Toshiba hosts iconic 1966 World Cup shirt

UK: The England shirt worn by Sir Bobby Charlton in the 1966 World Cup has made a guest appearance at Toshiba Air Conditioning UK prior to going for auction next month.

The iconic white football shirt was recently discovered, still in the possession of ex-Argentinian left back Silvio Marzalini, England’s 1966 World Cup quarter final opponents. Now back in the UK for the first time since that infamous game, the shirt was on display at Toshiba’s training centre opening in Leatherhead today before going for auction.

The famous shirt has something of a controversial history. The quarter final match witnessed the first ever sending off in a senior international football match at Wembley when Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was dismissed. England manager Sir Alf Ramsey was so incensed by Argentina’s tactics that at the end of the game he stopped his players from swapping shirts with their opponents. However, one shirt eluded him, and was carefully kept for posterity by Silvio Marzalini.

Clearly delighted to be able to display the shirt, Toshiba Air Conditioning UK general manger David Dunn said: “We are delighted to be able to have given people an opportunity to see, and even be pictured with such an iconic piece of sporting history. Sadly, it was not with us for long!”

Its authenticity having been verified by experts, the shirt goes under the hammer in May.