When England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst made his mark on Leeside

A POPULAR pub question branded around the pubs and clubs of Cork City in the early months of 1976 went something like this, ‘Name the only man to have scored a hat-trick in a Work Cup final and score in Turner’s Cross?'

If you were to ask any young soccer-mad Corkonian the same question today he or she might conceivably plump for current PSG and France talisman Kylian Mbappé. The popular striker scored a memorable hat-trick in last December’s World Cup Final defeat to Argentina and could be thought to have been a scorer in an underage international in Cork during the formative years of his career.

However, the answer is, of course, Geoff Hurst, the former West Ham United, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion striker who scored that never-to-be-forgotten hat-trick for England against West Germany in 1966. 

It wasn’t until 10 years later that the Ashton-under-Lyne native would venture across the Irish Sea and play four matches for Cork Celtic in the League of Ireland. The striker was considering management offers from Crewe and Southern League outfit Telford United and later in the summer an offer to play for Seattle Sounders in the then-burgeoning North American Soccer League before agreeing to sign for Celtic in time for the FAI Cup first-round clash with Dundalk at Flower Lodge on Sunday, February 15th.

PROLIFIC

After an impressive career which included 212 goals in 529 league appearances, 75 goals in 155 cup appearances and 24 goals in 49 international outings, Hurst’s arrival on Leeside went somewhat under the radar. His arrival was sandwiched between the departure of George Best and the appearance of Bobby Charlton, with Waterford.

Best had been a big disappointment at Celtic and was released for lack of effort. The availability of Hurst spurred Celtic boss Paul O’Donovan to sign the former England star in the hope that he might be able to rekindle a season which looked promising before Christmas but went off the rails during Best’s tenure which resulted in two losses in his three appearances.

There was further optimism in sending club secretary Donie Forde to sign the number 10 as it was Forde’s persistence 23 years beforehand which led to the signing of another former England international Raich Carter for Cork Athletic in 1953. On that occasion, Carter played his part in Athletic winning the FAI Cup following their 2-1 extra-time win over neighbours Evergreen in the first and so far only all-Cork final.

And so, Telford vice-chairman Gerald Smith, after securing Hurst’s signature to manage his club, offered to drive him to Swansea on a Saturday evening to catch the overnight ferry to Cork and fly back to Manchester on Monday morning.

DANGEROUS

Hurst made his debut in the league against Shamrock Rovers on Sunday, February 8. He linked well with former England colleague Bobby Tambling and the exciting local Bryan McSweeney and as the most advanced striker looked dangerous throughout on the treacherous underfoot surface. 

McSweeney opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Hurst rose above a crowded penalty area to powerfully head Richie Brooks’ cross past Pat Dunne a minute before half-time. After Rovers pulled one back through Leo Kearns in the 53rd minute, Hurst dummied a low cross from Tambling in the final minute for Gerry Myers to score a third. 

Hurst said afterwards that: "I was satisfied with my performance. I was afraid I might not fit in with the lads but we won and I scored. What more could I ask?"

Dundalk were up next for the veteran international in the cup and once again Hurst made his presence felt as early as the 13th minute when he ripped a shot past Richie Blackmore which was deflected over the bar by the hand of Jimmy Dainty. John McCarthy converted the resultant penalty before McSweeney added a second. 

In the 68th minute, Hurst’s delightful overhead flick was neatly controlled by sub Gerry Myers who finished in style for 3-0.

Hurst didn’t have to leave the city for his first away league game against neighbours Cork Hibernians who featured his ex England team mate Rodney Marsh among its starting 11. 

Marsh hit a glorious free-kick past the fully stretched Alfie McCarthy in the 21st minute before Hurst, McSweeney and Tambling combined for the latter to equalise midways through the second 45.

Sligo were next to feel the wrath of Celtic’s front three as McSweeney, Hurst and Tambling scored in a 3-0 win. However, a lack-lustre performance in the cup quarter-final on Sunday, March 7 ended in a 1-0 defeat to eventual winners Bohemians. Hurst was duly released but his contribution of three goals in four outings is still talked about today among Celtic die-hards!