Express & Star reporter Brendan McLoughlin had the best seat in the house alongside 1966 legend Roger Hunt at Bar Sport in Cannock for England’s win over Slovenia.

Hunt and fellow World Cup winner, Wolves and England great Ron Flowers, were late call-ups for the event after another of their ’66 team-mates Nobby Stiles had been forced to pull out due to poor health.

As part of the nation’s only triumphant team to date, no one better understood what Fabio Capello’s boys were going through during their crunch final Group C game in Port Elizabeth.

After disappointing draws against USA and Algeria, only a victory for England would send them into the last 16 in South Africa.

The capacity crowd in Cannock were in expectant mood and what turned out to be a perfect afternoon was capped when they got the chance to meet and question two greats of the game.

But, from Jermain Defoe’s decisive goal right through to Wayne Rooney’s controversial substitution, it was our man who was in the privileged position of being able to gauge Hunt’s reaction.