NEWS COPY -- by Grant Bailey
England’s nail-biting 4-2 victory over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final is the landmark moment Brits would love to have witnessed.
The game, played at Wembley on July 30, remains the greatest moment in England's footballing history and made legends of players like the late Bobby Moore and Nobby Stiles.
The match featured Geoff Hurst's infamous 'was it, or wasn't it' goal and Kenneth Wolstenholme's immortal 'They think it’s all over! It is now ....' line, as fans streamed onto the pitch believing the final whistle had gone.
Bob Geldof’s 1985 benefit concert Live Aid, dubbed ‘The Day Music Changed the World’, appeared in second on the list.
The Wembley fundraiser featured now-legendary performances from Queen, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.
The concert, which took place in the UK and the US, raised over £150 million for famine relief in Africa, and was witnessed by an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide.
Greg Tatton-Brown from online live casino Casumo.com, which commissioned the study, said: “England’s victory over West Germany on the pitch in 1966 is held in high regard indeed, and is surely the most iconic moment in British sporting history.
“Still, our dedication to the beautiful game appears to eclipse even our curiosity to explore some of the unknown corners of history, from the construction of Stonehenge and the Pyramids, to the first moment man discovered fire.”
The countdown, which took in some of the most important moments in sport, music and history at large, found more Brits would go back to watch Torvill and Dean perform the Bolero at the 1984 Winter Olympics – than witness the birth of Jesus Christ.
Other major events we'd love to have witnessed includes the launch of the Titanic, The Beatles’ rooftop performance at Apple Offices and the Christmas Truce between German and Allied lines in 1914.
One in five Brits would go back in time to 9th November 1989 to be on the ground in Germany’s capital city to watch the Berlin Wall come down.
And 21 per cent want to plant there feet on the Observation Gantry at Cape Canaveral to watch the launch of Apollo 11, which delivered Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the Moon for the first time.
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June, 1953 is a moment of reverence for 21 per cent of patriotic Brits, who would like to go back to Westminster Abbey to view the procession.
The construction of Stonehenge still poses a mystery for modern historians. Nineteen per cent of hypothetical time travellers would like to go back to see how ancient man formed the iconic and enigmatic rock formation.
And while Live Aid took the top spot as the most monumental gig Brits can name, 1969’s Woodstock festival and Elvis Presley’s 1973 Hawaii show are also held in high regard.
The spectacular London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, which was directed by Danny Boyle, was a benchmark moment sports fans wish they could have snatched a ticket for.
Usain Bolt’s mens 100 metre win at the same Olympic Games, which smashed records at the time, also appeared in a prime position in the countdown.
Three in four Brits would love to attend more live events in the future but seven in 10 believe ticket prices are too expensive to afford regular outings.
In a typical year the average Brit will spend £150 on tickets to live events, as well as £180 on travel, accommodation and food when they get there.
And while 52 per cent agree live events are best experienced in the stands and in the moment, 27 per cent would be just as happy watching a live stream at home on the TV or online.
Greg Tatton-Brown added: “It’s interesting to see that many of the most popular events we would most like to go back and witness, in the moment, with our own eyes, have already been televised and analysed in great detail.
“But there’s something about the live experience, knowing that you are in the right place at the right time, witnessing history, which is very special.”
Casumo.com hosts a range of live casino games and streams, which combines the thrill of a real-world casino and the convenience of playing remotely.
Players can participate live and watch events unfold in real time with real croupiers and dealers, providing an authentic and immersive experience.
TOP 50 HISTORIC MOMENTS BRITS WISH THEY’D WITNESSED
1. England winning the 1966 World Cup
2. Live Aid, 1985
3. The fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989
4. The launch of Apollo 11, 1969
5. Queen Elizabeth II Royal Coronation, 1953
6. The London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, 2012
7. The Beatles playing on the rooftop of Apple Offices, 1969
8. Usain Bolt 100m win, 2012
9. The construction of Stonehenge, 3100 BC
10. Andrew Murray wins Wimbledon, 2013
11. Torvill and Dean Olympic ice skating performance, 1984
12. The Christmas truce between the German and Allied Lines in No Man's Land, 1914
13. Woodstock, 1969
14. The launch of the Titanic, 1911
15. The final stone placed on the Pyramids of Giza, 2490 BC
16. Mo Farah 5,000m and 10,000m double victory, 2012
17. The birth of Jesus Christ, 4 BC
18. A Gladiator fight in the Coliseum, 264 BC
19. Elvis Presley, Hawaii concert, 1973
20. V-E Day, 1945
21. Michael Jackson, Wembley Stadium concert, 1988
22. An original Shakespeare play performed at The Globe, 1599
23. Winston Churchill House of Commons speech, 1940
24. The Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, 1903
25. Johnny Cash, San Quentin Prison concert 1969
26. David Bowie performing at the Rainbow Theatre, 1972
27. Man’s discovery of fire, early Stone Age
28. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 79 AD
29. Andrew Murray wins first Grand Slam against Novak Djokovic, 2012
30. Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile, 1954
31. England winning the rugby world cup, 2003
32. Ian Botham’s Ashes victory, 1981
33. Jessica Ennis wins Olympic Heptathlon, 2012
34. Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe Wimbledon final, 1980
35. The Rolling Stones, Hyde Park concert, 1969
36. The signing of The Magna Carta, 1215
37. Rumble in the Jungle - Ali vs Foreman, 1974
38. Red Rum's Third Grand National victory, 1977
39. England defeat Germany 5-1, 2001
40. The Great Fire of London, 1666
41. The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, 1997
42. Armistice Day, 1918
43. Jesse Owens winning four Olympic golds, 1936
44. Hearing Beethoven's 9th symphony performed in Vienna, 1924
45. Steve Redgrave winning his fifth gold medal, 2000
46. England winning the Ashes, 2005
47. Bob Marley, Lyceum Theatre concert, 1975
48. Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards competing in Winter Olympics ski jump, 1988
49. Led Zeppelin, Royal Albert Hall concert, 1970
50. The signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1776
ENDS
