Uwe Seeler was a tremendously popular player due to his fairness, modesty and kindness. He was also one of the most consistent strikers in world football and holds with Pele the distinction of being the only other person to score in four World Cup Finals tournaments.
Having made his international debut for West Germany against France as a 17-year-old in October 1954, Uwe went on to win 72 caps and, with his trademark overhead shots, acrobatic headers and deadly finishing, found the net on 43 occasions in those games.
Uwe was a member of West Germany's World Cup squads of 1958, 62, 66 and 70, captaining the team in the latter two tournaments, including what was, and still is, the greatest day in English football.
His first Finals' goal was against Northern Ireland in Sweden in 1958 and his last, the goal with which the Germans drew level with England in the quarter final in Mexico in 1970 before going on to gain a 3-2 victory.
At club level, Uwe displayed tremendous loyalty and, despite many offers from top clubs in Spain and Italy, spent his entire playing career with birth-town club Hamburg SV. And he was a prolific goalscorer throughout, topping the Northern Oberliga charts on six occasions and also during the Bundesliga's inaugural season of 1963-64.
In 1968, Uwe led his side to the European Cup Winners Cup Final where, having accounted for Randers Freja, Wislaw Cracow, Olympique Lyonnaise and, in the semi final, Cardiff City, they lost 2-0 to Italian giants AC Milan.
But Hamburg had been crowned German champions in 1960 and DFB-Pokal (German FA Cup) winners in 1963.
Three years after that Cup success Seeler was part of the Hamburg side that played here at Edgeley Park.
County, at the time, were a mid-table Fourth Division club so it was an amazing feat to persuade the German giants to travel to Stockport.
But thanks to the drive of Mr GO GO GO COUNTY, Chairman Vic Bernard, and the status of legendary German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, then General Manager at Edgeley Park, it was game on.
Hamburg were simply superb and recorded a 5-1 victory with the inimitable Seeler helping himself to a hat trick.
Older fans will tell you, though, the goal of the night was scored by Len White - recently voted into County's Hall of Fame - who crashed a 30-yard pile-driver past Horst Schnoor in the visitor's goal
On a personal basis, Uwe was voted German Footballer of the Year on three occasions, in 1960, 64 and 70.
He retired from playing at the top level in 1972 having made over 700 senior appearances and scored over 550 goals. Uwe's Bundesliga record was 137 goals in 239 matches.
