Sir Geoff Hurst relives World Cup victory with 1966 copy of the Green '˜Un

Howard Wade, from Millhouses, was a guest at the ceremony on Wednesday, held by the Star to honour South Yorkshire’s footballing heroes.

Mr Wade is the proud owner of a 1966 edition of the Green ‘Un, passed to him by his late father, which features England’s only World Cup triumph on the front page.

In a stroke of luck Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final 50 years ago, was at the ceremony receiving the Derek Dooley Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Star Football Awards: The big winners on a glitzy night celebrating our teams.

Mr Wade seized his chance and caught a moment with the England legend. He showed him the old copy of the Green ‘Un, and got him to sign the front page.

“I’ve always thought one day I should show it to someone,” said Mr Wade.

“I have met Sir Geoff before, but the significance was the moment itself at the Star awards.

“I nearly didn’t ask him to sign it, but only because I didn’t want to damage it. But I thought ‘why not?’.”

Mr Wade also sought out Star editor Nancy Fielder to show her his prized Green ‘Un.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.

As a Sheffield United fan, Mr Wade said it was a ‘hard pill to swallow’ to see rivals Sheffield Wednesday doing so well this season, but added: “The awards showed some real positive things in South Yorkshire.”