Dad’s World Cup ’66 press kit is star of new Sheffield exhibition

A rare collection of 1966 World Cup press items is among football memorabilia that has gone on display at Sheffield Town Hall.

The items from the competition, which saw England victorious, were owned by Darlene Dickens, whose father, Harold Martin, was a reporter at what was probably the biggest event in the country’s sporting history.

Mr. Martin’s press bag, mobile desk and press passes, as well as an autographed menu from the post-World Cup final dinner, are included in a new exhibition organized by the Sheffield Home of Football (SHOF) charity.

Ms Dickens, from Sheffield, said she never realized there would be “such a big interest” in the items which had been treasured by her family for years.

Mr Martin had moved to Sheffield from Bristol in 1938 to become the film critic for the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star, Ms Dickens said.

He quickly took on other roles and was soon working for the Reuters news agency in London, before being called up for duty in World War Two.

He had a varied career later, which included “meeting the film star Cary Grant and even attending the funeral of Cary Grant’s father,” she added.

Mr Martin also produced regular columns in Sheffield United football programs and in national newspapers.

Meanwhile, during the 1966 World Cup campaign, Mr. Martin was the chief liaison officer for press reporters during matches held at the Hillsborough stadium and he kept a diary of his work during the tournament.

A total of 93,000 spectators witnessed England beat West Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final at Wembley Stadium on July 30, while an estimated 400 million people around the world watched the match on TV.

After the competition, Mr Martin kept his World Cup reporting paraphernalia, which Ms Dickens said she was “immensely proud of”.

While Ms Dickens said she had “never dreamed it would be of interest to others”, Mr Martin’s kit and souvenirs have been given their own shelf in the new exhibition.

Stephen Burke, civic office manager at Sheffield Town Hall, said: “Darlene genuinely didn’t understand the significance of her father’s role in telling the story of the World Cup and England’s success.

“She has brought in some photographs of her father wearing his blazer that he wore for the games he attended and the patch that was sown onto his pocket, identifying him as part of the official press party

“We also have a commemorative dish gifted to Harold by the FA.”

Other items in the new exhibition include football shirts signed by famous players including Pele and Geoff Hirst, as well as the world’s first football trophy, the Youdan Cup.

Denise Fox, chair of trustees at SHOF said: “Currently the men’s Euros are rightly celebrated around the world, but many people don’t know that they owe their existence to what happened in Sheffield over 160 years ago.

“The first ever football competition in the world, the Youdan Cup, was held in Sheffield. We have the world’s oldest club, Sheffield FC (1857) and the second oldest, Hallam FC (1860), which won that first cup, and which is still playing today.”

The exhibition at Sheffield Town Hall is open throughout the summer.