1966 and the Union Flag

[Wullie]

Looking at old photos of the 1966 World Cup Final, I notice the fans waving Union Jacks and not the flag of St. George. Any ideas why this was so ?

[Kickoff3pm]

Wullie wrote:

Looking at old photos of the 1966 World Cup Final, I notice the fans waving Union Jacks and not the flag of St. George. Any ideas why this was so ?

Well even the branding was the Union Jack. We English are a funny bunch, we'll import anyone else's culture and tradition while our own are forgotten, walked over or simply pissed on.

Fact is the is nothing left of what used to be called England. Very few people can trace their family back just 3 generations being English. In fact the was a survey a few weeks ago in the news that stated children of Asian borns feel more English then children of English.
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[holtie96]

I have raised this question myself elsewhere regarding the 1966 World Cup.
I wonder whether it had anything to do with the royal connection or could it have quite simply have been down to the scots getting involved and doing a great job with their choice of flags just like when North Korea turned up at Hamden park for the olympics in 2012 and used the South Korean flag

Seriously though did supporters even display flags in those days and was the St George's cross used?
Also the other point is that St George is the patron saint of many countries and places and the StGeorges cross can be seen worldwide.
Just a thought

[silkman1]

It couldn't just be could it that back in 66 the union jack was the symbol of patriotism. After all we were in a world cup final.

It was far different from the hype that surrounds a Wembley final now.

And far far better.

[Tynie Topics]

Britain = England, England = Britain was the long and the short of it until - in football terms at least - England grew a pair and started using their own flag sometime in the 1990's.

Before then England games were dominated by the UJ, this has now almost completely gone as they have found their own identity.
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[foxes1]

I heard the Scots wanted England to use the Union Jack as they love us so much, and not the cross of St George.

[bisphamseasider]

According to historical records, 1996 seems to be the time when fans started using the cross of St George rather than the Union Jack.

But I seem to remember the cross of St George was seen at England away matches from about the mid 1980s.

[Posh1959]

I used to watch England away late 70s through to late 80s and i had a large GC from day one as did several others.

[Posh1959]

Apologies just checked, my first away trip with the George Cross was Salonika November 1982