron’s vivid memories is standing behind the goal of Tony Cook, Bristol City’s goalkeeper in the 50s and early 60s. Cook started out as a winger in the city’s Downs League, playing for Durdham Down Adult School, the same team Adron represented during a long and distinguished amateur football career, playing into his mid-50s.
‘Dad was very proud of his disciplinary record,’ says Darren. ‘He did not receive a yellow card until very near the end of his career when he was booked for a tackle which barely warranted a free kick. I was playing in the match and he was distraught, pleading with the ref to change his decision.’
Next week, when England take on Wales in a friendly, Adron will return to Wembley where he will take part in the wonderful partnership struck between the FA and the Alzheimer’s Society
With the newspaper set for print before the whistle, the headline and sub-headings have been hastily amended to record the late German equaliser and extra-time being played
Theatre has always been Adron’s other great passion. He made sets for the Little Theatre at Bristol’s Old Vic and the city’s BBC studio and has amusing tales from his days rubbing shoulders with actress Peggy Ann Wood, TV cook Franny Cradock and John Craven of Newsround.
After this, he transferred his carpentry expertise into a kitchen fitting business, and although now retired an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2022 has done little to slow him down.
‘We are so deeply grateful to the NHS and everyone who has given their time and support,’ says wife Anna, who helps Adron remain active as a regular at several local dementia groups, including Robins Memories for those who share a love of Bristol City.
The chance to be part of the FA’s Alzheimer’s Society International is a perfect treat. It prompted his friend Simon Jones to present him with the signed print of Sir Geoff scoring the fourth in the World Cup final as a gift.
It now takes pride of place above the fireplace. They think it’s all over all over again and this time the people on the Wembley pitch will include Adron O’Connor walking out alongside England’s footballers.
To join Alzheimer’s Society and The FA and be part of the team working together to end the devastation of dementia, visit alzheimers.org.uk/joinourteam.
