Football writer who missed 1966 final

THE obituary for former Henley Town FC goalkeeper Phil Cook in last week’s Henley Standard brought back memories for our esteemed former football writer John Bailey and in particular the 1966 World Cup final.

“I remember seeing Phil busily at work on his house in Hamilton Avenue all those years ago as I made my way to the old Reading Road ground to watch the Town,” says John.

Phil, who did his National Service with the Royal Engineers, had previously played for a team in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was stationed, and played several matches against German prisoners-of-war, some of whom had been members of the national team.

Later he became a keen rower who represented Henley Rowing Club. And he was so devoted to that sport that on the day of the Wembley final between England and Germany he attended the Henley Town and Visitors’ Regatta rather than watch the match on television with his wife Joyce, young daughter Debbie and baby son Andy.

It was this that reminded John that he, too, had missed the glorious occasion.



He says: “Phil’s spirit might be amused to know that I spent the afternoon of England’s World Cup victory in an even more eccentric manner than he did: I was at the old newspaper library in Colindale researching Henley Town’s history!

“As extra time had to be played, I was in Piccadilly Circus shortly before play ended. It was like one of those films about life after the H-bomb, a plague, epidemic or something similar: apart from one paper seller, there was not a soul to be seen.”

The rest, as they say, is history.