A blurry image of open affection after England’s triumph in 1966 was a rare snapshot in a complicated relationship
Jack and Bobby Charlton sink to their knees as they celebrate England’s victory at the final whistle of the 1966 World Cup final.Jack and Bobby Charlton sink to their knees as they celebrate England’s victory at the final whistle of the 1966 World Cup final.here is a photograph taken seconds after the final whistle had blown in the 1966 World Cup final that shows Jack andkneeling in exhausted embrace.
But it is also significant for two other reasons. First because, however frosty their relationship would become, it shows clearly the fraternal love between them. And second because, although neither surely expected it, that was the moment at which the dynamic of their relationship began to change. Bobby had always been the more talented brother, smarter, better-looking, much better at football.
But everybody knew Bobby would be a footballer. When Matt Busby first saw him play, he described him as having the poise of a pianist. Jack, for all his courage and doggedness, never had that.Although Jack made his league debut first, their careers seemed set on very different trajectories. Bobby won the league in 1956-57 as part of Busby’s brilliant young Manchester United team. Leeds, however, were chaotic.
Bobby Charlton enjoys a lighter moment with Jack, holding a full house in a game of cards with Peter Bonetti, Martin Peters, his brother and Bobby Moore in 1966.Leeds had won promotion in 1964 but, still, it was surprise when Jack, at the age of 29, was called up by England the following year, receiving the news straight after Leeds had beaten Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final. Delighted, he barged into the opposing dressing room to tell Bobby, who responded: “Well done. Now, fuck off.
The World Cup was the first trophy Jack had ever won, but they soon began to mount up. To the bewilderment of his Leeds teammates, Jack succeeded Bobby as Footballer of the Year in 1967. He soon added a league title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and two Fairs Cups. It might not quite have matched Bobby’s three league titles, FA Cup and European Cup, but it was far closer than had ever seemed likely.
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