the other side of midnight

achtung, baby

it is far removed from a stretch of the imagination, look you see, to suggest that if one mentions England vs West Germany at Wembley in 1966, the thoughts of most are drawn to a certain World Cup Final. true, yes, that is in all likelihood the most famous football match between the two sides at that venue. but, as it happens, not the only one of that year. 

by chance, default, design, accident or fluke, it was so that these (or them) two sides played each other a mere five, give or take, months before that celebrated match. on 23 February 23 1966, making or if you prefer marking the date of this being published as the 56th anniversary of so, England played the nation, and indeed team, known as West Germany at that there Wembley in a friendly. 

we, in the modern era, tend to think of international friendlies as a recent invention, created just to upset football managers and players, who seem to think actually playing matches is not what football should be all about. not so, for they have always existed. probably. i mean, no i am not researching it or looking the matter up, but they existed as far back as 1966, at the least. 

although, that said, the match was called a "warm up" rather than a friendly. this is perhaps down to the fact that the game was not quite so ruthlessly marketed then as is now. or just the words what the journalist used in the other clipping below. 

the score in this match? well, i suspect several of you may not have known this match even happened, or existed, i suppose. so, i am reasonably (quite) reluctant to give away spoilers. but then yes, indeed it was that England also won this one, albeit via a considerably less dramatic 1-0 score. here you go, some video of the match, taped off of (West) Germany, no less. 

fact fans delight there, then, as yes, German tele got the goal scorer wrong. well, they did assuming that the name 'Hunt' flashes up to indicate who they believed scored. rather it was so that one Nobby Stiles scored, and so far as i am aware this was his first ever international goal. 

how about a little bit more (quite blurry, sorry) press coverage in advance of the match? sure, as in certainly. if you are able to read the below, and once again apologies for quality, there is a somewhat interesting notion contained in the text. no, not the bit about a particular dictator having a hissy fit, although yes that is as quite class as it is amusing. 

rather a considered "hmn" to that one, then. would England ever consider following the (West) German model? i mean, English clubs forming some sort of breakaway "super" league, so as to earn huge amounts of coins of money whilst passing the idea off as being to "improve" and of delivering a better game to the fans? an interesting idea. who knows, maybe one day English clubs will operate in such a manner.

right, anyway, as ever thanks for reading, and splendid stuff if this instance of me putting something on here proved to be of some marginal interest. 

be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!