Tales from Kent when England won the 1966 World Cup: From Wembley typewriters at Geerings to extra racing at Dumpton Park greyhound track

If England win the Euros this weekend - and with Spain stood between them and glory, it’s a big ‘if’ - one huge benefit will be that we can finally stop banging on about 1966.

Granted, the victory then was the World Cup, but given it was nearly 60 years ago, I think we’ll all be grateful to have a more modern-day reference point when it comes to success for the national team.

Yet memories of Bobby Moore lifting the trophy at Wembley will always remain iconic.

But there were also plenty of quirky stories in Kent surrounding the tournament - from an enterprising shop selling off the typewriters used by the world's press to report on the big game at Wembley, to a group of Italian fans who arrived at their hotel...just as the Italians were sent home with their tails between their legs.

We took a delve into the past to have a look at the quirky stories lost in time around England's greatest footballing triumph so far.

Lucky ticket

Every football fan dreams of Lady Luck smiling down upon them and a ticket for a major sporting event falling into their lap.

So you can imagine the delight of a Mr R Agate from Leigh, near Tonbridge, who not only found himself face-to-face with England's upcoming opponents on that sunny July afternoon, but them also giving him the chance to witness one of the most celebrated sporting moments in our nation's history.

He worked for the pharmaceutical firm Smith Kline and French, which then had laboratories near Hildenborough.

Tasked with making a visit to the firm's headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on the Tuesday before the final, he was taken to lunch at a hotel in which the German football team were staying. They clearly got on like a house on fire as he left the lunch clutching a prized ticket