A piece of soccer history crumbles as bulldozers move in at the hotel where the World Cup heroes of 1966 stayed.
Hendon Hall – where the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton were snapped – is making way for a care home.
Our picture was taken in northwest London by Ian Needleman, who works in property.
He said: “I was shocked when I saw the demolition. It is so sad.
"I remember going to the hotel restaurant with friends and reminiscing about the team staying there.
“It is a shame that a piece of footballing nostalgia will be lost forever.
“It was a beautiful building in a much-sought-after area. At one time, entertainers Barbara Windsor and Danny La Rue had homes next door to the hotel.
“When I drove past the building the other day and saw the demolition work going ahead I couldn’t help but stop and take the photos from the roadside.
“They bring back so many memories of that magical afternoon at Wembley all those years ago.”
England, who beat West Germany 4-2 in the final, played all their games at Wembley and made the five-mile journey from the hotel to the stadium on six occasions.
England’s victorious squad included hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst, captain Bobby Moore, goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks and soccer greats Bobby and Jack Charlton and was led by manager Alf Ramsey, who was later knighted in recognition of England’s achievement.
The hotel, which closed last month, was originally 16th century Hendon Manor.
It became a hotel in 1911 and has also been a girls’ school and an RAF convalescence home.
That’s all in the past.
And as TV’s Kenneth Wolstenholme almost said, they think it’s Hall over... it is now.
