Football fans don’t need reminding that it’s 60 years since the stadium witnessed the national team lifting the Jules Rimet cup.
The former hotel underwent a major development in 2020 and reopened as a care home. (Image: Hendon Hall)
Thomas Tuchel’s squad will no doubt be treated to luxury resorts during the 2026 tournament in America, Mexico and Canada.
But back in 1966 the players were based in a historic hotel that is now a nursing home.
Hendon Hall is a Grade II-listed property that was once home to 18th century actor manager David Garrick, who created a memorial to Shakespeare in the grounds.
(L-R) England’s Ian Callaghan, Norman Hunter and Gerry Byrne sign autographs for young fans outside the Hendon Hall hotel in 1966. (Image: PA)
It had a spell as a girls school and RAF convalescence home before becoming the Hendon Manor Hotel.
It was chosen to put up the England squad because it was just a 15-minute drive to Wembley, where England played all six of their matches between July 10 and 30.
The 24-strong squad was based there for a month while shuttling between games and their training camp in Roehampton.
England’s Jack Charlton (r) holds the Jules Rimet trophy aloft as he parades it around Wembley with teammates Ray Wilson (l), George Cohen (second l) and Bobby Moore (second r) following their 4-2 win. (Image: PA)
Compared to today’s players the wages were relatively modest – around £80 to £100 per week – and both public expectations and access were more relaxed.
Between games the players went to the Gaumont Cinema in Hendon or walked around the north London neighbourhood.
On the day of the quarter final with Argentina, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters were pictured out for a stroll near the hotel, and on cup final day Nobby Stiles went to church while Bobby Moore and hat trick scorer Geoff Hurst walked to Golders Green for tea.
With minimal security fans waited for the players to leave the hotel and asked them to sign autographs.
The hotel is now a care home (Image: Hendon Hall)
Hendon resident Michael Hart told the Times Series in 2017 how he collected nine signatures including from Jimmy Greaves and team captain Bobby Moore.
“I was 13 in 1966 and living in Holders Hill Avenue close to the old Hendon Hall Hotel,” he recalled.
“Only a few people were interested in the team when the tournament started. But crowds grew outside the hotel as the team progressed.
“Someone came out of the hotel on the Saturday morning of the Wembley cup final asking if anyone wanted to buy a ticket. I didn’t have any money on me and missed out — something that has annoyed me all my life!”
It was in the garden of Hendon Hall in front of the press cameras that Moore commiserated with Jimmy Greaves over losing his place in the team through injury, while Greaves was pictured having his leg examined by a medic in one of the bedrooms.
By the time the coach arrived at the hotel to drive the five miles to Wembley for the cup final there were crowds lining the streets the whole way.
After their legendary 4 – 2 win against West Germany the team were whisked away to the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington where the FA held a banquet with the prime minister.
Those who played in the final earned £1,000, but that didn’t include many members of the England team who had been with them all the way.
After a quick meeting they agreed to share their bonus, with every man getting £500.
Hendon Hall closed as a hotel in 2018 and was sold to developers.
It reopened in 2022 as a luxury residential care home for the elderly and nursing those with dementia.
