11 photos from Sunderland in 1966 - the year the World Cup came to Wearside

What a July that was. The World Cup came to the North East in 1966 and Sunderland was right in the heart of the action.

Flags, fans, queues for tickets. It all happened on Wearside as fans from Italy, Chile and the Soviet Union all came to town.

Thanks to Bill Hawkins, from Sunderland Antiquarian Society, we have 11 photos from that year of fantastic football.

Let’s re-live the memories.

9. Hard at work

The Italian players training at Roker Park. Photo: Bill Hawkins

The buses of Sunderland flew flags to represent the competing countries. Photo: Bill Hawkins. Photo: Bill Hawkins

The queue for tickets for matches at Roker Park. Photo: Bill Hawkins

Were you there when Sunderland welcomed the world? Tell us more by emailing [email protected]. Photo: Bill Hawkins Photo: Bill Hawkins