Nobby Stiles's match-worn red England No.4 jersey from the 1966 World Cup final, long-sleeved, crew-...
Nobby Stiles's match-worn red England No.4 jersey from the 1966 World Cup final, long-sleeved, crew-neck collar, embroidered three lions badge Nobby Stiles, who had made his England debut in season 1964-65, played in all of England's matches during the 1966 World Cup tournament. In the view of many commentators his best ever performance in an England shirt was in the World Cup semi-final v Portugal, where Alf Ramsey had tasked Stiles with man-marking Eusebio. The Portuguese play maker had been the star of the tournament, but Stiles' ever presence virtually nullified his performance that day and was crucial to England's progess to the final and eventual victory over West Germany on 30th July 1966. One of the enduring images of the 1966 World Cup final, and indeed English sport, was Nobby Stiles' impromptu celebratory jig on the Wembley pitch, wearing this very shirt, and holding the Jules Rimet Trophy aloft in one hand and his dentures in the other. A moment later encapsulated in Skinner and Baddiel's 'Three Lions' lyrics: But I still see that tackle by Moore, And when Lineker scored, Bobby belting the ball, And Nobby dancing. Provenance: The Property of a Private Collector. After the World Cup final Nobby Stiles swapped his shirt with team-mate Alan Ball. Stiles and Ball had roomed together throughout the World Cup. The shirt was subsequently acquired from Alan Ball by a private collector in 1978 shortly before Ball left Southampton for America to play in the NASL for Philadelphia Fury.