On 27th July 1966 Longleat played host to a group of World Cup referees who enjoyed a day out at the newly-opened Wiltshire safari park.
Among those on the trip was Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst, who discovered during the visit he had been chosen to officiate at the World Cup Final between England and West Germany a few days later.
It was Dienst who, after consulting with his linesman, adjudged that Geoff Hurst’s extra-time strike did cross the line and set up England’s only World Cup win – so far.
Press photographs and cuttings from the time showing the Swiss official alongside the 6th Marquess of Bath and a lion cub now form part of Longleat’s archive, alongside the then Lord Bath’s tickets to the final and a rosette, which is believed to have been worn at the match.
The four tickets were for Lord and Lady Bath, her son-in-law and the Comptroller of Longleat House and were arranged through the FIFA Referee Liaison Officer as a thank-you for hosting the group of referees.
Since becoming the first safari park to open outside of Africa, Longleat has been synonymous with lions, and the team there are hoping its links with big cats and eagle-eyed officials will be a good omen for England’s prospects at this year’s tournament ahead of Saturday’s Quarter Final clash with France.
Longleat House Curator James Ford said: “When people think of Longleat, they can’t help but think of our famous lions – the obvious link with football’s very own ‘three lions’, but not many people will know that we are part of footballing history as the place where the referee for the 1966 final was announced.”
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