Our World Cup Winner
July 2016 was an important anniversary for football fans. It was 50 years since England won the FIFA World Cup for the first and only time. Roger Hunt, one of the great players in that winning team, lived in Culcheth most of his life and still lives nearby in Croft. He played in all six games in the 1966 finals and scored three goals. He was also a legendary player for Liverpool and still holds the club record for the highest number of league goals.
Roger Hunt was born in our parish in 1938. He was always a keen footballer but he didn't make it as a professional until he was aged over 20, late by modern standards. He played part time for Stockton Heath when he was younger while working full time in the family haulage business, which was then in Culcheth but is now in Newton le Willows. When he was 18 he had to go in the army because two years of 'national service' was compulsory at that time but he kept up his football by playing for Devizes, near his army base, and Stockton Heath when on leave. Fortunately he was spotted by a Liverpool scout at Stockton Heath and was taken on as a professional at £12 a week when he left the army. In 1959 he married his girlfriend, Patricia, who he had known since before his army service, and they set up home in a semi-detached house in Culcheth.
He became a great success at Liverpool, averaging a goal every game in the 1961-62 season. He was regularly the top scorer for Liverpool helping them become league champions several times and win the FA Cup for the first time. In 1964 he scored the first goal ever seen on the BBC's programme 'Match of the Day'. He was selected for England 34 times, scoring in his debut game in 1962, and was on the losing side only twice in those 34 games. However, his greatest fame is for being a key player in winning the World Cup for England in 1966.
Roger was becoming more financially secure in the 1960s so he, Patricia and their two children could move into a three bedroom detached house in Culcheth. However, a footballer's wages and lifestyle in those days was nothing like as extravagant as today. His wife recalls that on the day of the World Cup Final she drove to London with Roger's parents, parked in the car park and walked to the stadium entrance with no fuss. They drove home from the hotel the next morning and although they were welcomed back in Culcheth by lots of people waving flags they went into their house and had dinner like any normal family. A few days later the excitement had died down and Roger was back to normal life in the village having a drink with friends in the local pub like any other bloke.
Roger retired from football in 1972 and went back to work in the family business. His marriage ended in divorce after 22 years together and he now lives with his second wife in Croft. He is retired from the family business now but he still gets calls for personal appearances, speeches and interviews. He performed the opening ceremony at the new Culcheth High School in 2010. He is fondly remembered by many people as one of the greats for Liverpool FC and the England national team, one of very few English men with a World Cup Winners Medal. Roger's contribution to football was belatedly recognised in 2000 when he was awarded an MBE.