Former footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, who saw England to victory when he scored three goals in the 1966 World Cup final, joined a slew of sports stars in Wimbledon’s royal box ahead of England’s clash against Mexico.
Sir Geoff, who was the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, took his seat in Centre Court to watch Roman Safiullin take on Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of gentlemen’s singles.
The football star’s appearance comes hours before England will face World Cup co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm local time on Sunday (1am Monday in the UK).
West Ham United players Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst during the England team’s lap of honour at Wembley following the World Cup final in 1966 (Archive/PA)
PA Archive
Also in the royal box, Olympic marathon runner Paula Radcliffe sported a black dress with a pinstripe skirt as she stood next to fellow athlete Dame Kelly Holmes, with lioness Lauren James sitting nearby.
Track cyclists Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny waved to fans from their spot in the box, while heptathlon champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill could be spotted warmly greeting English rugby union player Rosie Galligan.
Also waving to the packed stands were former rugby union players Sir Clive Woodward and Matt Dawson, former tennis player and TV presenter Sue Barker, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and former footballer Graeme Souness.
Graeme Souness in the royal box (Andrew Matthews/PA)
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They were joined by stars from across football, rugby, golf, cricket and athletics, as well as King of Denmark, Frederik X.
Elsewhere, former cricketer Nick Knight watched his daughter Megan play America’s Carrie-Ann Hoo in the first round of the girls’ singles on Court Five.
Traditionally a rest day for players, play on “middle Sunday” began in 2022.
It was a change the All England Club said was designed to make the championships available to more people, and allow more to be done with the second “manic” Monday of the tournament.
