THEY peered through the wire fence and chanted "We love you, Geoff" and "They think it's all over".

Everywhere he goes Sir Geoff Hurst is reminded of that magical day in the summer of 1966 when overnight he became a national hero by sealing that famous World Cup victory.

Fair Oak was no exception. Wyvern College pupils, snatching a glimpse of a coaching session, were eager to tackle the football legend over England's proud soccer past.

Later Sir Geoff told the Daily Echo that talking about those goals is something of which he never tires.

"It has been a really good thing in my life," said the soccer knight, who is flattered that he still gets stopped in the street nearly 40 years after that famous victory.

As the build up for Euro 2004 soccer reaches fever pitch, Sir Geoff was in Hampshire on the hottest day of the year.

The England legend is leading a national "Be a Player" coaching tour, from John O'Groats to Land's End, to give thousands of youngsters the chance to get a world-class coaching session.

The McDonald's Euro 2004 "park academy" tour included a football master class from Eric Harrison - the youth coach who put David Beckham on the road to stardom.

Sir Geoff broke away from watching 60 youngsters being put through their paces to give interviews to the media - and the first question on every interviewer's lips was "How do you think England will do in Euro 2004?"

He said: "I think we have a good chance. The current crop of players are very good."

Pressed to come up with a winning team prediction, Sir Geoff's choice was Italy.

But he will be hoping the Sven's England squad can have those 1966-style soccer chants ringing in their ears when Euro 2004 is finally all over.