Geoff Hurst: I'm Not Flying BA!

[The Guvnor]

From airwatch.co.uk:

World Cup winner Geoff Hurst has today said that he will not fly with British Airways after the September 11th terrorist attacks. The former West Ham and England striker who scored a hat trick in the 1966 World Cup Final told BBC's Five Live that he was concerned that BA might become a target for terrorists.

He said,'I'm going to Australia shortly and I'm not going to fly BA. I'm going to go with an Arab airline.' Hurst said that the close ties between Britain and America could make the national flag carrier a potential target for further terror attacks as the war in Afghanistan intensifies.

British Airways expressed its dissapointment at the ex-footballer's comments. A spokesperson told DeHavilland AirWatch: 'millions of people travel with us every year... security is bedrock to BA's operations.'

[MarkD]

I'm surprised that given how GH owes so much to a Russian, he wouldn't choose to route through Moscow instead :D

[Devils Advocate]

Well who'd have believed it, a Knight of the Realm - a hero to many a schoolboy when he scored a, albeit disputed, hat-trick against those beastly Germans in 1966 World Cup, is now refusing to fly on a British carrier.

Nb. In the RAF that kind of behaviour used to be politely referred to as 'LMF' - Lack of Moral Fibre !

That said, I believe that Sir Geoff Hurst, now works with his former West Ham and England team-mate, Martin Peters, in the insurance business no less (or should that read, loss ? ) , and perhaps his actuaries have advised him that by travelling with BA "they think it's all over" ...... 'well it is now !'

Sorry, I just couldn't resist it ;)

Ah well, maybe he'd like to give his Knighthood back too ?

Ps. For those not familiar with recent'ish history, have a look at: http://www.aboutsoccer.com/ghurst/ghurst.htm

[gyrohead]

If Bobby Moore was alive today he'd be turning in his grave!.. :D

[Recover]

Well, isn't that a crying shame. A poxy football player whos' too scared to fly. Almost as good as the Holywood 'stars'.

Whereas the custom wouyld be appreciated, who cares if some legend in his own lunchtime chooses to go elsewhere. Big Girl.

And....

Recover.


PS: I HATE football.

[Squawk7777]

Everybody STOP!!! Arab airline, huh? Has he forgotten about Egypt Air 990 :eek: ?(correct me if the flight number is wrong)

Non-sense just doesn't make sense! :D

[Lou Scannon]

A Big Girls Blouse!

[737type]

If he chooses not to fly with BA or any other particular airline, then that's fine.
His choice.

But I find it totally irresponsible to actually make public comments like that to an already nervous public. He may think he's just another private citizen but people do look up to these guys.

[beamer]

An over-rated player(and yes I did see him
play for real) who has spent the last thirty
years trading on the fact that he scored 21/2
goals on that day of days. Strange how all these 'hard men' of football as frightened
into not flying - overpaid fairies I reckon.

[tired]

All right, I suppose some one has to ask, it might as well be me.

Who's Geoff Hurst and what's his claim to fame. Cryptic references above mean nothing to a colonial. :o

[knows]

737type, good comment! I agree.

[purple haze]

based on the twats argument he should go and live in afganisthan or iraq, he would never be attacked by any terrorists.

[simbad3000]

tired: England football (soccer) player of times gone by. Only person every to score a hat-trick (that's 3 goals) in a World Cup final. England beat W Germany 4–2 to win the World Cup in 1966 in extra time in England. "Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over, it is now!" is the famous commentary line that accompanied Hurst's 3rd (and England's 4th) goal.
:p :p

[simandall]

Can anyone name the other ten who staretd the game? Cohen is the full back everyone usually forgets.

[simbad3000]

Banks, Cohen, Jacky Charlton, Moore, Wilson, Stiles, Bobby Charlton, Peters, Ball, Hunt

I think :D

[sanjosebaz]

Team Photo! (http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/worldcup.htm)

[Enter after the Virgin]

Geoff Hurst assosiated with Chelsea these days Sponsored by Emirates ?
:D

[sirwa69]

Sponsored by Emirates
Ah Ha :eek: I smell a bit of rampant commercialism here :p
I presume that GH is probably getting free 1st class return tickets on the M Rats and just wanted to show his appreciation :mad: :mad:

[railwaysengineer]

sorry, prple haze, could´nt hold it back:

< based on the twats argument he should go and live in afganisthan or iraq, he would never be attacked by any terrorists >

What do you mean, what kind of attacks he will (perhaps) experience in the two countries you mention ? :D

[1.3VStall]

What else do you expect from a typical over-rated, over-paid Southern Softie?

[jongar]

I thought VS was the british flag carrier these days.

[fruitbat]

VS is probably very grateful of any british flags carried as cargo, after all time is running out to attract passengers....

[PowerRanger]

Hurst - what a total WUSS!

He can join that other rampant chicken s..t Bruce 'Die Hard' Willis.

Both are contenders for the Guinness Book of Records latest entry - All Time Biggest Girls' Blouse.

Any other nominations??

:D :D :D

[doubledolphins]

GH is to be seen at West Ham most match days, entertaining in the 1966 club. He was manager of Chelsea for a short time in the seventies. If Bobby Moore were alive to day he would certainly fly BA. (He would be on Staff Tickets.) ;)

[vertigo]

That wasn't a hat-trick.

Of the three goals, one was offside, one didn't cross the line and there were people on the pitch for the third :)

[radeng]

Could someone explain why or how an
ex-footballer becomes such an expert on airline security? Personally, given the choice between a footballer's opinion and BA's security, the footballer wouldn't get considered.

[bow5]

Ah, but the problem is that we live in a country obsessed with useless celebrities.

Geri Halliwell is a prime example. Not only does she work for the UN for god's sake but her opinion actually swayed voters in the last election!! If I ever found myself being influenced by talentless prats like her I take myself to the nearest bridge and do the honourable thing.

Why has this ever come to light? I couldn't give a flying toss that some celebrity doesn't want to fly on a carrier. Something is fundamentally wrong when that is considered 'news'. Did he ring a paper to tell them this? What a load of rubbish!

[The Guvnor]

Is this another ex celeb? :D :D :D

A Surrey pensioner has vowed never to return to the United States after witnessing first hand the security measures in place at airports. John Jackson of South Park, told local reporters that the authorities 'didn't
have a clue' after his return flight from Dallas in October was delayed by two hours because of an anthrax hoax.

'I think America still needs to tighten up its security arrangements. I think the British should be advising them as to what we do here, because we've lived with terrorism for many years,' Mr. Jackson told
Surrey Online. Mr. Jackson went on to say that while he was in America, he missed an internal flight and was shocked that his bags remained on board. In the UK, if a passenger misses a flight or is taken ill before the aircraft leaves the ground, their bags have to be removed as a security precaution.

'They haven't got a clue,' Mr. Jackson added.

[The_Banking_Scot]

Power Ranger,

How about Sly? ( Sylvester Stallone) as I thought that I'd read somewhere that he would also not fly??

[737type]

Yes, Stallone is also part of this group.

It's amazing how we transfer their on-screen persona to their off-camera personality. And we're so disappointed when on-screen and off-screen attitudes don't sync up.

Funny how Stallone and other Hollywood "macho men" won't get on an airliner now, while the "pencil-neck geek" just hops right on.

Interesting.

[tired]

Thanks Simbad. :)

His stance isn't really surprsing is it, soccer is a poofter's game anyway. Real men play rugby...! ;)

[stoopid]

whadda mean bruce willis wont fly...i can remember not that long ago when he was duffing up several armed and dangerous american special forces chaps on the port wing of a 747 lmao :rolleyes: :D :D

[Deadleg]

Is that right Tired? Remind me please why the Australian Rugby League Team originally refused to travel to the UK?
Also I'd be rather careful about calling soccor players pooftahs-I seem to remember a enormous player in the NSWRL days(early 90's) comming out of the closet, funny most people did'nt have a problem with him!

[T_richard]

Gentleman I think it is fair to say that retired jocks, Hollywood hacks, and talk show hosts are the last people we should listen to when making real life decisions. They always earn more than they're worth, they are sheltered by agents etc. from the trials of thr real world, and they always believe their own press clippings. Whether its Barabara Streisand on G.W.Bush, Bruce Willis on terrorist threats or some jock who headed one too many soccer balls, they are all about as useful as t*ts on a bull.

[radeng]

At least t*ts on a bull would be of some scientific as well as news interest, rather than the useless opinions of these so called 'celebrities'.

[1.3VStall]

Dedleg,

tired was talking about Rugby Union, not that abomination played "oop North" - a game where the scrums are a shambles and they haven't the wit to even attempt to master lineouts!

[OneWorld22]

Jimmy Greaves was a far better player anyway...

What a stupid comment Hurst made, almost as bad as Charlotte Church saying to the New York press that "New Yorkers overeacted to the terrorist attacks!!! and that it's ridiculous how the Firemen have been turned into heroes!!"
I bet her manager was delighted with those incredibly idiotic comments!

Seriously, who gives a f**k what "celebrities" think, they don't live in the real world anyway. Rod Eddington was spot on with his comments. Nobody should think twice about flying BA, a great and thoroughly safe airline and I for one will be taking advantage of their great offers at the moment and treat myself and the missus to a trip in business class to the states after Christmas.

Don't worry everyone, just get on with your lives as normal, if you don't, then these lunatic facists will have scored a major victory.

[StressFree]

Dedleg,
You airhead. HOW can you possibly imply that players of 'the other discipline' are proper rugby players? I was not at all surprised when the Australian team pulled out. If you wont play rugby the proper way then how can you be expected to behave in a manly way?

;)

[Roadtrip]

Perhaps Her Majesty's advisors should more carefully consider whom they recommend to her for knighthood. I wonder if this gentleman would have kept his head if he had pulled a similar stunt a few hundred years ago. But alas, in those days, there weren't snivelling druggie rock stars and spoiled soccer players.

[Deadleg]

He,He,He. Don't even like the game-sorry guys it was a wind up. The bit about there being a "I've come out of the closet player" in the NSWRL is true though, no names or club as I can't remember his name,big b*%sted though so I won't be making fun of him!

BTW Merry Christmas to you all,lets hope the likes of 'Sir Big Girls Blouse' does'nt do too much damage to our already fragile industry and its a Happy New Year to us all,particularly to those who have been laid off.