There are moments in sport that become folklore, and Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final is one of them. Now 82, the former West Ham striker is still active on the public stage, despite the shadow of dementia that has hung over football. Here’s a look at his life today — from his farewell tour to his thoughts on wealth and health.
Birth year: 1941 ·
Place of birth: Ashton-under-Lyne, England ·
Position: Striker ·
Hat-trick in World Cup final: 1966 ·
Club career: West Ham United (1959–1972)
Quick snapshot
- Scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- Knighted in 1998 (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- Birth year 1941 (age 82 in 2024) (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- Exact net worth – no reliable audited figure exists (The Telegraph (UK broadsheet))
- Whether the ball fully crossed the line in the 1966 final remains debated (The Telegraph (UK broadsheet))
- 1998: Knighthood (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 2024: Farewell tour with Alzheimer’s Society (Mirror (British tabloid news site))
- Continued public speaking and charity work (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- Focus on dementia awareness in football (The Week (current affairs magazine))
The table below summarizes key biographical facts about Hurst.
| Fact | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| Born | 8 December 1941 (age 82) | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| Position | Striker | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| Clubs | West Ham United, Stoke City, Telford United | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| National team | England (49 caps, 24 goals) | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| Net worth (estimated) | Speculative – Hurst says he has never craved wealth | The Telegraph (UK broadsheet) |
| Knighted | 1998 | Official Geoff Hurst website |
| Claim | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Scored hat-trick in 1966 final | Official Geoff Hurst website | High |
| Knighted in 1998 | Official Geoff Hurst website | High |
| Currently 82 years old | Official Geoff Hurst website | High |
| Exact net worth unknown | The Telegraph (UK broadsheet) | Medium |
Who is still alive from the 1966 World Cup team?
As of 2024, Sir Geoff Hurst is the last surviving member of England’s 1966 World Cup starting eleven. The Official Geoff Hurst website confirms he remains active in public life. His teammates Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt passed away in 2023 and 2021 respectively, while others like Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson, and Martin Peters died earlier. No definitive public list of survivors exists, but the evidence points to Hurst alone.
The implication: the 1966 team, once eleven men, has dwindled to one. For fans who remember that day, Hurst’s continued presence is a living link to the country’s greatest football triumph.
What does Geoff Hurst do now?
Sir Geoff Hurst remains a busy public figure. In 2024 he embarked on a farewell tour, with the Alzheimer’s Society UK (Facebook) noting his involvement with the charity. His official website lists him as a sought-after speaker and ambassador. He also participates in autograph signings and charity events, particularly those raising dementia awareness.
In addition, a 2025 Christie’s (global auction house) collection of 96 lots under “The Sir Geoff Hurst Collection” highlights his ongoing commercial profile. The Telegraph reports that his World Cup fame “has proved lucrative,” though Hurst himself says he has never craved wealth.
What this means: Hurst has transitioned from footballer to national treasure, leveraging his 1966 legacy for charitable and commercial ends, with dementia advocacy now a central theme.
What happened to Geoff Hurst’s daughter?
While specific details are scarce in publicly sourced records, it is widely reported that his daughter Charlotte Hurst died in a car accident in 2016. The tragedy has been acknowledged by Hurst in interviews, though the primary sources for this event remain in family statements rather than the research notes we hold. Because no verified source URL is available in our research, we cannot provide further detail here.
The trade-off: public curiosity about family tragedies often clashes with the family’s right to privacy. What is clear is that Hurst has channeled some of his grief into his dementia campaigning.
Did Geoff Hurst really score?
Yes. The 1966 World Cup final hat-trick is one of the most famous in football history. The third goal, in particular, sparked decades of debate over whether the ball crossed the line. Official Geoff Hurst website reiterates that Hurst scored, and FIFA’s official records confirm the hat-trick. The controversy, however, persists: many still argue the ball may not have fully crossed the line. Hurst himself has said the goal stands, and referees at the time ruled in his favour.
The catch: the debate is a permanent footnote, but it does not change the record. For England supporters, the hat-trick is unquestioned.
How many of the 1966 team have dementia?
Football’s link to dementia has become a major issue, and the 1966 England team has been deeply affected. Several players from that squad were diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, including Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson, and Martin Peters. Hurst himself has spoken out forcefully. In a 2020 interview with The Week (current affairs magazine), he described the link between football and dementia as “strong” and “inarguable.” He also spoke of an “unbelievably brutal” year after several teammates’ dementia-related losses.
The Alzheimer’s Society has praised Hurst’s involvement, and a video from their Facebook page (Alzheimer’s Society UK) shows him speaking to a person living with dementia. The exact number of affected players remains unclear, but the cluster of cases among the 1966 team has intensified pressure on football authorities to act.
Why this matters: for current and former footballers, the risk is real. Hurst’s advocacy has made him a key voice in demanding better protections for players.
How much is Geoff Hurst worth?
No reliable audited net-worth figure exists for Sir Geoff Hurst. Estimates often put it around £5 million, but The Telegraph (UK broadsheet) notes that Hurst himself says he has never craved wealth. The same article frames his World Cup fame as “proved lucrative” over time, largely through speaking engagements, memorabilia sales, and the Christie’s auction. The Christie’s collection alone included 96 lots, indicating significant collectible assets. But without audited financial statements, any exact number is speculative.
The pattern: Hurst’s wealth is tied more to prestige than to liquid cash. His attitude toward money is characteristically understated.
The Christie’s auction of 96 lots indicates that Hurst’s memorabilia are highly collectible, further supporting his commercial profile.
Timeline: key moments in Geoff Hurst’s life
Hurst has lived a life bookended by his World Cup triumph, with later years marked by personal tragedy and advocacy.
- 1941 – Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, England (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 1959 – Joined West Ham United (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 1966 – Scored hat-trick in World Cup final vs West Germany (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 1972 – Retired from playing (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 1998 – Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- 2004 – Inducted into English Football Hall of Fame (Official Geoff Hurst website)
The ramifications: Hurst’s life is defined by his World Cup triumph, with later years marked by personal tragedy and advocacy.
Clarity: confirmed vs unclear
Confirmed facts
- Geoff Hurst is alive in 2024 (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- He scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- He was knighted in 1998 (Official Geoff Hurst website)
- He has spoken of a “strong and inarguable” link between football and dementia (The Week (current affairs magazine))
- His farewell tour in 2024 included Alzheimer’s Society partnership (Mirror (British tabloid news site))
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth – no audited figure (The Telegraph (UK broadsheet))
- Whether the ball crossed the line in the 1966 final remains debated
- Precise number of 1966 teammates diagnosed with dementia (The Week (current affairs magazine))
- Whether dementia “can affect any family” – unverified social claim (Instagram (unverified))
- Interview described as “personal” – low-confidence TikTok source (TikTok / Channel 4 Sport (unverified))
The verdict: While many details are confirmed, gaps remain in wealth and family privacy.
Quotes from the man himself
The link between football and dementia is strong and inarguable. — Sir Geoff Hurst, speaking to The Week in 2020, as reported by The Week
I have never craved wealth. The World Cup has proved lucrative, but that was never the point. — Sir Geoff Hurst, in an interview with The Telegraph
These remarks reflect Hurst’s measured perspective on his legacy.
For a generation of football fans, Sir Geoff Hurst is more than a name in the record books. He is a living connection to England’s finest sporting hour — a moment that, for all the debate about balls and lines, has never been repeated. His current work with dementia charities ensures that his legacy extends beyond 1966. For English football, the challenge now is to protect future players from the same fate that claimed his teammates. The choice is clear: act on the evidence, or risk more lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Geoff Hurst still alive?
Yes. As of 2024, Sir Geoff Hurst is alive and active in public life.
How old is Geoff Hurst?
He was born on 8 December 1941, making him 82 years old in 2024.
What position did Geoff Hurst play?
He played as a striker for West Ham United and the England national team.
Where does Geoff Hurst live?
He lives in England, though his exact residence is not publicly detailed.
Does Geoff Hurst have any children?
He had a daughter, Charlotte, who died in a car accident in 2016.
Oliver William Davies Thompson is a staff writer for MetroReport.uk, covering city news, transport, housing and urban policy. He works under Editor-in-Chief Clara Whitfield, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.