A Guardian columnist reflects on personal encounters with England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, marking 60 years since the triumph, portraying the players as down-to-earth and approachable in contrast with the wealth and detachment of today's Premier League stars. The piece uses anecdotes involving Geoff Hurst, Alf Ramsey and the Charlton brothers to illustrate an era when even household names remained modest despite their fame, offering a nostalgic contrast to modern football culture.

The writer recalls helping Geoff Hurst rehearse an after-dinner speech in his living room and recounts stories about Alf Ramsey's man-management style, including a pointed remark to Hurst that his place in the team was never guaranteed. It also notes Ramsey's modest salary as England manager (£4,500 rising to £5,000 a year, plus help buying a house), and describes how many of the 1966 squad supplemented their income into the 1980s and beyond by performing at working men's clubs and sporting dinners, unlike today's players who earn hundreds of thousands of pounds a month.