The latest poll to determine the UK public's all-time favourite TV sports moments – put together by FindMeTV.com and OnePoll – has come up with a number one that is unlikely to blow anyone away with amazement.

Yes, the top moment for all those avid TV viewers was England's World Cup victory in 1966. It doesn't look like being superseded by another England World Cup victory anytime soon. And certainly not another home victory.

One of the saddest things about the political brutality in Zurich which confirmed that England will not be hosting a World Cup until 2030 at the earliest, and most probably not then either, was the plaintive tone of the 2018 bid's honourable and energetic chief executive, Andy Anson.

As he reflected in the aftermath of defeat upon the FIFA candidates who had looked into his face, shaken him by the hand, promised him their vote, and then not given it, he seemed almost unable to take in the fact that he had been wilfully misled.

Two votes, one of which was an English vote, represented the kind of shoeing that Manchester's gallant and doomed bids for the 1996 and 2000 Olympics received – despite Bobby Charlton covering tirelessly in the political midfield.

The chairman of both those bids, Sir Bob Scott, was similarly flabbergasted when the apparent promises of scores of International Olympic Committee members failed to materialise into votes. Manchester exited the voting for the 1996 Games in the second round with five votes - at least they showed Belgrade where to get off! – and at the deliberations for the 2000 Games, which took place in Monte Carlo in 1993, they lasted three rounds, with votes of, respectively, 11, 13, and 11.

A year before Seb Coe and Co pulled off their magnificent away victory in Singapore, Scott publicly cast doubt on London's chances of gaining the 2012 Games, suggesting that Paris were clear favourites with the IOC, and adding: "We're not a deeply popular nation."

Scott may have been wrong on the specifics of the 2012 Games, but in the light of what happened earlier this month it is hard to argue with his basic surmise.

Interestingly, in the TV sports poll, the favourite moment for viewers in Scotland and Northern Ireland was 1986 World Cup match in which Argentina, the eventual winners, beat England 2-1 thanks to a beast of a goal followed by a beauty of a goal from Maradona. Fancy all those Scots and Northern Irish picking an occasion where the England football team were, respectively, robbed and humiliated. But that's the beauty of sport for you.



The reaction of Scotland and Manchester United forward Denis Law to the news that England had won the 1966 World Cup stands as a classic in the genre. Havving tried to get away from the hullabaloo by playing golf, he threw his clubs away in disgust when her heard the result.

Forty four years later, on the eve of FIFA's World Cup vote, Law was asked if he was backing England's bid. "I'm a Scotland fan," he responded. "So no way."

The same basic principle seemed to be holding true in the case of the poll's eighth favourite moment, the England cricket team's victory in the Ashes series of 2005. That triumph is, statistically, the least favoured by Northern Irish and Scottish voters, with the majority of votes coming from men over 55 living in the Midlands and South-west. Who would have thought it?

Then again, there was a big Northern Irish vote for the sporting achievement which earned tenth place in the rankings, Manchester United's last minute victory over Bayern Munich n the 1999 Champions League final. Maybe there was something of a George Best legacy operating there...

The Scots and Northern Irish were also very keen in the item which stands at seventh in the list, Zinedine Zidane getting sent off in the 2006 World Cup final for headbutting Marco Materazzi for an apparent insult. In terms of age groups, this was also the favourite with 18-24 year olds – which sounds, on the face of it, rather depressing.

The only top ten place for tennis is Boris Becker's 1985 Wimbledon victory at the age of 17, a particular favourite with southerners and those over 45, which occupies ninth place.

Predictably, Kelly Holmes's Olympic victories over 800 and 1500 metres at the 2004 Athens Games were the favourite memory for women involved in the poll. Unpredictably, Dame Kelly's double also earned high approval ratings in Wales and Scotland.

Also ranking highly with women was Paul Gascoigne's breakdown into tears after the booking in the 1990 World Cup semi-final which would have meant he missed the final – had England qualified. All that emotion flying about, no doubt – at least, that's what the pollsters believe. It's in at number five, two places behind the last minute free kick goal by David Beckham against Greece in 2001 which earned England a place at the following year's World Cup finals.

Beckham's glory moment is also the favourite for those aged between 25 and 34.

England's Rugby Union World Cup victory in 2003 ranks in second place. All areas of the country go for the match against Australia which turned upon Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal 26 seconds from the end. Apart from Wales and Scotland, that is.

But even Jonny, Martin, Matt and Co can't displace their World Cup footballing counterparts. The Beatles may not have been able to get near the top of the singles chart when their music was recently made available on iTunes, but the Boys of '66 still seem to have All Our Loving.

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, has covered the last five Summer and four Winter Olympics for The Independent. Previously he has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, the Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. He is now chief feature writer for insidethegames