Geoff Hurst awarded Freedom of the City of London

Sir Geoff Hurst, the 84-year-old former England striker, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of his sporting achievements with England and West Ham United. The honor comes 60 years after Hurst scored a historic hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final, leading England to a 4-2 victory over West Germany.

During the ceremony, Hurst dedicated the honor to his former teammates. He noted that of the ten teammates who played alongside him in the 1966 final, only Terry Paine and Ian Callaghan are still living. He expressed sadness regarding the loss of his colleagues, noting that six of the ten teammates died due to complications from dementia.

Hurst highlighted his support for the Alzheimer's Society, citing his confidence in medical research for the illness. Former West Ham captain Mark Noble attended the event to praise Hurst's enduring legacy for both the club and the country.