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England's 1966 World Cup final win named landmark moment most Brits wished they had witnessed

Bob Geldof's Live Aid concert in 1985, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969 all score highly in new survey

Grant Bailey
Thursday 08 February 2018 12:20 GMT
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(AFP/Getty)

England’s nail-biting 4-2 victory over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final is the landmark moment Brits would love to have witnessed.

The game, played at Wembley on 30 July, remains the greatest moment in England's footballing history and made legends of players like the late Bobby Moore and Nobby Stiles.

The match featured Geoff Hurt's infamous 'was it, or wasn't it' goal and Kenneth Wolstenholme's immortal "Think it’s all over! It is now...." line, as fans streamed onto the pitch believing the final whistle had gone.

1966 World Cup Final in colour

Bob Geldof’s 1985 benefit concert Live Aid, dubbed "The Day Music Changed the World", appeared in second on the list.

The Wembley fundraiser featured now-legendary performances from Queen, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

The concert, which took place in the UK and the US, raised over £150 million for famine relief in Africa, and was witnessed by an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide.

Greg Tatton Brown from online live casino Casumo.com, which commissioned the study, said: “England’s victory over West Germany on the pitch in 1966 is held in high regard indeed, and is surely the most iconic moment in British sporting history.

“Still, our dedication to the beautiful game appears to eclipse even our curiosity to explore some of the unknown corners of history, from the construction of Stone Henge and the Pyramids, to the first moment man discovered fire.”

The countdown, which took in some of the most important moments in sport, music and history at large, found more Brits would go back to watch Torvill and Dean perform the Bolero at the 1984 Winter Olympics – than witness the birth of Jesus Christ.

Other major events we'd love to have witnessed includes the launch of the Titanic, The Beatles’ rooftop performance at Apple Offices and the Christmas Truce between German and Allied lines in 1914.

One in five Brits would go back in time to 9th November 1989 to be on the ground in Germany’s capital city to watch the Berlin Wall come down.

And 21 per cent want to plant there feet on the Observation Gantry at Cape Canaveral to watch the launch of Apollo 11, which delivered Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the Moon for the first time.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953 is a moment of reverence for 21 per cent of patriotic Brits, who would like to go back to Westminster Abbey to view the procession.

The construction of Stone Henge still poses a mystery for modern historians.

Nineteen per cent of hypothetical time travellers would like to go back to see how ancient man formed the iconic and enigmatic rock formation.

And while Live Aid took the top spot as the most monumental gig Brits can name, 1969’s Woodstock festival and Elvis Presley’s 1973 Hawaii show are also held in high regard.

The spectacular London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, which was directed by Danny Boyle, was a benchmark moment sports fans wish they could have snatched a ticket for. Usain Bolt’s men's 100 metre win at the same Olympic Games, which smashed records at the time, also appeared in a prime position in the countdown.

Three in four Brits would love to attend more live events in the future but seven in 10 believe ticket prices are too expensive to afford regular outings. In a typical year the average Brit will spend £150 on tickets to live events, as well as £180 on travel, accommodation and food when they get there.

And while 52 per cent agree live events are best experienced in the stands and in the moment, 27 per cent would be just as happy watching a live stream at home on the TV or online.

Greg Tatton-Brown added: “It’s interesting to see that many of the most popular events we would most like to go back and witness, in the moment, with our own eyes, have already been televised and analysed in great detail.

“But there’s something about the live experience, knowing that you are in the right place at the right time, witnessing history, which is very special.” Casumo.com hosts a range of live casino games and streams, which combines the thrill of a real-world casino and the convenience of playing remotely.

Players can participate live and watch events unfold in real time with real croupiers and dealers, providing an authentic and immersive experience.

SWNS

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