Pickles the Dog: The World Cup Was Stolen… and a Little Dog Found It
Part of: Animal Heroes & Amazing Trees
In March 1966, someone took the World Cup in London. One week later, on a Sunday walk, a little dog called Pickles smelled something under a plant. It was the cup! Learn five A1 words and 'this / that' with this true story.
Coming 22 December 2026, 3:00 pm New York time
Transcript
Tap a time to jump to that moment. Highlighted words have a meaning: tap them. Words in bold show today's grammar.
In 1966, someone took the in London.
The police could not find it.
Then a little dog went for a walk.
This is the story of Pickles.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
. is a game with a ball.
England wanted to win the .
. is a day of the week.
On a , Dave and Pickles went for a walk.
. When you something, you use your nose.
The past is .
Pickles something under a plant.
. When you something, you can see inside it.
The past is .
Dave the old newspaper.
. At a , people eat, talk and have fun together.
Pickles went to the big .
Now, one pattern: this and that.
This is for near things.
That is for far things, or past times.
Here is a dog.
Look at this little dog.
Ready? Let's begin.
Look at this little dog.
His name was Pickles.
He was black and white.
He lived in London with his owner, Dave.
England wanted to win the .
In March 1966, the cup was at a stamp show in London.
Then someone took it!
One week later, on a , Dave and Pickles went for a walk.
That , Pickles stopped near a garden.
Pickles something under a plant.
It was in old newspaper.
Dave the old newspaper.
He saw a small gold cup.
Is this the ?
Yes, it was!
Dave took the cup to the police.
At first, the police asked Dave many questions!
That summer, England won the .
Pickles went to the big .
He was a hero!
Let's review. England wanted to win the .
On a , Dave and Pickles went for a walk.
Pickles something under a plant.
Dave the old newspaper.
Pickles went to the big .
And remember: look at this little dog.
Pickles's story teaches us: anyone can be a hero, even a little dog on a walk.
Want more interesting lessons? Go to brightlivesenglish.com. Please subscribe and learn with us.
Step 3
Words from the story
Say the word, guess its meaning, then flip the card. Keep the ones you know, and practise the rest again.
Great work, you know every word in this story. Now try the quiz below.
football noun
a game where two teams kick a ball
“England wanted to win the football World Cup.”
Sunday noun
the day of the week after Saturday
“On a Sunday, Dave and Pickles went for a walk.”
smell verb
to know something with your nose (past: smelled)
“Pickles smelled something under a plant.”
open verb
to move something so you can see inside it (past: opened)
“Dave opened the old newspaper.”
party noun
a time when people eat, talk and have fun together
“Pickles went to the big party.”
World Cup noun
a big football competition between countries, every four years; also its gold cup
“In 1966, England won the World Cup.”
hedge noun
a line of small bushes that grow close together, like a green wall
“The cup was under a hedge in a garden.”
thief noun
a person who takes things that are not theirs
“Nobody saw the thief.”
Grammar in the story
this / that
We use it for: this = near you (here, now); that = far away, or in the past (that day, that summer)
- Here is a dog. → Look at this little dog.
- On that day, a long time ago → That Sunday, Pickles stopped near a garden.
From the story
- Look at this little dog.
- That summer, England won the World Cup.
Find it in the story 6 times
Your turn
Look at little dog here!
In 1966 England won. summer, there was a big party.
I have a ball in my hand. ball is new.
Step 4
Story Challenge
9 quick rounds: choose, fill the gap, build the sentence and match the words. Answer in a row to build a streak and earn bonus points.
Well done!
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Take it further
Before you watch: Do you like football? Do you have a dog, or do you know a dog?
After you watch: Write three sentences with this and that. For example: Look at this cat. This is my bag. That day, it was very hot.
Think about it: Pickles was just a little dog on a walk, but he helped a whole country. Can small things make a big difference?
Did you know? The World Cup trophy in 1966 was called the Jules Rimet Trophy. It was taken on Sunday 20 March 1966 from a stamp show at Central Hall, Westminster. Pickles found it on Sunday 27 March on Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in south London, wrapped in newspaper and tied with string under a hedge. Pickles got a silver medal, and he was even in a film, The Spy with a Cold Nose.
Image credits (via Wikimedia Commons):
- Photo: Central Hall, Westminster (where the stamp show was) — “Central Hall, Westminster - geograph.org.uk - 2507595”, Philip Pankhurst, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo: Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, today — “Upper Norwood, ‘Semis’ on Beulah Hill - geograph.org.uk - 3051293”, Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo: Pickles the dog display, National Football Museum — “National Football Museum displays 63”, Hmickey, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Illustration: all other pictures are AI-generated illustrations (artistic interpretations, not real photos). There are no real photos of Pickles in the lesson.
