Bobby
Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore OBE (April 12, 1941
- February 24, 1993) was an English footballer whose place in history
is secure.
Moore joined West Ham as a schoolboy and was a regular in the first
team by 1960. A composed central defender, Moore was admired more
for his reading of the game and ability to anticipate opposition
movements, thereby distancing himself from the image of the hard-tackling,
high-jumping defender. Indeed, Moore's ability to tackle, head the
ball or keep up with the pace was average at best, but the way he
marshalled his team stood him out as world class.
He was in the England squad for the 1962 World Cup in Chile, when
England reached the quarter finals, and was captain of his country
within another two years. In 1964, he skippered West Ham to success
in the FA Cup final at Wembley where they beat Preston North End
3-2, the first of three successive trips to the national stadium
in major finals in as many years for Moore, and from which he would
emerge undefeated.
In 1965, Wembley hosted West Ham's 2-0 victory over 1860 Munich
in the European Cup Winners Cup, then in 1966, Moore was the leader
of the side which gave English football its crowning glory and established
him as a magnificent player, gentleman and sporting icon. His West
Ham team-mate Geoff Hurst scored an historic hat-trick in the 4-2
World Cup final win over West Germany, with Moore supplying pinpoint
passes for two of his goals. Of many timeless images from that day,
one is of Moore gallantly wiping his hands clean of sweat on his
shirt before shaking the hand of Elizabeth II as she presented him
with the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Moore faithfully pursued his West Ham and England career and was
once again named as captain when England travelled to Mexico to
defend the World Cup. There was heavy disruption to preparations,
however, when in an almighty fit up, Moore was accused of stealing
a bracelet from a jeweller in Colombia, where England had travelled
for some warm-up games in order to get acclimatised with altitude
conditions. The charges were dropped and Moore was wholly exonerated,
and he eventually was permitted to rejoin his team-mates in Mexico.
In the group game against favourites Brazil, there was a defining
moment for Moore when he tackled the great Jairzinho with such precision
and cleanliness that many cite is a tackle which no-one will ever
better. Brazil still won the game, but England also progressed through
the group.
Defeat after extra time against West Germany saw England bow out
in the last eight, and it would be 12 years before England were
to return to a World Cup finals again.
Moore ended up with 108 England caps, breaking the record held by
his fellow 1966 hero Bobby Charlton by just two appearances. Only
Peter Shilton, with whom Moore also played at international level,
has since played more times for his country. Moore's last appearance
in an England shirt was in 1973.
A year later, Moore was allowed to leave his beloved West Ham after
more than 15 years and joined London rivals Fulham, who were in
the second division. Somehow, in his first season, they reached
the FA Cup final where they were to play none other than Moore's
old club West Ham. It was no farewell ending for Moore, however,
as Fulham lost 2-0.
Moore retired from playing in 1977 and had a short spell in football
management, but did not succeed. His life after football was eventful
and difficult, with business deals going wrong and his marriage
ending. Many have since said that the Football Association could
have given a role to Moore, as the only Englishman to captain a
World Cup winning team, but ignored his claims and abilities. Moore
himself kept a dignified silence.
Moore ended up working for radio stations as a summariser and editing
a column in the dubious tabloid newspaper the Daily Sport.
In 1993 Moore, who was now remarried, announced he was suffering
from bowel cancer. Despite extensive treatment, he succumbed to
the illness just two days after commentating on an England match
at his spiritual home, Wembley.
The stand replacing the south bank at West Ham's ground The Boleyn
Ground in Upton Park has since been named the Bobby Moore Stand. |
