Holding Geoff Hurst’s Ball
We MPs are spoilt. Thsi afternoon, the Museums and Libraries and Archives Council (North) came and put up a bespoke exhibition in the House of Commons, so that MPs could see some of the treasures from their museums. The exhibitors included Manchester City Galleries, Liverpool Libraries, Bolton Museum, the People’s History Museum, the Tuullie House Museum and the Football Museum.
Highlights included the Blaydon races, William Irving’s dynamic painting. And also, for me, an 8th Century anglo-saxon helmet, stunningly preserved, and only on its third trip from York, where it was discovered a quarter of a century ago. Just wonderful, and I confess I had no idea of its existence, only knowing of the older but less well preserved helmet from Sutton Hoo.
We are also invited to be photographed with Geoff Hurst’s ball - the one which won us the world cup. It is damaged - but not from the match. Apparently the Germans nicked it and kicked it around in Germany before they gave it back. It rattles, as the bladder has long since shrivelled up inside. Best and most hilariously of all, I noticed the initials YG written in felt tip on the ball. I asked what this signified. Apparently, in 1996, Yuri Geller* was called in to help give the English team luck in Euro 96, and he wrote his initials on the ball! Cultural vandalism or what? If this is wrong Yuri, please tell me, as I don’t want to be sued by you. But that’s what I was told. Amazing.
*Actually, it is Uri Geller, but that’s OK, as the initials were actually U.G!
Chris Applegate said on March 1st, 2007 at 11:20 am:
Given that his name is correctly spelt Uri Geller (and that is how he refers to himself on his official website uri-geller.com), not Yuri Geller, I think you fell for a very tall story.