FOOTBALLERS from a North-East youth team who beat a German side in their own back garden the day after England won the World Cup are being tracked down for a reunion fifty years on.

As part of an exchange with County Durham’s partner area of Kreis Moers, now known as Kreis Wesel, a team of under-18s from schools and youth clubs, defeated their German counterparts on July 31, 1966.

It was the day after the greatest moment in English football, when a Geoff Hurst hat-trick secured victory against the visiting side at Wembley, and the home nation lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.

With the 50th anniversary this year, Durham County Council’s International Office is trying to help two of the original youth players track down their former teammates so they can hold a reunion to commemorate their own memorable win.

As well as being key players for the team, Graham Comer and Brian Hopkins were best friends in 1966 and remain so today.

With the exchange arranged months in advance, neither of them dared to dream that England would reach the final, let alone against West Germany and go on to win. But, on July 30, 1966, the group found themselves watching the match on a big screen in a dance hall in Rheinhausen, cheering England on alongside more than 100 German students.

Mr Comer, a former physics teacher who is now semi-retired but still working part time at Tanfield School, said: “The atmosphere was good natured but fraught at times, especially when Germany equalised in the 89th minute.

“Our hosts were extremely gracious in defeat though and when we all went back to the homes of the families we were staying with they insisted that we sat at the head of the table in celebration of England winning.”

The real match was still to come though, and the boys lined up the next day against the Kreis Moers team determined to do as well as the national side.

Mr Comer and Mr Hopkins think the final result was County Durham 6-4 Kreis Moers, but cannot be sure.

Mr Comer said: “With the fiftieth anniversary coming up we’d love to be able to have a reunion with the other lads from the team.

“So we’re hoping they see this or someone they know does and gets in touch with the council so we can make it a reality.

“It would be great if we could all get together again after so many years and even better if one of them can remember the final score.”

People with information about the team and their current whereabouts are asked to email the council’s International Office at international@durham.gov.uk.